A consistent organizational pattern emerges from historical analysis of early 20th century labor movements: initial grassroots mobilization followed b...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A consistent organizational pattern emerges from historical analysis of early 20th century labor movements: initial grassroots mobilization followed by institutional fragmentation.
Which historical evidence provides the strongest support for this cyclical pattern?
'The 1912 textile strikes demonstrated significant worker solidarity, with over 20,000 participants maintaining coordinated action for fourteen weeks despite economic hardship.'
'Union membership data from 1900-1920 shows explosive growth during economic downturns, followed by rapid membership loss and leadership disputes once immediate goals were achieved.'
'Industrial accident rates in organized workplaces dropped by 40% compared to non-unionized facilities, indicating the effectiveness of collective safety advocacy.'
'The formation of the American Federation of Labor marked a decisive shift toward centralized organization and professional leadership within the labor movement.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A consistent organizational pattern emerges from historical analysis of early 20th century labor movements:' |
|
| 'initial grassroots mobilization followed by institutional fragmentation.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Historical analysis reveals that early 20th century labor movements consistently followed a two-stage pattern: they began with grassroots mobilization but then experienced institutional fragmentation.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a straightforward claim about a cyclical pattern observed in labor movements from the early 1900s, defining this pattern as starting with grassroots organizing that eventually breaks down into institutional fragmentation.
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 correct evidence must show both stages of the pattern we identified
- First, it should demonstrate grassroots mobilization - workers coming together in large numbers from the bottom up
- Then, it should show institutional fragmentation - the breakdown or splitting apart of that initial unity
- The strongest evidence would clearly demonstrate this sequence: unity/growth followed by division/decline within the same labor context
'The 1912 textile strikes demonstrated significant worker solidarity, with over 20,000 participants maintaining coordinated action for fourteen weeks despite economic hardship.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows strong grassroots mobilization but only demonstrates the first part of the pattern - no evidence of subsequent fragmentation
- Focuses on solidarity maintained throughout
'Union membership data from 1900-1920 shows explosive growth during economic downturns, followed by rapid membership loss and leadership disputes once immediate goals were achieved.'
✓ Correct
- Demonstrates both parts of the cyclical pattern perfectly
- Shows explosive growth during economic downturns (grassroots mobilization phase) and rapid membership loss and leadership disputes once immediate goals were achieved (institutional fragmentation phase)
'Industrial accident rates in organized workplaces dropped by 40% compared to non-unionized facilities, indicating the effectiveness of collective safety advocacy.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows effectiveness of organized labor but doesn't support the cyclical pattern claim
- No evidence of either grassroots mobilization or institutional fragmentation
'The formation of the American Federation of Labor marked a decisive shift toward centralized organization and professional leadership within the labor movement.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes institutional development and centralization
- Shows organizational evolution but not the fragmentation pattern described