The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Program stands as one of America's most closely monitored conservation efforts. Today, researchers track pack move...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Program stands as one of America's most closely monitored conservation efforts. Today, researchers track pack movements and study ecosystem impacts across the park's vast wilderness. The program began in 1995 when wildlife biologists released gray wolves into Yellowstone after the species had been absent for nearly 70 years. Initial releases involved 31 wolves from Canada, followed by additional introductions in subsequent years. The returning predators have dramatically altered the park's ecological balance, affecting everything from deer behavior to river patterns. As a result, Yellowstone has become a natural laboratory for understanding predator-prey relationships and ecosystem restoration.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To provide an overview of the development and significance of Yellowstone's wolf reintroduction program
To compare Yellowstone's wolf program to other wildlife reintroduction efforts
To argue for expanding wolf reintroduction programs to other national parks
To detail the specific ecological changes caused by wolves in Yellowstone since 1995
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Program stands as one of America's most closely monitored conservation efforts.' |
|
| 'Today, researchers track pack movements and study ecosystem impacts across the park's vast wilderness.' |
|
| 'The program began in 1995 when wildlife biologists released gray wolves into Yellowstone after the species had been absent for nearly 70 years.' |
|
| 'Initial releases involved 31 wolves from Canada, followed by additional introductions in subsequent years.' |
|
| 'The returning predators have dramatically altered the park's ecological balance, affecting everything from deer behavior to river patterns.' |
|
| 'As a result, Yellowstone has become a natural laboratory for understanding predator-prey relationships and ecosystem restoration.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Program, which began in 1995, has become a significant conservation success that transformed the park's ecosystem and serves as an important research opportunity.
Argument Flow: The passage opens by establishing the program's current importance, then traces its development from the 1995 beginning through implementation details, and concludes by highlighting both its ecological impact and scientific value as a research laboratory.
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 passage does several things: it introduces us to the wolf program, gives us its history (when it started, how many wolves), and explains why it matters (ecosystem changes, research value)
- The author seems to want to give us a complete picture of this program - where it came from and why it's important
- The right answer should capture that this text is giving us a comprehensive look at the program's development and its significance to both the ecosystem and scientific research
To provide an overview of the development and significance of Yellowstone's wolf reintroduction program
✓ Correct
- This matches our prethinking perfectly - the text does provide an overview of both development (1995 start, implementation details) and significance (ecosystem impacts, research value)
- The passage traces the program from its beginning through its current importance
To compare Yellowstone's wolf program to other wildlife reintroduction efforts
✗ Incorrect
- The passage never mentions other wildlife reintroduction efforts or makes any comparisons
- This would require content that simply isn't in the text
To argue for expanding wolf reintroduction programs to other national parks
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't argue for anything - it's descriptive, not persuasive
- There's no mention of expanding programs to other parks
- What trap this represents: Students might think that because the program is presented positively, the author must be arguing for expansion
To detail the specific ecological changes caused by wolves in Yellowstone since 1995
✗ Incorrect
- While the passage mentions ecological changes, it doesn't detail them specifically
- The text gives broad examples ('deer behavior to river patterns') but doesn't provide the detailed analysis this choice suggests
- What trap this represents: Students might confuse 'mentions impacts' with 'details specific changes'