Text 1Historic downtown buildings constructed before 1950 represent an outdated era and impede urban progress. These structures lack modern safety...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Historic downtown buildings constructed before 1950 represent an outdated era and impede urban progress. These structures lack modern safety features, energy efficiency, and accessibility compliance. Cities should demolish these relics and construct contemporary buildings that meet current needs and reflect modern architectural principles.
Text 2
Historic buildings do face functional challenges, but they provide cultural identity and economic value through heritage tourism. Rather than demolition, cities can pursue adaptive reuse projects that preserve architectural character while upgrading infrastructure. The renovation of Chicago's Merchandise Mart demonstrates how historic structures can be successfully modernized to serve contemporary commercial purposes while maintaining their historic significance.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?
By questioning whether historic buildings truly impede progress and rejecting modernization efforts entirely
By recommending that cities should pursue adaptive reuse of historic buildings rather than demolishing them completely
By agreeing that most downtown buildings constructed before 1950 no longer attract businesses or residents
By pointing out that cities could increase tourism revenue by constructing more contemporary buildings with modern features
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Text 1: "Historic downtown buildings constructed before 1950 represent an outdated era and impede urban progress." |
|
| "These structures lack modern safety features, energy efficiency, and accessibility compliance." |
|
| "Cities should demolish these relics and construct contemporary buildings that meet current needs and reflect modern architectural principles." |
|
| Text 2: "Historic buildings do face functional challenges, but they provide cultural identity and economic value through heritage tourism." |
|
| "Rather than demolition, cities can pursue adaptive reuse projects that preserve architectural character while upgrading infrastructure." |
|
| "The renovation of Chicago's Merchandise Mart demonstrates how historic structures can be successfully modernized to serve contemporary commercial purposes while maintaining their historic significance." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 argues for demolishing historic buildings due to functional problems, while Text 2 advocates for preserving them through adaptive reuse that maintains character while addressing modern needs.
Argument Flow: Text 1 presents a straightforward problem-solution argument: historic buildings are functionally obsolete, so cities should demolish them. Text 2 takes a more nuanced approach, acknowledging the same functional problems but arguing that historic buildings provide cultural and economic value that justifies preservation through modernization rather than demolition.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How would the author of Text 2 respond to the specific claim in Text 1 that historic buildings "impede urban progress."
What type of answer do we need? We need to identify Text 2's likely response to Text 1's central argument—essentially, how Text 2 would counter or address Text 1's main claim.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Based on our analysis, Text 2's author would likely respond to Text 1's "impede progress" claim by:
- Acknowledging that functional challenges exist (which Text 2 does)
- But arguing that demolition isn't the only solution
- Proposing adaptive reuse as a better alternative that addresses the problems while preserving value
- Potentially citing the Chicago example as proof this approach works
- Text 2 doesn't completely reject that there are problems—it offers a different solution to the same problems Text 1 identifies.
By questioning whether historic buildings truly impede progress and rejecting modernization efforts entirely
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests Text 2 would question whether buildings truly impede progress and reject modernization entirely
- Text 2 actually acknowledges functional challenges exist and supports modernization through adaptive reuse
By recommending that cities should pursue adaptive reuse of historic buildings rather than demolishing them completely
✓ Correct
- Captures exactly what Text 2 argues: pursue adaptive reuse rather than demolition
- Matches Text 2's central proposal and the Chicago Merchandise Mart example
By agreeing that most downtown buildings constructed before 1950 no longer attract businesses or residents
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2 doesn't agree that historic buildings fail to attract businesses or residents
- In fact, Text 2 argues these buildings provide "economic value through heritage tourism"
By pointing out that cities could increase tourism revenue by constructing more contemporary buildings with modern features
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2 argues that historic buildings (not contemporary ones) increase tourism revenue
- This reverses Text 2's argument about which type of building brings tourism benefits