Historically, most conductors of major orchestras and opera companies have been European men, but a new, more diverse generation of...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Historically, most conductors of major orchestras and opera companies have been European men, but a new, more diverse generation of artists is stepping up to the podium. Mexico's Alondra de la Parra took over as conductor for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 2017, ______ and Colombia's Lina Gonzalez-Granados did the same for the Los Angeles Opera in 2022.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Historically, most conductors of major orchestras and opera companies have been European men," |
|
| "but a new, more diverse generation of artists is stepping up to the podium." |
|
| "Mexico's Alondra de la Parra took over as conductor for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in 2017," |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "and Colombia's Lina Gonzalez-Granados did the same for the Los Angeles Opera in 2022." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A new generation of diverse conductors is replacing the historically European male-dominated field.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the historical norm of European male conductors, then claims this is changing with more diverse artists, and supports this claim with two specific examples of women from Latin American countries taking major conducting positions.
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 blank comes between two examples that both support the same main claim about increasing diversity
- Both Alondra de la Parra and Lina Gonzalez-Granados are instances of the diverse generation mentioned in the opening
- The transition should signal that we're providing examples of this broader trend
- "In addition" suggests adding new information but doesn't establish the example relationship
- Too generic - doesn't clearly connect these conductors to the diversity claim
- "Lastly" implies this is the final point in a sequence
- The passage doesn't set up a numbered series or suggest this is the concluding example
- "Granted" is used to concede a point or acknowledge something contradictory
- There's no contradiction here - both examples support the same argument
- "For instance" clearly signals that both conductors are specific examples of the diverse generation
- Creates the precise logical relationship we identified - showing these are illustrations of the broader trend
- Connects the concrete examples directly to the abstract claim about diversity