One proposal for preserving rain forests is to promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies, such as improved plant varieties...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
One proposal for preserving rain forests is to promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies, such as improved plant varieties and use of chemical herbicides, which would increase productivity and slow deforestation by reducing demand for new cropland. Studies have shown that farmers in developing countries who have achieved certain levels of education, wealth, and security of land tenure are more likely to adopt such technologies. But these studies have focused on villages with limited land that are tied to a market economy rather than on the relatively isolated, self-sufficient communities with ample land characteristic of rain-forest regions. A recent study of the Tawahka people of the Honduran rain forest found that farmers with some formal education were more likely to adopt improved plant varieties but less likely to use chemical herbicides and that those who spoke Spanish (the language of the market economy) were more likely to adopt both technologies. Non-land wealth was also associated with more adoption of both technologies, but availability of uncultivated land reduced the incentive to employ the productivity-enhancing technologies. Researchers also measured land-tenure security: in Tawahka society, kinship ties are a more important indicator of this than are legal property rights, so researchers measured it by a household's duration of residence in its village. They found that longer residence correlated with more adoption of improved plant varieties but less adoption of chemical herbicides.
The primary purpose of the passage is to
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| One proposal for preserving rain forests is to promote the adoption of new agricultural technologies, such as improved plant varieties and use of chemical herbicides, which would increase productivity and slow deforestation by reducing demand for new cropland. | What it says: There's an idea to save rainforests by getting farmers to use better farming methods that produce more crops on the same land, so they won't need to cut down more forest. What it does: Introduces the main topic and proposed solution Source/Type: Author presenting a general proposal/strategy Connection to Previous Sentences: First sentence - establishes the foundation for everything that follows Visualization: Current situation: Farmers need 100 acres → cut down 100 acres of rainforest With new tech: Farmers need 100 acres worth of crops → only use 60 acres → save 40 acres of rainforest Reading Strategy Insight: This is your anchor sentence. Everything else will relate back to this core idea about technology helping save rainforests. |
| Studies have shown that farmers in developing countries who have achieved certain levels of education, wealth, and security of land tenure are more likely to adopt such technologies. | What it says: Research shows that farmers who are educated, have money, and feel secure about owning their land are more willing to try these new farming methods. What it does: Provides supporting evidence and identifies key factors for technology adoption Source/Type: Research findings/studies Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly builds on sentence 1 by answering: "What makes farmers willing to adopt these technologies?" Visualization: More Likely to Adopt New Tech: • Farmer with high school education + savings + owns land deed • Farmer with college education + steady income + long-term lease Less Likely to Adopt: • Farmer with no formal education + no savings + uncertain land rights What We Know So Far: Technology can save rainforests, and education/wealth/land security make farmers more likely to use it What We Don't Know Yet: How this applies specifically to rainforest communities |
| But these studies have focused on villages with limited land that are tied to a market economy rather than on the relatively isolated, self-sufficient communities with ample land characteristic of rain-forest regions. | What it says: Problem: The research was done on the wrong type of communities - small farming villages connected to markets, not the isolated rainforest communities with lots of available land. What it does: Points out a limitation/gap in existing research Source/Type: Author's critical analysis of research limitations Connection to Previous Sentences: This creates a contrast with sentence 2 - those studies might not apply to the rainforest situation from sentence 1 Visualization: Studies Were Done On: Small village (50 acres total) + sells crops to nearby city + land is scarce But Rainforest Communities Are: Isolated community (500+ acres available) + grows own food + plenty of land to expand Reading Strategy Insight: The word "But" signals this isn't complicating the argument - it's setting up why we need NEW research on rainforest communities specifically. |
