City planners reviewing energy efficiency data found that several buildings constructed in the 1920s consistently outperform modern buildings in terms...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
City planners reviewing energy efficiency data found that several buildings constructed in the 1920s consistently outperform modern buildings in terms of heating costs, despite lacking contemporary insulation technology. Additionally, construction permits and contemporary accounts confirm that these buildings used standard construction materials available at the time. The superior energy performance of these older buildings most likely indicates that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
1920s construction standards required more energy-efficient designs than current standards.
the buildings' architectural design naturally promotes better thermal regulation.
the energy efficiency data may contain errors in the measurement methodology.
modern buildings prioritize aesthetics over energy efficiency in their construction.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'City planners reviewing energy efficiency data found that several buildings constructed in the 1920s consistently outperform modern buildings in terms of heating costs, despite lacking contemporary insulation technology.' |
|
| 'Additionally, construction permits and contemporary accounts confirm that these buildings used standard construction materials available at the time.' |
|
| 'The superior energy performance of these older buildings most likely indicates that ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Buildings from the 1920s are more energy efficient than modern buildings despite using standard materials and lacking contemporary insulation technology.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a counterintuitive finding that older buildings outperform newer ones in energy efficiency, then provides evidence that this was not due to special materials, leading us to consider what else could explain this superior performance.
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
- We know the 1920s buildings are more energy efficient despite having no modern insulation and using standard materials
- The explanation cannot involve special materials or advanced technology
- The most logical explanation would be something intrinsic to how these buildings were designed or constructed
- Since we have ruled out materials and technology, it must be the design approach itself that makes the difference
1920s construction standards required more energy-efficient designs than current standards.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims 1920s construction standards required more energy-efficient designs than current standards
- This contradicts the evidence that they used standard construction materials
- Also implausible that old standards would be more energy-focused than modern ones
the buildings' architectural design naturally promotes better thermal regulation.
✓ Correct
- Suggests the architectural design itself naturally promotes better thermal regulation
- This perfectly explains how buildings using standard materials could still outperform modern ones
- Matches our prethinking that the explanation must lie in design rather than materials or technology
the energy efficiency data may contain errors in the measurement methodology.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the energy efficiency data may contain measurement errors
- While theoretically possible, this does not follow logically from the evidence presented
- The question asks what the performance indicates, implying we should accept the data as reliable and explain it
modern buildings prioritize aesthetics over energy efficiency in their construction.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims modern buildings prioritize aesthetics over energy efficiency
- Even if true, this only suggests why modern buildings might be less efficient but does not explain why 1920s buildings are MORE efficient