While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Community gardens in Detroit have proliferated since the 2008 economic...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Community gardens in Detroit have proliferated since the 2008 economic crisis, transforming vacant lots into productive green spaces.
- Urban planner Monica White aimed to examine how these grassroots initiatives affect neighborhood social cohesion and economic development.
- White surveyed residents in neighborhoods with and without community gardens over a two-year period.
- The study measured variables including social interaction frequency, property values, and local business activity.
- Results indicated that areas with community gardens showed increased neighbor interaction, modest property value improvements, and growth in local commerce.
The student wants to present the research study's main purpose. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Community gardens in Detroit have transformed vacant lots into productive spaces since the economic crisis, with measurable effects on neighborhoods.
White surveyed residents and measured social interaction, property values, and business activity in neighborhoods with and without community gardens.
The study found that community gardens increased neighbor interaction, improved property values, and supported local commerce growth.
White aimed to examine how Detroit's grassroots community garden initiatives affect neighborhood social cohesion and economic development.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Community gardens in Detroit have proliferated since the 2008 economic crisis, transforming vacant lots into productive green spaces. |
|
| Urban planner Monica White aimed to examine how these grassroots initiatives affect neighborhood social cohesion and economic development. |
|
| White surveyed residents in neighborhoods with and without community gardens over a two-year period. |
|
| The study measured variables including social interaction frequency, property values, and local business activity. |
|
| Results indicated that areas with community gardens showed increased neighbor interaction, modest property value improvements, and growth in local commerce. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Urban planner Monica White conducted a two-year study to examine how Detroit's community gardens affect neighborhood social dynamics and economic outcomes.
Argument Flow: The notes establish context about Detroit's community garden growth, then present White's research purpose, followed by her methodology, and conclude with the positive findings about community gardens' impacts.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? We need to find the choice that best presents the study's main purpose
- What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures what the research study was trying to accomplish
- Any limiting keywords? 'main purpose' - this focuses us on the research objective, not the methodology, findings, or background context
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, the study's main purpose was clearly stated: White aimed to examine how grassroots community garden initiatives affect neighborhood social cohesion and economic development
- The right answer should focus on this research objective - what White was trying to find out or investigate
Community gardens in Detroit have transformed vacant lots into productive spaces since the economic crisis, with measurable effects on neighborhoods.
- This describes what community gardens have done generally, not what the study aimed to investigate
- Focuses on background context rather than research purpose
White surveyed residents and measured social interaction, property values, and business activity in neighborhoods with and without community gardens.
- This describes White's methodology rather than the study's purpose
- Methodology is how research was conducted, not why it was conducted
The study found that community gardens increased neighbor interaction, improved property values, and supported local commerce growth.
- This presents the study's findings or results rather than its purpose
- Results come after the purpose has been fulfilled
White aimed to examine how Detroit's grassroots community garden initiatives affect neighborhood social cohesion and economic development.
- Directly states White's research objective as presented in the notes
- Captures the main purpose of examining the relationship between community gardens and their effects on social cohesion and economic development