| A recent study of the Tawahka people of the Honduran rain forest found that farmers with some formal education were more likely to adopt improved plant varieties but less likely to use chemical herbicides and that those who spoke Spanish (the language of the market economy) were more likely to adopt both technologies. | What it says: New research on actual rainforest people (Tawahka) found: educated farmers liked better plants but avoided chemicals; Spanish speakers used both new plants and chemicals. What it does: Provides the specific rainforest research that was missing; gives concrete findings Source/Type: Specific research study results Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly addresses the gap identified in sentence 3 - finally we have research on actual rainforest communities! Visualization: Educated Tawahka Farmers: ✓ Improved plant varieties: 75% adoption ✗ Chemical herbicides: 25% adoption Spanish-Speaking Tawahka Farmers: ✓ Improved plant varieties: 80% adoption ✓ Chemical herbicides: 70% adoption Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved here - this is giving us the actual data we need! The passage is solving the problem it just identified. |
| Non-land wealth was also associated with more adoption of both technologies, but availability of uncultivated land reduced the incentive to employ the productivity-enhancing technologies. | What it says: Having money (not land) made farmers more likely to use both technologies, but having lots of unused land available made them less interested in productivity improvements. What it does: Continues reporting specific findings from the Tawahka study Source/Type: Additional research results from same study Connection to Previous Sentences: This builds directly on sentence 4, giving us more findings from the same Tawahka research Visualization: Wealthy Tawahka Farmers (money in bank): 85% use new technologies Farmers with 200+ acres unused land available: 30% use new technologies Logic: "Why improve productivity when I can just clear more land?" Reading Strategy Insight: This finding makes perfect sense - if you have lots of land available, why invest in expensive technology to grow more on less land? |
| Researchers also measured land-tenure security: in Tawahka society, kinship ties are a more important indicator of this than are legal property rights, so researchers measured it by a household's duration of residence in its village. | What it says: The researchers studied how secure people felt about their land ownership, but in Tawahka culture, family relationships matter more than legal documents, so they measured security by how long a family had lived in the village. What it does: Explains the methodology for measuring one of the key factors (land tenure security) mentioned back in sentence 2 Source/Type: Research methodology explanation Connection to Previous Sentences: This connects back to sentence 2 which mentioned "security of land tenure" as important - now we're seeing how researchers measured it specifically for the Tawahka Visualization: Traditional Measurement: Legal deed + property title = land security Tawahka Measurement: Family lived in village 20+ years + strong kinship ties = land security Reading Strategy Insight: This is explaining HOW they measured something, not introducing a completely new concept. We're still talking about the same "land tenure security" from earlier. |
| They found that longer residence correlated with more adoption of improved plant varieties but less adoption of chemical herbicides. | What it says: Families who had lived in the village longer were more likely to use improved plants but less likely to use chemical herbicides. What it does: Provides the final research finding about land tenure security Source/Type: Research results/conclusion Connection to Previous Sentences: This completes the land tenure security findings that sentence 6 set up the methodology for Visualization: Long-term Residents (15+ years in village): ✓ Improved plant varieties: 80% adoption ✗ Chemical herbicides: 20% adoption Recent Residents (less than 5 years): ✓ Improved plant varieties: 45% adoption ✓ Chemical herbicides: 60% adoption What We Know Now: Complete picture of what affects technology adoption in actual rainforest communities - very different from the original studies! Reading Strategy Insight: This is the final piece of evidence. Notice how this finding mirrors the education finding - established community members are selective about which technologies they adopt. |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To show how research on technology adoption in rainforest communities reveals different patterns than previous studies, highlighting the need for location-specific research when developing conservation strategies.
Summary of Passage Structure:
The author builds their argument by moving from general theory to specific research findings:
- First, the author introduces a proposed solution for saving rainforests through agricultural technology that increases crop productivity.
- Next, the author presents existing research showing that educated, wealthy farmers with secure land rights are more likely to adopt new technologies.
- Then, the author points out a critical gap in this research - it was conducted on the wrong type of communities and doesn't apply to isolated rainforest regions.
- Finally, the author presents detailed findings from a new study of actual rainforest people, showing how technology adoption patterns differ significantly from the earlier research.
