While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Architect Julian Abele studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe.Abel...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Architect Julian Abele studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe.
- Abele worked for an architecture firm that was hired in 1924 to design buildings for Duke University's new campus.
- Most of the buildings on Duke's campus were designed in the Gregorian or neo-Gothic architectural styles.
- At the time, Abele was not formally credited with designing the buildings.
- Based on the buildings' architectural styles, historians believe Abele designed most of the campus buildings.
The student wants to specify why historians believe Abele designed most of Duke's campus buildings. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Given that most of the buildings on Duke's campus feature architectural styles that Abele had studied in Europe, historians believe Abele is the one who designed them.
Though Abele wasn't formally credited at the time, historians believe he designed most of the buildings on Duke's campus.
Most of Duke's campus buildings, which were designed by a firm Abele worked for, were designed in the Gregorian and neo-Gothic architectural styles.
Abele, an architect who studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe, is believed to have designed most of the buildings on Duke's campus.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Architect Julian Abele studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe." |
|
| "Abele worked for an architecture firm that was hired in 1924 to design buildings for Duke University's new campus." |
|
| "Most of the buildings on Duke's campus were designed in the Gregorian or neo-Gothic architectural styles." |
|
| "At the time, Abele was not formally credited with designing the buildings." |
|
| "Based on the buildings' architectural styles, historians believe Abele designed most of the campus buildings." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Historians believe Julian Abele designed most of Duke's campus buildings because the architectural styles match what he studied in Europe.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Abele's expertise in specific architectural styles, connect him to the Duke project through his firm, reveal that Duke's buildings feature those same styles, note the lack of formal credit, and conclude that historians use the stylistic evidence to attribute the design work to Abele.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively specifies WHY historians believe Abele designed most of Duke's campus buildings.
What type of answer do we need? An explanation that uses relevant information to provide the reasoning behind historians' belief.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively" means we need the choice that best accomplishes the goal, and "specify why" means we need the underlying reasoning, not just the conclusion.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should connect Abele's European studies to the campus buildings' styles and explain that this stylistic match is the evidence historians use
- The key insight is that historians are making an inference based on the match between the architectural styles Abele studied and the styles actually used on Duke's campus
Given that most of the buildings on Duke's campus feature architectural styles that Abele had studied in Europe, historians believe Abele is the one who designed them.
✓ Correct
- Explicitly states that campus buildings feature styles "that Abele had studied in Europe" and directly connects this stylistic evidence to historians' belief using "given that" to show the causal reasoning historians are using
Though Abele wasn't formally credited at the time, historians believe he designed most of the buildings on Duke's campus.
✗ Incorrect
- States what historians believe but doesn't explain why they believe it
- Mentions lack of formal credit as context but doesn't provide the reasoning
Most of Duke's campus buildings, which were designed by a firm Abele worked for, were designed in the Gregorian and neo-Gothic architectural styles.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides factual information about the buildings and Abele's firm but doesn't explain why historians specifically believe Abele designed them
- Missing the crucial connection between Abele's studies and the architectural evidence
Abele, an architect who studied Gregorian and neo-Gothic architecture in Europe, is believed to have designed most of the buildings on Duke's campus.
✗ Incorrect
- States Abele's background and historians' belief as separate facts but doesn't make the logical connection between his European studies and the campus styles