While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:A commodity chain is the series of links connecting the...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- A commodity chain is the series of links connecting the production and purchase of a commodity on the world market.
- Chinese American anthropologist Anna Tsing studies the contemporary commodity chain of matsutake mushrooms.
- At one end of the matsutake chain are mushroom pickers in Oregon.
- At the other end are wealthy consumers who buy the costly matsutake in Japan.
- According to Tsing, 'Japanese traders began importing matsutake in the 1980s, when the scarcity of matsutake in Japan first became clear.'
The student wants to provide an overview of the matsutake commodity chain. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The contemporary matsutake commodity chain has its origins in the 1980s when, according to Tsing, 'the scarcity of matsutake in Japan first became clear.'
Commodity chains include the linked production and purchase of commodities, such as the matsutake mushroom, on the world market.
Decades after the Japanese import of matsutake began, a commodity chain now links matsutake pickers in Oregon with wealthy consumers of the costly mushrooms in Japan.
Wealthy consumers who buy the costly mushrooms in Japan are at one end of the matsutake commodity chain.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A commodity chain is the series of links connecting the production and purchase of a commodity on the world market." |
|
| "Chinese American anthropologist Anna Tsing studies the contemporary commodity chain of matsutake mushrooms." |
|
| "At one end of the matsutake chain are mushroom pickers in Oregon." |
|
| "At the other end are wealthy consumers who buy the costly matsutake in Japan." |
|
| "According to Tsing, 'Japanese traders began importing matsutake in the 1980s, when the scarcity of matsutake in Japan first became clear.'" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The matsutake mushroom commodity chain connects Oregon pickers to wealthy Japanese consumers, a trade relationship that began in the 1980s due to mushroom scarcity in Japan.
Argument Flow: The notes first define what a commodity chain is, then focus on the specific matsutake chain studied by Tsing. We learn the two endpoints of this chain (Oregon pickers and Japanese consumers), and finally get historical context about when and why this trade relationship began in the 1980s.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice best helps the student provide a complete overview of the matsutake commodity chain
What type of answer do we need? A synthesis that combines multiple elements from the notes to create a comprehensive picture
Any limiting keywords? The student's goal is to provide an overview of the matsutake commodity chain. This means we need an answer that gives a broad, comprehensive picture of this specific commodity chain rather than focusing on just one aspect.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- For an effective overview of the matsutake commodity chain, we need an answer that:
- Shows the connection between the two endpoints (Oregon pickers and Japanese consumers)
- Acknowledges the geographical and economic scope of this chain
- Ideally includes some temporal context about how this trade developed
- The right answer should synthesize the geographic span and participant details to show the complete picture of how this commodity chain works.
The contemporary matsutake commodity chain has its origins in the 1980s when, according to Tsing, 'the scarcity of matsutake in Japan first became clear.'
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses only on the historical origins in the 1980s
- Doesn't mention the actual chain participants or geographic scope
- This is background information, not an overview of the chain itself
Commodity chains include the linked production and purchase of commodities, such as the matsutake mushroom, on the world market.
✗ Incorrect
- Gives a general definition of commodity chains with matsutake as just an example
- Doesn't provide specific details about the matsutake chain itself
- Too generic
Decades after the Japanese import of matsutake began, a commodity chain now links matsutake pickers in Oregon with wealthy consumers of the costly mushrooms in Japan.
✓ Correct
- Connects the temporal element with the current chain structure
- Shows the complete geographic and economic scope: Oregon pickers to Japanese wealthy consumers
- Synthesizes multiple note elements into a comprehensive overview
Wealthy consumers who buy the costly mushrooms in Japan are at one end of the matsutake commodity chain.
✗ Incorrect
- Only describes one end of the commodity chain (Japanese consumers)
- Incomplete overview - ignores the Oregon pickers and the connection between endpoints