Implementation of the new mathematics curriculum framework varied significantly across districts during the 2023-2024 academic year. Riverside School ...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Implementation of the new mathematics curriculum framework varied significantly across districts during the 2023-2024 academic year. Riverside School District completed full adoption, incorporating every recommended teaching strategy and assessment protocol. Westfield District, _____ took a more limited approach, implementing only basic components while indefinitely postponing comprehensive elements.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
for instance,
however,
additionally,
likewise,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Implementation of the new mathematics curriculum framework varied significantly across districts during the 2023-2024 academic year." |
|
| "Riverside School District completed full adoption, incorporating every recommended teaching strategy and assessment protocol." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "Westfield District took a more limited approach, implementing only basic components while indefinitely postponing comprehensive elements." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[OPENING CONTEXT: Implementation varied significantly] → [EXAMPLE 1: Riverside - full comprehensive adoption] → [MISSING CONNECTOR] → [EXAMPLE 2: Westfield - limited basic approach]
Main Point: School districts implemented the new mathematics curriculum framework in significantly different ways during 2023-2024.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes variation in implementation approaches, then illustrates this through two contrasting examples—one district with complete adoption versus another with minimal implementation.
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
- From our analysis, we see Riverside District chose full adoption with every recommended strategy, while Westfield District took a more limited approach with only basic components. These represent opposite implementation strategies.
- The missing transition must signal this contrast between comprehensive versus minimal implementation. We need a word that shows the second district approach differs significantly from the first district thorough adoption.
- So the right answer should be a contrasting transition that highlights how Westfield limited approach differs from Riverside comprehensive implementation.
for instance,
✗ Incorrect
- Introduces an example that supports the previous point. Doesn't work because Westfield isn't an example of comprehensive adoption—it's the opposite.
however,
✓ Correct
- Signals contrast between two different approaches. Perfectly matches our analysis showing comprehensive adoption versus limited implementation. Creates logical flow: full adoption → contrasting transition → limited approach.
additionally,
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests adding similar information to what came before. Would incorrectly imply Westfield also pursued comprehensive implementation. Contradicts the limited approach description.
likewise,
✗ Incorrect
- Indicates similarity between the two examples. Completely contradicts the contrast between full adoption and limited approach.