While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:A marathon is a long-distance running race that is 26.2...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- A marathon is a long-distance running race that is 26.2 miles long.
- An ultramarathon is a long-distance running race of more than 26.2 miles.
- The Kepler Challenge is a one-day, 37.3-mile ultramarathon in New Zealand.
- The Spreelauf is a six-day, 261-mile ultramarathon in Germany.
The student wants to make a generalization about ultramarathons. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Examples of ultramarathons include the 37.3-mile Kepler Challenge in New Zealand and the 261-mile Spreelauf in Germany.
A marathon is 26.2 miles long, but the Spreelauf ultramarathon, at 261 miles, is far longer.
Ultramarathons range widely in length, from a few dozen miles to a few hundred.
While the Kepler Challenge is a one-day ultramarathon, the Spreelauf is a six-day ultramarathon.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A marathon is a long-distance running race that is 26.2 miles long." |
|
| "An ultramarathon is a long-distance running race of more than 26.2 miles." |
|
| "The Kepler Challenge is a one-day, 37.3-mile ultramarathon in New Zealand." |
|
| "The Spreelauf is a six-day, 261-mile ultramarathon in Germany." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes establish what ultramarathons are and provide two very different examples showing their variation.
Argument Flow: The notes start by defining marathons and ultramarathons, then present two concrete examples that demonstrate significant differences in distance (37.3 vs 261 miles) and duration (1 day vs 6 days).
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find which choice most effectively makes a generalization about ultramarathons using the research notes.
What type of answer do we need? A broad, general statement about ultramarathons as a category that's supported by the specific information in the notes.
Any limiting keywords? "generalization" means we need a broad statement, not just examples or comparisons. "Most effectively" means we want the choice that best accomplishes this goal.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our notes, we have two very different ultramarathon examples: the Kepler Challenge at 37.3 miles and the Spreelauf at 261 miles
- That's a huge range
- The right answer should capture this variation and make a general statement about what this tells us about ultramarathons as a whole
Examples of ultramarathons include the 37.3-mile Kepler Challenge in New Zealand and the 261-mile Spreelauf in Germany.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply lists the two examples from the notes
- While accurate, it doesn't make a generalization - it just provides examples
- Fails to accomplish the goal of making a broad statement about ultramarathons
A marathon is 26.2 miles long, but the Spreelauf ultramarathon, at 261 miles, is far longer.
✗ Incorrect
- Compares one specific ultramarathon to marathons in general
- Focuses on marathons vs. ultramarathons rather than generalizing about ultramarathons
- Only uses information about one ultramarathon, ignoring the Kepler Challenge entirely
Ultramarathons range widely in length, from a few dozen miles to a few hundred.
✓ Correct
- Makes a clear generalization that ultramarathons "range widely in length"
- This is supported by the notes: 37.3 miles to 261 miles demonstrates this wide range
- Accomplishes the goal of generalizing about ultramarathons using relevant information
While the Kepler Challenge is a one-day ultramarathon, the Spreelauf is a six-day ultramarathon.
✗ Incorrect
- Contrasts the two specific examples but doesn't generalize
- Focuses on duration differences rather than making a broad statement about ultramarathons
- Comparison of specific cases isn't the same as making a general statement about the category