Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel Americanah chronicles the divergent experiences of Ifemelu and Obinze, a young Nigerian couple, after high...

GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions

Source: Practice Test

Expression of Ideas

Transitions

EASY

...

Notes

Post a Query

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel Americanah chronicles the divergent experiences of Ifemelu and Obinze, a young Nigerian couple, after high school. Ifemelu moves to the United States to attend a prestigious university. ________ Obinze travels to London, hoping to start a career there. However, frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he soon returns to Nigeria.

Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?

Meanwhile,

Nevertheless,

Secondly,

In fact,

Solution

Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage

Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table

Text from Passage	Analysis
'Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2013 novel Americanah chronicles the divergent experiences of Ifemelu and Obinze, a young Nigerian couple, after high school.'	What it says: Novel follows couple's different paths after high school What it does: Introduces main characters and central premise What it is: Context/setup
'Ifemelu moves to the United States to attend a prestigious university.'	What it says: She goes to US for college What it does: Presents the first character's path What it is: Specific example
'[MISSING TRANSITION]'	What it is: Missing logical connector
'Obinze travels to London, hoping to start a career there.'	What it says: He goes to London for career What it does: Presents the second character's path What it is: Parallel example
'However, frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he soon returns to Nigeria.'	What it says: No opportunities so he returns home What it does: Shows contrasting outcome What it is: Result

Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements

Main Point: The novel follows how a young Nigerian couple takes different international paths after high school.

Argument Flow: Sets up premise of divergent experiences, then presents each character's chosen path in parallel.

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 sentence before tells us about Ifemelu's move to the US
The sentence after tells us about Obinze's move to London
These are two parallel actions happening around the same time - both characters making international moves after high school
The missing word needs to show simultaneous or parallel action

Answer Choices Explained

Meanwhile,

Meanwhile
✓ Correct

Perfectly shows simultaneous action
Creates logical relationship: while Ifemelu goes one direction, Obinze goes another
Fits the parallel structure identified

Nevertheless,

Nevertheless
✗ Incorrect

Suggests contrast or contradiction
Would imply Obinze's action contradicts Ifemelu's
Nothing suggests their choices conflict

Secondly,

Secondly
✗ Incorrect

Implies this is second item in numbered list
Passage isn't structured as formal list
Trap: Students think this works because it's second person mentioned

In fact,

In fact
✗ Incorrect

Suggests emphasis or clarification of previous point
Obinze's journey doesn't clarify Ifemelu's journey
These are separate, parallel actions

Rate this Solution

Tell us what you think about this solution

...

Forum Discussions

Start a new discussion

Post

Previous Attempts

Loading attempts...