Text 1Community theaters in rural areas face significant accessibility challenges. High production costs and limited venue options mean that quality...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Community theaters in rural areas face significant accessibility challenges. High production costs and limited venue options mean that quality performances remain concentrated in urban centers with established arts infrastructure. Cultural advocates are developing innovative solutions, including mobile theater programs and community-sponsored productions, to bring professional performances to underserved populations.
Text 2
Research by cultural economist Marina Rodriguez demonstrates that communities with regular access to live theater show 35% higher levels of civic engagement and social cohesion. Rodriguez's longitudinal study found that even monthly performances in small towns produced measurable improvements in community participation and local pride within two years.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 1 most likely respond to the research findings mentioned in Text 2?
By arguing that mobile theater programs and community sponsorships could help achieve the civic benefits Rodriguez identified in her study
By questioning whether Rodriguez's findings account for the higher production costs associated with rural theater programs
By suggesting that urban centers already demonstrate the civic engagement levels Rodriguez measured in small towns
By noting that monthly performances may be insufficient to address the accessibility challenges facing rural communities
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Text 1: "Community theaters in rural areas face significant accessibility challenges." |
|
| "High production costs and limited venue options mean that quality performances remain concentrated in urban centers with established arts infrastructure." |
|
| "Cultural advocates are developing innovative solutions, including mobile theater programs and community-sponsored productions, to bring professional performances to underserved populations." |
|
| Text 2: "Research by cultural economist Marina Rodriguez demonstrates that communities with regular access to live theater show 35% higher levels of civic engagement and social cohesion." |
|
| "Rodriguez's longitudinal study found that even monthly performances in small towns produced measurable improvements in community participation and local pride within two years." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 identifies rural theater accessibility challenges and proposes innovative solutions, while Text 2 provides research evidence that theater access significantly improves community civic engagement and social cohesion.
Argument Flow: Text 1 follows a problem-solution structure, acknowledging barriers but focusing on innovative approaches. Text 2 provides empirical evidence demonstrating concrete community benefits that justify pursuing these solutions.
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 Text 1 author is solution-oriented, focusing on innovative ways to overcome challenges through mobile programs and community sponsorships
- Rodriguez's research shows theater access produces significant community benefits
- The right answer should show the Text 1 author viewing Rodriguez's findings as support for their proposed solutions
By arguing that mobile theater programs and community sponsorships could help achieve the civic benefits Rodriguez identified in her study
- This matches our prethinking
- Text 1's author would see Rodriguez's research as validation for their solution-focused approach, connecting mobile theater programs to documented civic benefits
By questioning whether Rodriguez's findings account for the higher production costs associated with rural theater programs
- Text 1's author is solution-focused, not skeptical
- This suggests questioning research, but Text 1 shows an optimistic problem-solving mindset
By suggesting that urban centers already demonstrate the civic engagement levels Rodriguez measured in small towns
- Misses the point about rural accessibility
- Text 1 focuses on bringing theater TO rural areas, not comparing them to urban areas
By noting that monthly performances may be insufficient to address the accessibility challenges facing rural communities
- This is pessimistic about performance frequency, but Text 1's author is optimistic about solutions working
- Text 2 shows even monthly performances produce improvements