The following text is from a 2023 report on the relocation of the National Climate Research Institute from its urban...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from a 2023 report on the relocation of the National Climate Research Institute from its urban headquarters to a remote mountain facility.
While the administrative leadership expressed considerable reservations about the new facility's isolation from major universities and its limited technological infrastructure, the research staff found themselves invigorated by the pristine environment and the unparalleled access to atmospheric data collection sites. The administrators worried about recruitment challenges and operational inefficiencies, but the scientists viewed the location as providing exactly the kind of undisturbed conditions necessary for long-term climate monitoring that had been impossible in their previous urban setting.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
The remote facility offers significant advantages for climate research despite some operational challenges.
Though administrators find the new location problematic, the research staff view it as ideal for their work.
The relocation has created unexpected benefits that outweigh the anticipated difficulties.
Both administrators and researchers agree that the mountain facility is superior to the urban headquarters.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "While the administrative leadership expressed considerable reservations about the new facility's isolation from major universities and its limited technological infrastructure" |
|
| "the research staff found themselves invigorated by the pristine environment and the unparalleled access to atmospheric data collection sites." |
|
| "The administrators worried about recruitment challenges and operational inefficiencies" |
|
| "but the scientists viewed the location as providing exactly the kind of undisturbed conditions necessary for long-term climate monitoring that had been impossible in their previous urban setting." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
RELOCATION OF CLIMATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- Administrative Perspective (NEGATIVE)
- Isolation concerns
- Tech infrastructure limits
- Recruitment/efficiency worries
- Research Staff Perspective (POSITIVE)
- Pristine environment benefit
- Better data collection access
- Undisturbed conditions (impossible in city)
Main Point: The relocation of the Climate Research Institute has created a clear divide between administrators who see problems with the remote location and research staff who view it as ideal for their work.
Argument Flow: The passage presents two contrasting perspectives on the same relocation. First, we learn administrators have serious reservations about isolation and infrastructure. Then we see research staff are actually energized by the move. The passage expands both viewpoints - administrators worry about practical operational issues, while scientists appreciate getting the undisturbed research conditions they could not access in their previous urban location.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? This is asking us to identify the main idea - the central message that captures what the entire text is fundamentally about.
What type of answer do we need? We need an answer that encompasses the key elements and overall point of the passage, not just one part of it.
Any limiting keywords? There are no limiting keywords that restrict our focus to any particular portion.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- It must capture that there are two different groups with two different perspectives on the relocation
- It should reflect that administrators have concerns/problems with the new location
- It should show that research staff actually like or prefer the new location
- It needs to be about the relocation as a whole, not just focus on one group's view
- So the right answer should acknowledge this fundamental split in perspectives - administrators seeing problems while researchers see benefits from the same relocation
The remote facility offers significant advantages for climate research despite some operational challenges.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the passage is making a balanced assessment that the advantages outweigh challenges
- The passage does not make this judgment - it simply presents two opposing viewpoints
- Misses that the key point is about differing perspectives, not an overall cost-benefit analysis
Though administrators find the new location problematic, the research staff view it as ideal for their work.
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the contrast between administrative concerns and staff enthusiasm
- Uses connecting language to show the opposition between the two perspectives
- Matches our prethinking about the fundamental split between the two groups
- Covers both sides without making a judgment about who is right
The relocation has created unexpected benefits that outweigh the anticipated difficulties.
✗ Incorrect
- Implies there is consensus that benefits outweigh difficulties
- The administrators clearly do not think the benefits outweigh the problems
- Students might choose this because both unexpected benefits and anticipated difficulties appear in the passage, but it wrongly suggests everyone agrees the move was positive overall
Both administrators and researchers agree that the mountain facility is superior to the urban headquarters.
✗ Incorrect
- Directly contradicts the passage by claiming both groups agree the mountain facility is superior
- The administrators explicitly have considerable reservations about the new location
- This is the opposite of what the passage actually says