City planner David Chen's early experiences growing up in crowded, poorly designed housing projects profoundly shaped his professional philosophy. His...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
City planner David Chen's early experiences growing up in crowded, poorly designed housing projects profoundly shaped his professional philosophy. His childhood memories of neighbors who rarely interacted due to isolating corridor layouts led him to prioritize community connection in his later work. This background influenced his design of Riverside Park's renovation (2019), where he created winding pathways that encourage chance encounters, and his planning of the new Central Library plaza (2021), which features clustered seating areas that naturally bring people together.
Which choice best states the text's main idea about Chen?
He focuses primarily on residential projects because of his housing project background.
He has developed his design philosophy through professional experience rather than formal training.
His personal background directly influences his approach to public space design.
He believes that childhood experiences are the most important factor in shaping adult perspectives.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| City planner David Chen's early experiences growing up in crowded, poorly designed housing projects profoundly shaped his professional philosophy. |
|
| His childhood memories of neighbors who rarely interacted due to isolating corridor layouts led him to prioritize community connection in his later work. |
|
| This background influenced his design of Riverside Park's renovation (2019), where he created winding pathways that encourage chance encounters, and his planning of the new Central Library plaza (2021), which features clustered seating areas that naturally bring people together. |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: David Chen's childhood experiences in poorly designed housing projects directly shaped his professional philosophy, leading him to prioritize community connection in his public space designs.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship between Chen's personal background and his professional approach. It first states that his childhood experiences shaped his philosophy, then explains the specific mechanism, and finally provides concrete examples of how this philosophy manifests in his actual projects.
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 how Chen's personal experiences directly influence his professional work
- The main idea isn't just about his background or just about his projects, but about the clear connection between the two
He focuses primarily on residential projects because of his housing project background.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims he focuses primarily on residential projects
- The passage gives examples of public spaces (park renovation and library plaza), not residential projects
He has developed his design philosophy through professional experience rather than formal training.
✗ Incorrect
- Says he developed philosophy through professional experience rather than formal training
- The passage clearly states his philosophy came from childhood experiences, not professional work
His personal background directly influences his approach to public space design.
✓ Correct
- States that personal background directly influences his approach to public space design
- Matches exactly what we see: childhood experiences leading to professional philosophy leading to specific design choices
He believes that childhood experiences are the most important factor in shaping adult perspectives.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a broad claim about Chen's beliefs regarding childhood experiences in general
- The passage is specifically about Chen's own experience, not his general philosophy about childhood's importance