The following text is from a letter written by renowned physicist Dr. Elena Rodriguez to her graduate student upon his...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from a letter written by renowned physicist Dr. Elena Rodriguez to her graduate student upon his completion of his doctoral program.
'Your research has opened doors I never imagined possible when I first began this work decades ago. The questions you've uncovered will require minds sharper than mine to answer, and paths I am too set in my ways to explore. You have the flexibility and vision that this field desperately needs. The scientific community is waiting for contributions only your generation can make.'
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To encourage a student to pursue the research opportunities that await him
To suggest that scientific research involves many obstacles and setbacks
To warn a student that he will face skepticism from established scientists
To express hope that a student will validate his mentor's previous research
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Your research has opened doors I never imagined possible when I first began this work decades ago.' |
|
| 'The questions you've uncovered will require minds sharper than mine to answer, and paths I am too set in my ways to explore.' |
|
| 'You have the flexibility and vision that this field desperately needs.' |
|
| 'The scientific community is waiting for contributions only your generation can make.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Rodriguez is encouraging her graduate student by recognizing his achievements and expressing confidence in his potential to make significant contributions to their field.
Argument Flow: The letter moves from acknowledging the student's past research success, to highlighting how the student's fresh perspective surpasses the mentor's own capabilities, to directly stating the student possesses qualities the field needs, and finally projecting the student's future impact on the scientific community.
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
- Looking at our analysis, Dr. Rodriguez consistently focuses on the student's strengths and potential
- She acknowledges his breakthrough research, emphasizes his fresh perspective, states he has what the field needs, and expresses confidence in his future contributions
- The tone throughout is supportive and forward-looking
- The right answer should capture this encouraging, supportive intent - recognizing that the mentor is motivating the student to pursue the opportunities that lie ahead based on his demonstrated abilities and unique perspective
To encourage a student to pursue the research opportunities that await him
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the letter's encouraging tone and forward-looking focus
- Aligns with how Rodriguez highlights the student's potential and the opportunities awaiting him
To suggest that scientific research involves many obstacles and setbacks
✗ Incorrect
- The letter contains no discussion of obstacles or setbacks
- Rodriguez focuses entirely on positive aspects
To warn a student that he will face skepticism from established scientists
✗ Incorrect
- No warning about skepticism appears anywhere in the letter
- Rodriguez expresses confidence that the scientific community is waiting for contributions
To express hope that a student will validate his mentor's previous research
✗ Incorrect
- Rodriguez doesn't seek validation of her previous research
- She focuses on the student's unique contributions and new directions