Contemporary Louisiana Creole cuisine represents a fascinating blend of culinary traditions. French colonists brought techniques for preparing roux an...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Contemporary Louisiana Creole cuisine represents a fascinating blend of culinary traditions. French colonists brought techniques for preparing roux and making sauces, while enslaved Africans contributed knowledge of rice cultivation and okra preparation. Spanish settlers also influenced the region's cooking methods. The way certain spice combinations are used in modern Louisiana dishes can often be _____ to traditional West African seasoning practices.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
dismissed
attributed
converted
recommended
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Contemporary Louisiana Creole cuisine represents a fascinating blend of culinary traditions.' |
|
| 'French colonists brought techniques for preparing roux and making sauces, while enslaved Africans contributed knowledge of rice cultivation and okra preparation.' |
|
| 'Spanish settlers also influenced the region's cooking methods.' |
|
| 'The way certain spice combinations are used in modern Louisiana dishes can often be __ to traditional West African seasoning practices.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Contemporary Louisiana Creole cuisine reflects a fascinating blend of culinary traditions from French, African, and Spanish influences.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Louisiana Creole cuisine as a multicultural blend, then systematically shows how different groups contributed specific techniques and knowledge. It concludes by focusing on how modern spice practices can be connected back to traditional West African methods.
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
- Based on our passage analysis, we know that enslaved Africans contributed knowledge to Louisiana Creole cuisine
- The sentence structure suggests we need a word that shows how modern Louisiana spice combinations can be traced back to or connected with West African practices
- The right answer should show that modern spice combinations can be traced back to or credited to traditional West African practices
dismissed
- This would mean the spice combinations are rejected in relation to West African practices
- This contradicts the passage theme of showing cultural contributions
attributed
- This means the spice combinations can be credited to or traced back to West African practices
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about giving credit to historical origins
- Fits the passage pattern of showing cultural contributions
converted
- This would mean the spice combinations are changed in relation to West African practices
- Does not capture the relationship of tracing origins
recommended
- This would mean the spice combinations are suggested in relation to West African practices
- Does not make sense in this context about historical connections