Historic preservationists have championed strict zoning laws to protect urban neighborhoods, arguing that such regulations would safeguard architectur...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Historic preservationists have championed strict zoning laws to protect urban neighborhoods, arguing that such regulations would safeguard architectural heritage and maintain community character. Despite these efforts, many designated historic districts continue experiencing significant losses of original buildings. _____ four of the city's six protected districts have lost over 25% of their historic structures to redevelopment in recent years.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
As a result,
Furthermore,
By contrast,
Nevertheless,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Historic preservationists have championed strict zoning laws to protect urban neighborhoods, arguing that such regulations would safeguard architectural heritage and maintain community character." |
|
| "Despite these efforts, many designated historic districts continue experiencing significant losses of original buildings." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "four of the city's six protected districts have lost over 25% of their historic structures to redevelopment in recent years." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite preservationists efforts to protect urban neighborhoods through zoning laws, historic districts continue to lose significant numbers of original buildings.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes what preservationists hoped to achieve through strict zoning laws, then reveals that their efforts have not worked as intended, with many historic districts still experiencing losses of original buildings.
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
- The sentence before the blank makes a general claim about historic districts losing buildings despite preservation efforts
- The sentence after the blank provides specific statistical evidence of exactly that problem - four out of six protected districts have lost over 25% of their structures
- So we need a transition that shows the specific evidence is supporting or elaborating on the general claim that was just made
- This should be a continuation relationship, not a contrast or result relationship
- The right answer should signal adding specific evidence for what was just stated
As a result,
- "As a result" suggests the 25% loss is a consequence of something mentioned before
- But the evidence is not a result of the preservation efforts - it is evidence that the efforts failed
- Creates a cause-effect relationship that does not fit the logic
Furthermore,
- "Furthermore" signals additional supporting information
- Perfectly connects the general statement about continued losses with specific statistical evidence
- Shows that the 25% statistic elaborates on and proves the general claim about ongoing losses
By contrast,
- "By contrast" signals opposition or difference between two ideas
- But the specific evidence does not contrast with the general statement - it supports it
- Would create a logical contradiction where none exists
Nevertheless,
- "Nevertheless" suggests moving past an obstacle or conceding a point
- The specific evidence is not moving past the general claim - it is proving it
- Creates an unnecessary sense of opposition