As an architect in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Helen Liu Fong became known for avoiding ______ designs in her...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
As an architect in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Helen Liu Fong became known for avoiding ______ designs in her buildings. Instead of using standard shapes and colors, she typically explored innovative forms and daring hues.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| As an architect in Los Angeles in the 1950s, Helen Liu Fong became known for avoiding _______ designs in her buildings. |
|
| Instead of using standard shapes and colors, she typically explored innovative forms and daring hues. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Helen Liu Fong was known for avoiding certain types of designs and instead using innovative and daring design elements.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Helen Liu Fong's identity as a 1950s LA architect, notes her reputation for avoiding a particular type of design, then contrasts this by explaining what she actually did - using innovative and daring elements instead of standard ones.
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 key relationship here is established by 'Instead' - this shows a contrast between what she avoided and what she actually did
- She avoided [BLANK] designs but instead used 'innovative forms and daring hues' rather than 'standard shapes and colors'
- So the missing word should describe designs that contrast with 'innovative' and 'daring' and align with 'standard'
- The word should represent conventional, ordinary, or established design approaches
- 'Creative' would be similar in meaning to 'innovative'
- This would eliminate the contrast that 'instead' signals
- 'Bold' would be similar in meaning to 'daring'
- This would create no meaningful contrast with her actual approach
- 'Traditional' perfectly contrasts with 'innovative forms and daring hues'
- This aligns with 'standard shapes and colors' mentioned in the contrast
- Creates the logical opposition that 'instead' requires
- 'Understandable' doesn't relate to design style characteristics
- Doesn't establish a meaningful contrast with innovative/daring approaches