While most animals are incapable of passing somatic mutations - genetic alterations that arise in an organism's nonreproductive cells -...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
While most animals are incapable of passing somatic mutations - genetic alterations that arise in an organism's nonreproductive cells - on to their offspring, elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) presents an intriguing ______: in a 2022 study, researchers found that elkhorn coral produced offspring that inherited somatic mutations from a parent.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
hypothesis
affinity
anomaly
corroboration
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| While most animals are incapable of passing somatic mutations—genetic alterations that arise in an organism's nonreproductive cells—on to their offspring, |
|
| [MISSING WORD] |
|
| in a 2022 study, researchers found that elkhorn coral produced offspring that inherited somatic mutations from a parent. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[GENERAL RULE: Most animals can't pass somatic mutations] → [ELKHORN CORAL: presents _____] → [SPECIFIC EVIDENCE: 2022 study shows elkhorn coral DOES pass mutations]
Main Point: Elkhorn coral breaks the typical pattern by passing somatic mutations to offspring, unlike most other animals.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a general biological rule, then introduces elkhorn coral as something that challenges this rule, and provides research evidence showing this exception actually occurs.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The word must show the relationship between the general rule (most animals can't pass somatic mutations) and elkhorn coral's behavior
- Since elkhorn coral DOES what most animals CAN'T do, we need a word that indicates an exception, deviation, or unusual case
- The word should signal that elkhorn coral is different from the norm established in the first part
- The right answer should indicate that elkhorn coral represents an exception or unusual case compared to most animals
hypothesis
- Hypothesis refers to a proposed explanation or testable prediction
- Doesn't capture the contrast between general rule and elkhorn coral's exception
affinity
- Affinity means a natural liking or attraction between things
- Makes no logical sense in this context about genetic inheritance patterns
anomaly
- Anomaly means something that deviates from what is normal or expected
- Perfectly captures that elkhorn coral is an exception to the general rule about animals and somatic mutations
- Creates the logical flow: most animals can't do X, but elkhorn coral presents an anomaly by actually doing X
corroboration
- Corroboration means confirmation or supporting evidence
- Would suggest elkhorn coral supports the general rule, when it actually contradicts it