The following text is adapted from historian Marcus Rodriguez's 2021 analysis of American labor movements. The passage examines workplace organizing...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from historian Marcus Rodriguez's 2021 analysis of American labor movements. The passage examines workplace organizing strategies during economic downturns.
Economic crises often serve as galvanizing moments for labor organization, transforming worker frustration into collective action. The 2008 financial recession, while devastating for employment, sparked renewed interest in union membership as workers faced wage cuts and benefit reductions. These challenging economic conditions created solidarity among previously disconnected employee groups, leading to successful organizing drives across multiple industries. The galvanizing effect of shared economic hardship proved more powerful than years of traditional recruitment efforts.
As used in the text, what does the word "galvanizing" most nearly mean?
Dividing
Complicating
Energizing
Discouraging
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Economic crises often serve as galvanizing moments for labor organization, transforming worker frustration into collective action." |
|
| "The 2008 financial recession, while devastating for employment, sparked renewed interest in union membership as workers faced wage cuts and benefit reductions." |
|
| "These challenging economic conditions created solidarity among previously disconnected employee groups, leading to successful organizing drives across multiple industries." |
|
| "The galvanizing effect of shared economic hardship proved more powerful than years of traditional recruitment efforts." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Economic crises effectively energize workers to organize collectively, proving more powerful than traditional recruitment approaches.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that economic crises serve as galvanizing moments for labor organization, then supports this with the 2008 recession example, explains how challenging conditions create solidarity among workers, and concludes by emphasizing that this crisis-driven organizing outperformed traditional methods.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of the word "galvanizing" as used in this specific passage context.
What type of answer do we need? A synonym or definition that captures how "galvanizing" functions in the author's discussion of economic crises and labor organizing.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, we see that "galvanizing" describes how economic crises function as powerful motivating forces for labor organization
- The passage shows crises "transforming worker frustration into collective action," "sparking renewed interest," and creating "solidarity" that leads to "successful organizing drives"
- The word describes something that activates, energizes, or stimulates people into action
- The right answer should capture the idea that economic crises energize or stimulate workers to organize - they activate them into collective action
Dividing
Dividing
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests economic crises split workers apart
- Contradicts the passage's emphasis on crises creating "solidarity among previously disconnected employee groups"
Complicating
Complicating
✗ Incorrect
- This would mean crises make labor organizing more difficult or complex
- Contradicts the passage's point that crises lead to "successful organizing drives"
Energizing
Energizing
✓ Correct
- Perfectly matches how the passage describes crises as activating and motivating forces
- Aligns with crises "sparking renewed interest," creating "solidarity," and leading to "successful organizing drives"
- Captures the sense that crises stimulate workers into collective action
Discouraging
Discouraging
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests crises demotivate workers from organizing
- Directly contradicts the entire passage, which shows crises increasing union membership and organizing success