The Bayeux Tapestry, from eleventh-century France, depicts 75 scenes over 250 feet of fabric. It was likely produced by workers...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The Bayeux Tapestry, from eleventh-century France, depicts 75 scenes over 250 feet of fabric. It was likely produced by workers embroidering in sections and then joining the resulting panels together. It's plausible that the workshop that produced the tapestry had never produced one so large, and some researchers claim that a close examination of the joins—the places where the panels are stitched together—suggests that the workers developed and refined their joining process over the course of production. For example, the first join the workers completed exhibits a clear misalignment of the borders of the two panels, whereas the later joins are virtually invisible.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It identifies the people and events depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
It supports an argument about the workers who produced the Bayeux Tapestry.
It compares the Bayeux Tapestry with other tapestries from eleventh-century France.
It describes how researchers determined where the Bayeux Tapestry was produced.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The Bayeux Tapestry, from eleventh-century France, depicts 75 scenes over 250 feet of fabric." |
|
| "It was likely produced by workers embroidering in sections and then joining the resulting panels together." |
|
| "It's plausible that the workshop that produced the tapestry had never produced one so large," |
|
| "and some researchers claim that a close examination of the joins suggests that the workers developed and refined their joining process over the course of production." |
|
| "For example, the first join the workers completed exhibits a clear misalignment of the borders of the two panels, whereas the later joins are virtually invisible." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Researchers believe evidence from the tapestry's construction shows that the workers improved their joining technique as they worked on this large project.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined sentence in the overall text
What type of answer do we need? How this specific sentence serves the passage's purpose or structure
Any limiting keywords? Function-based analysis required
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined sentence gives us specific evidence - it contrasts early joins (misaligned) with later joins (virtually invisible)
- This concrete comparison backs up the researchers' claim that workers got better over time
- The sentence functions as proof or support for the argument that came right before it
It identifies the people and events depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the sentence identifies people and events depicted in the tapestry
- The sentence discusses construction techniques, not imagery
It supports an argument about the workers who produced the Bayeux Tapestry.
✓ Correct
- Recognizes the sentence supports an argument about the workers
- The contrast between early misaligned joins and later invisible ones directly supports the argument about skill development
It compares the Bayeux Tapestry with other tapestries from eleventh-century France.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the sentence compares this tapestry with other tapestries
- The sentence only compares different parts of the same tapestry
It describes how researchers determined where the Bayeux Tapestry was produced.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the sentence describes how researchers determined the production location
- The sentence is about join quality over time, not location