While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Etel Adnan was a Lebanese American poet and artist known...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Etel Adnan was a Lebanese American poet and artist known for making many leporellos.
- A leporello is an artist's book that is folded accordion style.
- When the book is expanded, the artist's work is revealed, and its zigzag shape allows it to stand on its own.
- Her leporello December from My Window (1993) features a panoramic landscape.
- It is painted using ink and watercolor.
The student wants to describe Adnan's December from My Window to an audience already familiar with leporellos. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Featuring a panoramic landscape, the 1993 work is one of Adnan's many leporellos, which are accordion-style folded books that when expanded reveal the artist's work.
When expanded, Adnan's 1993 leporello December from My Window reveals a panoramic landscape painted in ink and watercolor.
Known for making many other accordion-style folded books called leporellos, Adnan created December from My Window in 1993.
A leporello, such as Adnan's December from My Window, is folded accordion style, and due to its zigzag shape it is able to stand on its own when fully expanded.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Etel Adnan was a Lebanese American poet and artist known for making many leporellos.' |
|
| 'A leporello is an artist's book that is folded accordion style.' |
|
| 'When the book is expanded, the artist's work is revealed, and its zigzag shape allows it to stand on its own.' |
|
| 'Her leporello December from My Window (1993) features a panoramic landscape.' |
|
| 'It is painted using ink and watercolor.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: These notes provide background on Etel Adnan and define leporellos before giving specific details about her 1993 work December from My Window.
Argument Flow: The notes start by introducing Adnan as an artist known for leporellos, then define and explain what leporellos are and how they function, and finally focus on one specific example with details about its content and medium.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the notes to describe this specific work to a knowledgeable audience
What type of answer do we need? A description that focuses on the specific work rather than explaining general concepts the audience already knows
Any limiting keywords? 'already familiar with leporellos' - this means we don't need to explain what leporellos are
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Since the audience already knows what leporellos are, the answer should focus on the specific details about December from My Window rather than explaining the general concept
- From our notes, the key specific details are: it's from 1993, it features a panoramic landscape, and it's painted in ink and watercolor
- The answer should NOT spend time explaining that leporellos are accordion-style books or how they work, since the audience already knows this
Featuring a panoramic landscape, the 1993 work is one of Adnan's many leporellos, which are accordion-style folded books that when expanded reveal the artist's work.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice explains what leporellos are which is unnecessary since the audience is already familiar with leporellos
When expanded, Adnan's 1993 leporello December from My Window reveals a panoramic landscape painted in ink and watercolor.
✓ Correct
- Focuses on the specific details: 1993 date, panoramic landscape content, and ink and watercolor medium
- Doesn't waste time explaining what leporellos are since the audience already knows
Known for making many other accordion-style folded books called leporellos, Adnan created December from My Window in 1993.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions that Adnan made many other accordion-style folded books called leporellos which is explaining the concept unnecessarily
A leporello, such as Adnan's December from My Window, is folded accordion style, and due to its zigzag shape it is able to stand on its own when fully expanded.
✗ Incorrect
- Spends most of the sentence explaining what leporellos are and how they work, which is redundant for an audience already familiar with leporellos