The following text is from a 2023 municipal report on the conversion of abandoned industrial lots into community gardens in...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from a 2023 municipal report on the conversion of abandoned industrial lots into community gardens in downtown neighborhoods.
City planners initially viewed the garden project as an inefficient use of potentially valuable commercial real estate, citing concerns about property tax revenue loss and questioning the long-term economic viability of urban agriculture. However, neighborhood residents have embraced these green spaces as transformative additions to their community, celebrating the improved air quality, the opportunities for local food production, and the strengthened social connections that have emerged from collaborative gardening efforts.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
The community garden project has proven more successful than city planners originally anticipated.
Urban agriculture faces significant economic challenges despite its environmental benefits.
While city planners have concerns about the gardens' economic impact, residents celebrate their community benefits.
The conversion of industrial lots has created both opportunities and challenges for downtown development.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "City planners initially viewed the garden project as an inefficient use of potentially valuable commercial real estate" |
|
| "citing concerns about property tax revenue loss and questioning the long-term economic viability of urban agriculture" |
|
| "However, neighborhood residents have embraced these green spaces as transformative additions to their community" |
|
| "celebrating the improved air quality, the opportunities for local food production, and the strengthened social connections that have emerged from collaborative gardening efforts" |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The community garden project creates a contrast between city planners who focus on economic concerns and residents who celebrate the community benefits.
Argument Flow: The passage presents city planners' economic concerns about converting industrial lots to gardens, then contrasts this with residents' enthusiastic embrace of the gardens for their environmental and social benefits.
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 right answer needs to capture the central contrast - city planners have one perspective focused on economic issues, while residents have a completely different perspective focused on community benefits
- The main idea is that there's this fundamental difference in how the two groups view the same project
The community garden project has proven more successful than city planners originally anticipated.
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the gardens exceeded expectations, but the passage doesn't say planners changed their minds
- The contrast is ongoing
Urban agriculture faces significant economic challenges despite its environmental benefits.
✗ Incorrect
- Too narrow - focuses only on economic challenges vs environmental benefits
- Misses the community and social aspects that residents celebrate
While city planners have concerns about the gardens' economic impact, residents celebrate their community benefits.
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the contrast structure of the passage
- Acknowledges city planners' economic concerns and recognizes residents' celebration of community benefits
The conversion of industrial lots has created both opportunities and challenges for downtown development.
✗ Incorrect
- Too vague and general about "opportunities and challenges"
- Doesn't specify the key contrast between planners and residents