While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Bike-share programs provide bicycles for shared use.In docked bike sharing,...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Bike-share programs provide bicycles for shared use.
- In docked bike sharing, riders rent a bike and return it to designated docking stations.
- Docked programs are orderly and offer consistency to riders but require significant space and money to implement.
- In dockless bike sharing, riders locate a bike and leave it wherever they choose.
- Dockless programs are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement and offer flexibility to riders.
- Dockless programs can be disorganized.
The student wants to compare some disadvantages of docked and dockless bike-share programs. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Dockless programs can be disorganized; docked programs, on the other hand, offer order and consistency.
Worth noting is that while dockless programs are relatively easy and inexpensive to implement, they are less flexible than docked programs.
Docked programs are more resource-intensive than dockless programs, but they avoid some of the latter's organizational challenges.
Though dockless programs offer flexibility, docked bike-share programs provide bicycles for shared use.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Bike-share programs provide bicycles for shared use." |
|
| "In docked bike sharing, riders rent a bike and return it to designated docking stations." |
|
| "Docked programs are orderly and offer consistency to riders but require significant space and money to implement." |
|
| "In dockless bike sharing, riders locate a bike and leave it wherever they choose." |
|
| "Dockless programs are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement and offer flexibility to riders." |
|
| "Dockless programs can be disorganized." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes compare two bike-sharing models—docked and dockless systems—each with distinct operational methods and trade-offs.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student's goal is to "compare some disadvantages of docked and dockless bike-share programs."
What type of answer do we need? This requires a comparison that highlights disadvantages of both systems, not advantages or general comparisons.
Any limiting keywords? Compare, disadvantages, both docked and dockless systems
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, we identified clear disadvantages for each system: Docked systems require significant space and money (resource-intensive), while dockless systems can be disorganized (organizational problems)
- The right answer should present both of these disadvantages in a comparative way
Dockless programs can be disorganized; docked programs, on the other hand, offer order and consistency.
✗ Incorrect
- States dockless programs are disorganized but then focuses on docked advantages rather than disadvantages
- Only gives half of what the question asks for
Worth noting is that while dockless programs are relatively easy and inexpensive to implement, they are less flexible than docked programs.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims dockless programs are "less flexible than docked programs" which contradicts the notes that clearly state dockless programs "offer flexibility to riders"
Docked programs are more resource-intensive than dockless programs, but they avoid some of the latter's organizational challenges.
✓ Correct
- Identifies that docked programs are "resource-intensive" (matches "require significant space and money")
- Identifies that dockless programs have "organizational challenges" (matches "can be disorganized")
- Successfully compares disadvantages of both systems as requested
Though dockless programs offer flexibility, docked bike-share programs provide bicycles for shared use.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions dockless flexibility (an advantage, not disadvantage)
- Doesn't compare disadvantages at all