Concert venues regularly track attendance data to evaluate performance trends. The Riverside Theater averaged 2,200 attendees per show during its...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Concert venues regularly track attendance data to evaluate performance trends. The Riverside Theater averaged 2,200 attendees per show during its fall season. _____ the venue maintained approximately 2,300 guests per performance throughout the winter months.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For example,
Similarly,
By contrast,
In conclusion,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Concert venues regularly track attendance data to evaluate performance trends." |
|
| "The Riverside Theater averaged 2,200 attendees per show during its fall season." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "the venue maintained approximately 2,300 guests per performance throughout the winter months." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Riverside Theater maintained consistent attendance levels across different seasons.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that venues track attendance data, then provides specific data for one theater's fall season, and continues with data from the same theater's winter season, showing similar attendance numbers across both periods.
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
- Looking at our passage analysis, we see that the fall season data shows 2,200 attendees per show, and the winter data shows approximately 2,300 guests per performance
- These numbers are quite similar - both in the 2,200-2,300 range, representing consistent performance for the venue across seasons
- The logical relationship needed is one that shows continuation or similarity - the winter months data is providing additional similar information to what we learned about the fall season
For example,
✗ Incorrect
- "For example" introduces a specific instance to illustrate a broader point
- The winter data isn't an example of the fall data - they're parallel pieces of information about different seasons
Similarly,
✓ Correct
- "Similarly" indicates that what follows parallels or continues the pattern of what came before
- The winter attendance (~2,300) is indeed similar to the fall attendance (2,200)
- This perfectly captures the relationship between the two data points
By contrast,
✗ Incorrect
- "By contrast" signals opposition or difference between ideas
- While 2,300 vs 2,200 is technically different, this small variation doesn't represent a meaningful contrast
In conclusion,
✗ Incorrect
- "In conclusion" signals the end of an argument or summarizes preceding points
- This appears to be continuing with additional data, not concluding the discussion