While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from the New England Female...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864.
- She became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
- After graduation, she worked primarily in areas with large populations of formerly enslaved people.
- She focused on providing medical care to women and children who had limited access to healthcare.
- In 1883, she published "A Book of Medical Discourses," offering health advice for women and children.
- Her medical degree opened doors for future generations of African American women in medicine.
The student wants to emphasize the groundbreaking nature of Crumpler's achievement. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
After earning her medical degree, Crumpler worked in areas serving formerly enslaved people and published a medical advice book.
Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864 and focused on providing healthcare to women and children.
In 1883, Crumpler published "A Book of Medical Discourses" to provide health advice, building on her medical training from two decades earlier.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864." |
|
| "She became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States." |
|
| "After graduation, she worked primarily in areas with large populations of formerly enslaved people." |
|
| "She focused on providing medical care to women and children who had limited access to healthcare." |
|
| "In 1883, she published 'A Book of Medical Discourses,' offering health advice for women and children." |
|
| "Her medical degree opened doors for future generations of African American women in medicine." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was a pioneering physician who became the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the US and used her groundbreaking achievement to serve underserved communities and inspire future generations.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Crumpler's historic achievement as the first African American woman to earn a US medical degree, then detail how she used this breakthrough to serve marginalized communities, and conclude by emphasizing the lasting impact of her pioneering role on future generations.
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 something as "groundbreaking," we need to focus on what made it unprecedented or historically significant
- From our notes, the key groundbreaking element is that she was "the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States"
- Being "first" is what makes something groundbreaking - it means she broke barriers and created a precedent
- While her later work serving underserved communities and publishing a medical book were important contributions, these don't emphasize the groundbreaking nature of her achievement as much as highlighting her historic "first" status
- So the right answer should directly state or emphasize her role as the first African American woman to achieve this milestone in US medicine
Crumpler was the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
- Directly states she was "the first African American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States"
- This perfectly emphasizes the groundbreaking nature - being "first" is exactly what makes an achievement groundbreaking
- Uses the most relevant information from the notes to accomplish the goal
After earning her medical degree, Crumpler worked in areas serving formerly enslaved people and published a medical advice book.
- Focuses on her post-graduation work and publication
- While this information shows her important contributions, it doesn't emphasize what made her achievement groundbreaking
- What trap this represents: Students might think listing multiple accomplishments better shows her significance, but the question specifically asks to emphasize the "groundbreaking nature," which requires focusing on what was unprecedented
Crumpler graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864 and focused on providing healthcare to women and children.
- Mentions her graduation date and focus area but omits the crucial "first" designation
- Doesn't emphasize what made her achievement groundbreaking or historically significant
- What trap this represents: Students might think providing specific details shows thoroughness, but these details don't address the groundbreaking aspect
In 1883, Crumpler published "A Book of Medical Discourses" to provide health advice, building on her medical training from two decades earlier.
- Centers on her 1883 publication with a reference to her earlier medical training
- While the book was an important contribution, publishing advice doesn't emphasize the groundbreaking nature of earning the degree itself
- Doesn't highlight what made her medical degree achievement unprecedented