Dr. Martinez's research focuses on developing sustainable energy solutions through community-based approaches. Her team in Portland implemented roofto...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Dr. Martinez's research focuses on developing sustainable energy solutions through community-based approaches. Her team in Portland implemented rooftop solar installations by partnering with local homeowner associations to reduce installation costs. _____ her colleagues in Denver worked with neighborhood groups to establish shared wind energy systems that serve multiple households.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Similarly,
Therefore,
In contrast,
Nonetheless,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Martinez's research focuses on developing sustainable energy solutions through community-based approaches." |
|
| "Her team in Portland implemented rooftop solar installations by partnering with local homeowner associations to reduce installation costs." |
|
| "her colleagues in Denver worked with neighborhood groups to establish shared wind energy systems that serve multiple households." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Martinez's research demonstrates how community partnerships can make sustainable energy solutions more accessible and cost-effective.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Dr. Martinez's community-based approach to sustainable energy, then provides two parallel examples—one from Portland using solar with homeowner associations, and another from Denver using wind energy with neighborhood groups—both showing the same collaborative strategy in action.
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 analysis, we have two examples that both demonstrate the same concept—Dr. Martinez's community-based approach to sustainable energy
- Portland shows solar installations with homeowner associations, and Denver shows wind systems with neighborhood groups
- Both examples follow the same pattern: sustainable technology + community partnership
- The transition needs to show that the Denver example is another instance of the same type of approach we just saw in Portland
- We need a connector that signals similarity or continuation, showing these are parallel examples of the community-based strategy
Similarly,
- "Similarly" perfectly connects two parallel examples of community-based energy solutions
- Shows that Denver's wind project follows the same collaborative approach as Portland's solar project
Therefore,
- "Therefore" signals cause-and-effect, suggesting Denver's project resulted from Portland's
- The passage presents two separate examples, not a causal sequence
In contrast,
- "In contrast" would signal opposition between the Portland and Denver examples
- Both examples actually support the same point about community partnerships
Nonetheless,
- "Nonetheless" signals concession, implying Denver's project happened despite Portland's
- Both projects align with and support Dr. Martinez's research focus