A museum curator is writing a biographical statement about Trinidadian-born Chinese dancer, choreographer, and teacher Dai Ailian for a new...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A museum curator is writing a biographical statement about Trinidadian-born Chinese dancer, choreographer, and teacher Dai Ailian for a new exhibit on Chinese dance. The curator claims that some of the pieces Dai created shortly after arriving in mainland China in 1941, such as the solo dance Yao Drum, reflect a desire to represent the dances of local communities Dai visited during her travels through China.
Which quotation from a work by a dance historian would be the most effective evidence for the curator to include in support of this claim?
There is no sound or music accompanying Dai's movements in Yao Drum, aside from the sounds of drumsticks beating against a drum and against each other.
Unlike some of the works Dai created in the early 1940s, Yao Drum does not feature a narrative structure, humorous elements, or references to real-life events.
Yao Drum was inspired by a ceremonial dance Dai witnessed during her time performing field research among the Yao people in the province of Guizhou in 1941 or 1942.
Yao Drum is notable for its intense physicality, with Dai performing sharp jumps, swift turns, and dramatic sweeps of her legs through the air as she moves in circles on the stage.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A museum curator is writing a biographical statement about Trinidadian-born Chinese dancer, choreographer, and teacher Dai Ailian for a new exhibit on Chinese dance.' |
|
| 'The curator claims that some of the pieces Dai created shortly after arriving in mainland China in 1941, such as the solo dance Yao Drum, reflect a desire to represent the dances of local communities Dai visited during her travels through China.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A museum curator claims that Dai Ailian's dance pieces created after 1941, including Yao Drum, were designed to represent the local community dances she observed during her travels in China.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a biographical context about Dai Ailian, then presents the curator's specific interpretive claim about her artistic intentions. The claim connects her creative work to her travel experiences and cultural observations.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find a quotation from a dance historian that would serve as effective evidence for the curator's claim.
What type of answer do we need? Evidence that supports the idea that Dai's pieces (like Yao Drum) reflect her desire to represent local community dances she encountered during travels.
Any limiting keywords? 'most effective evidence' - we need the strongest support, and it must be from 'a dance historian.'
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should tell us:
- The quotation should establish a direct connection between Yao Drum and actual local community dances Dai encountered
- It should reference her travels or field research among specific communities
- It should indicate that Yao Drum was intentionally inspired by or based on what she observed
- So the right answer should demonstrate that Yao Drum was directly inspired by dances Dai actually witnessed during her travels to local communities.
There is no sound or music accompanying Dai's movements in Yao Drum, aside from the sounds of drumsticks beating against a drum and against each other.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes the sound elements of Yao Drum (drums and drumsticks only)
- Doesn't connect the piece to any local community dances or Dai's travels
- Provides technical details about the performance but no evidence for cultural inspiration
Unlike some of the works Dai created in the early 1940s, Yao Drum does not feature a narrative structure, humorous elements, or references to real-life events.
✗ Incorrect
- Explains what Yao Drum lacks compared to other early 1940s works
- Doesn't establish any link to local community dances or field research
- Actually distances the piece from real-life events, which weakens rather than supports the claim
Yao Drum was inspired by a ceremonial dance Dai witnessed during her time performing field research among the Yao people in the province of Guizhou in 1941 or 1942.
✓ Correct
- Directly states that Yao Drum was 'inspired by a ceremonial dance Dai witnessed'
- Specifies this happened 'during her time performing field research among the Yao people'
- Places this in the exact timeframe (1941 or 1942) mentioned in the curator's claim
- Creates the precise connection between her travels, local community observation, and artistic creation that the curator needs to support
Yao Drum is notable for its intense physicality, with Dai performing sharp jumps, swift turns, and dramatic sweeps of her legs through the air as she moves in circles on the stage.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on the physical performance qualities of the dance
- Describes the movements but provides no information about cultural inspiration or community connections