During the 1960s, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer was initially dismissed by established civil rights organizations. _____ Hamer's grassroots...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
During the 1960s, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer was initially dismissed by established civil rights organizations. _____ Hamer's grassroots approach in Mississippi proved highly effective, leading to significant voter registration increases. Her success eventually earned recognition from national civil rights leaders.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Furthermore,
However,
Specifically,
Therefore,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "During the 1960s, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer was initially dismissed by established civil rights organizations." |
|
| _______ |
|
| "Hamer's grassroots approach in Mississippi proved highly effective, leading to significant voter registration increases." |
|
| "Her success eventually earned recognition from national civil rights leaders." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite initial dismissal by established civil rights organizations, Fannie Lou Hamer's grassroots approach proved highly effective and eventually earned her recognition.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a contrast between how Hamer was initially received (dismissed) versus her actual effectiveness (highly successful), ultimately leading to the recognition she deserved. The missing connector needs to signal this shift from negative reception to positive reality.
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 a clear shift happening at the blank
- The sentence before tells us Hamer was dismissed by established civil rights organizations - that's negative
- The sentence after the blank says her approach proved highly effective - that's positive and successful
- The logical connector needs to signal that contrast - it needs to show we're moving from the negative perception to the positive reality
- We need a word that essentially says despite what those organizations thought or contrary to their dismissal
- So the right answer should signal contrast or opposition between the initial dismissal and her actual effectiveness
Furthermore,
- Furthermore continues in the same direction as the previous statement
- Would suggest her effectiveness somehow supports or adds to the dismissal
- This doesn't make logical sense - you can't build upon being dismissed
However,
- Creates the perfect contrast between dismissal and effectiveness
- Signals despite being dismissed, she was actually successful
- Matches our prethinking about needing to show opposition between perception and reality
- Sets up the logical flow: dismissed BUT actually effective therefore eventually recognized
Specifically,
- Specifically provides more detailed information about the same topic
- Would suggest her effectiveness is a detailed example of the dismissal
- This creates confusion - effectiveness can't be a specific instance of being dismissed
Therefore,
- Therefore shows causation - that her effectiveness resulted from being dismissed
- This reverses the logical relationship in the passage