Culinary anthropologist Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor may be known for her decades of work in national public television and radio, but her...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Culinary anthropologist Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor may be known for her decades of work in national public television and radio, but her book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl is likely her most influential project. The 1970 book, whose title refers to Smart-Grosvenor's roots in the Low Country of South Carolina, was unusual for its time. It combined memoir, recipes, travel writing, and social commentary and challenged notions about conventions of food and cooking. Long admired by many, the book and its author have shaped contemporary approaches to writing about cuisine.
Which choice best describes the main idea of the text?
Smart-Grosvenor's unconventional book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl is an important contribution to food writing.
Smart-Grosvenor held many different positions over her life, including reporter and food writer.
Smart-Grosvenor's groundbreaking book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl didn't receive the praise it deserved when it was first published in 1970.
Smart-Grosvenor was a talented chef whose work inspired many people to start cooking for themselves.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Culinary anthropologist Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor may be known for her decades of work in national public television and radio,' |
|
| 'but her book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl is likely her most influential project.' |
|
| 'The 1970 book, whose title refers to Smart-Grosvenor's roots in the Low Country of South Carolina,' |
|
| 'was unusual for its time.' |
|
| 'It combined memoir, recipes, travel writing, and social commentary and challenged notions about conventions of food and cooking.' |
|
| 'Long admired by many, the book and its author have shaped contemporary approaches to writing about cuisine.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor's book 'Vibration Cooking' was an unconventional and highly influential contribution to food writing.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces Smart-Grosvenor's general reputation, then argues that her book is actually her most significant work. It explains what made the book unusual (combining multiple genres and challenging conventions) and concludes by emphasizing its lasting influence on contemporary food writing.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message or primary focus of the passage
- Any limiting keywords? 'Main idea' means we need the overarching point, not a detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should focus on Smart-Grosvenor's book 'Vibration Cooking' as the main subject
- It should capture that the book was innovative or unconventional for its time
- It should reflect that it has been important or influential in food writing
- The answer should reflect that the passage is primarily about the book and its significance, not just about Smart-Grosvenor as a person or her other work
- The right answer should highlight the book's unconventional nature and its importance to food writing
Smart-Grosvenor's unconventional book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl is an important contribution to food writing.
✓ Correct
- Accurately identifies the book as the main focus
- Captures its 'unconventional' nature which matches the passage's emphasis on it being 'unusual for its time'
- Describes it as 'an important contribution to food writing' which aligns with how it 'shaped contemporary approaches'
- Matches our prethinking perfectly by focusing on both the book's innovation and significance
Smart-Grosvenor held many different positions over her life, including reporter and food writer.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on Smart-Grosvenor's various career positions rather than on her book
- The passage never mentions her being a 'reporter'
- Misses the main point about the book's influence and unconventional nature
Smart-Grosvenor's groundbreaking book Vibration Cooking: or, the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl didn't receive the praise it deserved when it was first published in 1970.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the book 'didn't receive the praise it deserved' when published
- Directly contradicts the passage which states it was 'long admired by many'
- Students might assume that because something was 'unusual for its time' it wasn't initially appreciated but the passage doesn't support this
Smart-Grosvenor was a talented chef whose work inspired many people to start cooking for themselves.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes Smart-Grosvenor as a 'chef' when the passage calls her a 'culinary anthropologist'
- Claims she 'inspired many people to start cooking' but the passage discusses her influence on food writing not cooking itself
- Completely misses the focus on the book and its literary significance