Main Point:
Technology adoption patterns in rainforest communities are much more complex and selective than previous research suggested, with factors like available land and cultural ties playing important roles that could affect the success of technology-based conservation strategies.
3. Question Analysis:
This question asks us to identify the primary purpose - the main reason the author wrote this passage. We need to determine what the author is trying to accomplish overall, not just what topics are discussed.
Connecting to Our Passage Analysis:
From our analysis, we can see the passage follows a clear structure:
- Introduces a proposal for rainforest conservation through agricultural technology
- Presents existing research findings about technology adoption
- Identifies a critical limitation - these studies focused on the wrong type of communities
- Presents new research on actual rainforest communities showing different patterns
The key insight from our analysis is that the author is highlighting how "research on technology adoption in rainforest communities reveals different patterns than previous studies." The passage emphasizes the gap between general research and rainforest-specific research.
Prethinking:
The author's main goal is to show that previous research findings may not apply to rainforest situations. The passage structure moves from "Studies have shown..." to "But these studies have focused on..." to "A recent study of the Tawahka people...found that..." This progression suggests the author wants to demonstrate that new research contradicts or complicates previous assumptions. The primary purpose is likely about presenting new research that challenges the generalizability of earlier findings.
• The passage doesn't evaluate whether the proposal will ultimately succeed
• The author presents research findings but doesn't make predictions about success or failure
• The focus is on presenting data, not on making judgments about likelihood of success
Common Student Mistakes:
- Does the passage seem to be about whether the rainforest conservation proposal will work?
→ No, it's about showing how research findings differ between contexts, not predicting success - Since the passage mentions a proposal, isn't the author evaluating it?
→ The proposal is just the context; the real focus is on comparing research findings
• The author doesn't question whether technology is the most effective approach
• The passage accepts the premise that agricultural technology could help preserve rainforests
• The focus is on adoption patterns, not on whether technology itself is the right solution
Common Student Mistakes:
- Doesn't the complexity of adoption patterns suggest technology isn't effective?
→ Complex patterns don't mean technology is ineffective, just that implementation is more nuanced - Since some farmers reject certain technologies, is the author questioning the approach?
→ Selective adoption shows careful decision-making, not necessarily rejection of technology as a concept
• The passage doesn't discuss "progress of efforts" - it reports research findings
• There's no mention of ongoing encouragement programs or implementation efforts
• The Tawahka study observes current adoption patterns, not efforts to promote adoption
Common Student Mistakes:
- Since the passage discusses the Tawahka people adopting technologies, isn't this about encouraging adoption?
→ The study observes what factors correlate with adoption; it doesn't describe active encouragement efforts - Isn't measuring adoption rates the same as tracking progress?
→ The research identifies correlations and patterns, not progress toward a goal
• The passage explicitly contrasts previous research findings with new research findings
• Shows how studies on "villages with limited land tied to a market economy" may not apply to "isolated, self-sufficient communities with ample land"
• Demonstrates that the same factors (education, wealth, land tenure) have different effects in rainforest communities
• The structure moves from general findings to identifying limitations to presenting new context-specific research
Key Evidence: "But these studies have focused on villages with limited land that are tied to a market economy rather than on the relatively isolated, self-sufficient communities with ample land characteristic of rain-forest regions. A recent study of the Tawahka people of the Honduran rain forest found that..."
• The passage doesn't weigh the relative importance of the three factors
• The research reports correlations but doesn't rank which factors are most important
• The author presents findings about education, wealth, and land tenure but doesn't compare their significance
Common Student Mistakes:
- Since the passage discusses multiple factors affecting adoption, isn't it weighing their importance?
→ Reporting different correlations is not the same as ranking their relative importance - Doesn't showing how factors work differently in rainforest communities constitute weighing them?
→ The comparison is between contexts (general vs. rainforest), not between the importance of different factors