A food historian studying nineteenth-century European cooking has noted the following: French restaurants in Paris began serving dishes with distinctl...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A food historian studying nineteenth-century European cooking has noted the following: French restaurants in Paris began serving dishes with distinctly North African flavor profiles around 1850. These same establishments employed only French-trained chefs who had never traveled outside Europe. The ingredients used were readily available through established European trade routes. If the chefs developed these dishes independently, it would represent an extraordinary coincidence given the complexity and specificity of North African spice combinations. These observations most strongly suggest that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
North African immigrants had opened competing restaurants that influenced French establishments.
French chefs were experimenting broadly with international ingredients during this period.
the chefs obtained recipes or guidance from sources familiar with North African cuisine.
European spice merchants provided detailed cooking instructions along with their products.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A food historian studying nineteenth-century European cooking has noted the following:' |
|
| 'French restaurants in Paris began serving dishes with distinctly North African flavor profiles around 1850.' |
|
| 'These same establishments employed only French-trained chefs who had never traveled outside Europe.' |
|
| 'The ingredients used were readily available through established European trade routes.' |
|
| 'If the chefs developed these dishes independently, it would represent an extraordinary coincidence given the complexity and specificity of North African spice combinations.' |
|
Part B: Core Elements
Main Point: French chefs in 1850s Paris created authentic North African dishes despite never leaving Europe, which demands explanation beyond coincidence.
Argument Flow: Sets up puzzle of how French chefs with no direct North African experience created authentic dishes. Since independent development would be extraordinary coincidence, there must be another explanation.
Step 2: Interpret the Question
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 right answer should explain how chefs accessed North African culinary expertise indirectly, solving the puzzle of authentic dishes without direct experience.
North African immigrants had opened competing restaurants that influenced French establishments.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests North African immigrants opened competing restaurants.
- Not supported by given observations.
French chefs were experimenting broadly with international ingredients during this period.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims broad experimentation with international ingredients.
- Does not explain specific North African precision achieved.
the chefs obtained recipes or guidance from sources familiar with North African cuisine.
✓ Correct
- States chefs obtained recipes or guidance from sources familiar with North African cuisine.
- Directly solves the logical puzzle and explains knowledge transfer.
European spice merchants provided detailed cooking instructions along with their products.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests spice merchants provided cooking instructions.
- More speculative than what evidence suggests.