Arts and Crafts represents an architectural philosophy that arose in America during the late 19th century, with the Craftsman bungalow...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Arts and Crafts represents an architectural philosophy that arose in America during the late 19th century, with the Craftsman bungalow serving as one particular expression of this broader movement. This architectural approach exhibits significant diversity in its manifestations, ranging from structures with ornate decorative features to those characterized by austere geometric forms. The philosophical foundation traces back to British designer William Morris, who championed the aesthetic value of handmade craftsmanship as a response to the mechanization of industrial production. While American practitioners embraced these foundational concepts, they substantially transformed them by incorporating regional considerations including available building materials, environmental factors, and local aesthetic traditions throughout various areas of the nation.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To establish William Morris as the originator of American architectural traditions and analyze the reasons behind the dramatic aesthetic differences in Arts and Crafts structures
To describe the development and regional modification of the Arts and Crafts architectural approach in America
To detail the construction materials employed in Craftsman bungalows and recognize additional architectural movements that evolved from Morris's concepts
To demonstrate that every American building from the late 19th century exemplifies the Arts and Crafts philosophy and document the diverse factors that shaped the movement
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Arts and Crafts represents an architectural philosophy that arose in America during the late 19th century" |
|
| "with the Craftsman bungalow serving as one particular expression of this broader movement" |
|
| "This architectural approach exhibits significant diversity in its manifestations, ranging from structures with ornate decorative features to those characterized by austere geometric forms." |
|
| "The philosophical foundation traces back to British designer William Morris, who championed the aesthetic value of handmade craftsmanship as a response to the mechanization of industrial production." |
|
| "While American practitioners embraced these foundational concepts, they substantially transformed them by incorporating regional considerations including available building materials, environmental factors, and local aesthetic traditions throughout various areas of the nation." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage explains how the Arts and Crafts architectural philosophy came to America from Britain and was significantly transformed through regional adaptations.
Argument Flow: The text starts by introducing Arts and Crafts as an American architectural philosophy, then traces its British origins in Morris's ideas about handmade craftsmanship, and finally shows how American practitioners transformed these foundational concepts by incorporating regional factors like local materials, environmental conditions, and aesthetic traditions.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
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 correct answer should capture the passage's main focus on how Arts and Crafts architecture came to America and was adapted
- Key elements it must have:
- Recognition that this is about Arts and Crafts architecture in America
- Acknowledgment of the development or evolution process
- Recognition of the regional/American adaptation aspect
- The passage isn't just describing what Arts and Crafts looks like, but rather showing how it developed in America and was modified from its British origins
- The right answer should explain that the passage describes the development and adaptation of Arts and Crafts architecture in American contexts
To establish William Morris as the originator of American architectural traditions and analyze the reasons behind the dramatic aesthetic differences in Arts and Crafts structures
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses too narrowly on establishing Morris as "originator of American architectural traditions" when the passage shows he influenced American traditions but originated British ones
- The passage doesn't primarily analyze "dramatic aesthetic differences" but rather explains the transformation process
To describe the development and regional modification of the Arts and Crafts architectural approach in America
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the passage's focus on how Arts and Crafts "arose in America" (development)
- Includes the key transformation described in the final sentence about regional modification
- Matches our prethinking about development and adaptation being the main focus
To detail the construction materials employed in Craftsman bungalows and recognize additional architectural movements that evolved from Morris's concepts
✗ Incorrect
- Gets sidetracked by specific details like "construction materials" when the passage only briefly mentions "available building materials" as one factor
- Claims to "detail" materials when the passage doesn't provide such detail
- Incorrectly suggests the passage discusses "additional architectural movements" when it focuses on one movement
To demonstrate that every American building from the late 19th century exemplifies the Arts and Crafts philosophy and document the diverse factors that shaped the movement
✗ Incorrect
- Makes an extreme and false claim that "every American building from the late 19th century exemplifies" the philosophy
- The passage never suggests universal adoption, only that the movement existed and was diverse