Among the fitness initiatives launched by the Martinez Community Center last year, the swimming program stands out for its complete...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Among the fitness initiatives launched by the Martinez Community Center last year, the swimming program stands out for its complete reliance on internal resources. Staff members from the center serve as instructors, while maintenance teams ensure year-round pool operations. This approach differs markedly from the yoga classes, where the center provides only space and basic equipment while depending on certified instructors brought in from an established downtown studio. The strength training program faced different challenges altogether—poor attendance led to the cancellation of most planned sessions when enrollment proved insufficient.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
The Martinez Community Center successfully launched three fitness programs last year.
Swimming lessons require more local resources than other fitness programs to maintain.
Among the three fitness programs at the Martinez Community Center, swimming has been the most self-sufficient.
Community centers should focus on programs that utilize local expertise rather than external resources.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Among the fitness initiatives launched by the Martinez Community Center last year, the swimming program stands out for its complete reliance on internal resources." |
|
| "Staff members from the center serve as instructors, while maintenance teams ensure year-round pool operations." |
|
| "This approach differs markedly from the yoga classes, where the center provides only space and basic equipment while depending on certified instructors brought in from an established downtown studio." |
|
| "The strength training program faced different challenges altogether—poor attendance led to the cancellation of most planned sessions when enrollment proved insufficient." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Among the Martinez Community Center's fitness programs, the swimming program is uniquely self-sufficient in using only internal resources.
Argument Flow: The passage opens by highlighting swimming's complete reliance on internal resources, then explains what this means practically. It contrasts this with yoga's mixed internal/external approach and strength training's attendance problems, emphasizing swimming's distinctive self-sufficiency.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central point or theme
- Any limiting keywords? Main idea means we need the overarching point, not a supporting detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage is structured around showing how swimming differs from the other two programs
- Swimming uses only internal resources, yoga uses a mix, and strength training had attendance problems
- The key point is that swimming stands out for being completely self-contained while the others are not
The Martinez Community Center successfully launched three fitness programs last year.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims all three programs were successful launches
- This ignores that strength training sessions were mostly cancelled due to poor attendance
Swimming lessons require more local resources than other fitness programs to maintain.
✗ Incorrect
- Says swimming requires more local resources than other programs
- This misses the point - it's not about requiring more, it's about being self-sufficient
Among the three fitness programs at the Martinez Community Center, swimming has been the most self-sufficient.
✓ Correct
- Captures that swimming has been the most self-sufficient among the three programs
- This matches our prethinking about swimming's distinctive self-reliance on internal resources
Community centers should focus on programs that utilize local expertise rather than external resources.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a prescriptive recommendation about what centers should do
- The passage is descriptive, not prescriptive - it describes what happened, doesn't make policy recommendations