While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Helen Castor's 2023 work 'The Empress' offers a biographical study...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Helen Castor's 2023 work 'The Empress' offers a biographical study of Josephine Bonaparte.
- Through Josephine's experiences and observations, this biography examines how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during the early 19th century.
- Unlike traditional biographies that present Napoleon primarily as a conqueror and dictator, Castor's approach reveals him as a devoted husband struggling with political pressures.
The student wants to emphasize the biographical approach used in Castor's work. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
'The Empress' examines Napoleon's rise to power through Josephine's experiences and observations.
Helen Castor presents Napoleon as a devoted husband struggling with political pressures.
Traditional biographies present Napoleon primarily as a conqueror and dictator.
'The Empress' is a 2023 biography that focuses on Josephine Bonaparte.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Helen Castor's 2023 work 'The Empress' offers a biographical study of Josephine Bonaparte.' |
|
| 'Through Josephine's experiences and observations, this biography examines how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power during the early 19th century.' |
|
| 'Unlike traditional biographies that present Napoleon primarily as a conqueror and dictator, Castor's approach reveals him as a devoted husband struggling with political pressures.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Helen Castor's biography distinguishes itself by examining Napoleon's rise to power through Josephine's perspective, presenting him as a devoted husband rather than just a conqueror.
Argument Flow: The notes establish basic information about Castor's biographical work, then explain its unique methodological approach of using Josephine's viewpoint to study Napoleon, and finally contrast this approach with traditional biographical treatments.
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
- Based on our analysis, Castor's distinctive biographical approach is that she examines Napoleon through Josephine's perspective - using Josephine's experiences and observations as the lens through which to understand Napoleon's story
- This is what makes her approach different from traditional biographies
- The right answer should highlight this methodological choice - specifically that she uses Josephine's viewpoint to examine Napoleon's rise to power
'The Empress' examines Napoleon's rise to power through Josephine's experiences and observations.
✓ Correct
- Directly emphasizes the distinctive biographical approach by highlighting that the examination happens 'through Josephine's experiences and observations'
- This captures exactly what makes Castor's methodology unique - using one person's perspective to study another
Helen Castor presents Napoleon as a devoted husband struggling with political pressures.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes what Castor reveals about Napoleon (devoted husband with struggles) rather than how she approaches the biography
- This is about the book's findings, not the biographical approach itself
Traditional biographies present Napoleon primarily as a conqueror and dictator.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes traditional biographies rather than Castor's approach
- While this information appears in the notes, it doesn't emphasize Castor's biographical approach
'The Empress' is a 2023 biography that focuses on Josephine Bonaparte.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides only basic factual information (publication year, general subject)
- Doesn't mention anything about the biographical approach or methodology