While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Detroit experienced significant economic decline starting in the 1960s.The city's...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Detroit experienced significant economic decline starting in the 1960s.
- The city's unemployment rate peaked at over 25% during the 2008 recession.
- Many neighborhoods saw widespread property abandonment and crime increases.
- Recent urban renewal projects have attracted some new businesses to downtown areas.
- Community gardens and local initiatives have improved some residential districts.
- The city's population dropped from 1.8 million in 1950 to under 700,000 by 2010.
The student wants to emphasize the severity of Detroit's urban challenges. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Detroit's urban renewal projects and community initiatives have led to improvements in some areas of the city.
Detroit's population plummeted from 1.8 million to under 700,000, accompanied by unemployment rates exceeding 25% and widespread property abandonment.
Starting in the 1960s, Detroit experienced economic decline that affected various neighborhoods throughout the city.
Community gardens and new downtown businesses show that Detroit has been working to address its urban challenges.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Detroit experienced significant economic decline starting in the 1960s." |
|
| "The city's unemployment rate peaked at over 25% during the 2008 recession." |
|
| "Many neighborhoods saw widespread property abandonment and crime increases." |
|
| "Recent urban renewal projects have attracted some new businesses to downtown areas." |
|
| "Community gardens and local initiatives have improved some residential districts." |
|
| "The city's population dropped from 1.8 million in 1950 to under 700,000 by 2010." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Detroit has faced severe urban challenges including economic decline, massive population loss, and neighborhood deterioration, though recent efforts show some positive developments.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Detroit's significant problems chronologically, starting with broad economic decline in the 1960s, then providing specific evidence of severity through unemployment and neighborhood deterioration. The final portion introduces counterbalancing improvements, while the population statistic provides dramatic quantification of the overall decline.
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
- To emphasize severity most effectively, we need specific, dramatic data that shows the scale of Detroit's challenges
- The notes give us several powerful pieces of evidence: the population crash from 1.8 million to under 700,000, unemployment exceeding 25%, and widespread property abandonment
- The most compelling answer should combine multiple specific statistics rather than focusing on improvements or using vague language
Detroit's urban renewal projects and community initiatives have led to improvements in some areas of the city.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses entirely on positive developments (renewal projects, community initiatives)
- This directly contradicts the goal of emphasizing severity
Detroit's population plummeted from 1.8 million to under 700,000, accompanied by unemployment rates exceeding 25% and widespread property abandonment.
✓ Correct
- Combines three powerful pieces of evidence: massive population loss (1.8M to under 700K), extreme unemployment (over 25%), and widespread abandonment
- Uses specific numbers that dramatically illustrate the scale of Detroit's problems
Starting in the 1960s, Detroit experienced economic decline that affected various neighborhoods throughout the city.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses vague language ("economic decline," "various neighborhoods") without specific evidence
- Doesn't provide the concrete data needed to show severity effectively
Community gardens and new downtown businesses show that Detroit has been working to address its urban challenges.
✗ Incorrect
- Like Choice A, focuses on positive responses rather than the challenges themselves
- Mentions improvements, not evidence of severity