Text 1 In 1954 George Balanchine choreographed a production of The Nutcracker, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It has...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Text 1
In 1954 George Balanchine choreographed a production of The Nutcracker, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It has since become a tradition for hundreds of dance companies in North America to stage The Nutcracker each year. But the show is stuck in the past, with an old-fashioned story and references, so it should no longer be produced. Ballet needs to create new traditions if it wants to stay relevant to contemporary audiences.
Text 2
The Nutcracker is outdated, but it should be kept because it's a holiday favorite and provides substantial income for some dance companies. Although it can be behind the times, there are creative ways to update the show. For example, Debbie Allen successfully modernized the story. Her show Hot Chocolate Nutcracker combines ballet, tap, hip-hop, and other styles, and it has been gaining in popularity since it opened in 2009.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the underlined claim in Text 1?
By questioning the idea that the story of The Nutcracker is stuck in the past and by rejecting the suggestion that contemporary audiences would enjoy an updated version
By agreeing that contemporary audiences have largely stopped going to see performances of The Nutcracker because it's so old-fashioned
By pointing out that most dance companies could increase their incomes by offering modernized versions of The Nutcracker
By suggesting that dance companies should consider offering revised versions of The Nutcracker instead of completely rejecting the show
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 1954 George Balanchine choreographed a production of The Nutcracker, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky." |
|
| "It has since become a tradition for hundreds of dance companies in North America to stage The Nutcracker each year." |
|
| "But the show is stuck in the past, with an old-fashioned story and references, so it should no longer be produced." |
|
| "Ballet needs to create new traditions if it wants to stay relevant to contemporary audiences." |
|
| "The Nutcracker is outdated, but it should be kept because it's a holiday favorite and provides substantial income for some dance companies." |
|
| "Although it can be behind the times, there are creative ways to update the show." |
|
| "For example, Debbie Allen successfully modernized the story." |
|
| "Her show Hot Chocolate Nutcracker combines ballet, tap, hip-hop, and other styles, and it has been gaining in popularity since it opened in 2009." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 argues The Nutcracker should be abandoned because it is outdated, while Text 2 argues it should be modernized rather than discarded.
Argument Flow: Text 1 acknowledges The Nutcracker popularity but claims its outdated nature means ballet companies should stop producing it entirely and create new traditions. Text 2 counters by agreeing the show is outdated but arguing for modernization instead of abandonment, using Debbie Allen successful adaptation as proof this approach works.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the specific underlined claim in Text 1.
What type of answer do we need? A response that reflects Text 2 position on the underlined claim: "But the show is stuck in the past, with an old-fashioned story and references, so it should no longer be produced."
Any limiting keywords? How the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the specific underlined claim in Text 1.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined claim in Text 1 says The Nutcracker should no longer be produced because it is stuck in the past
- Text 2 author would likely respond by:
- Partially agreeing that the show is outdated (Text 2 says "The Nutcracker is outdated")
- Disagreeing with the solution of stopping production entirely
- Suggesting modernization as an alternative, since Text 2 specifically argues "there are creative ways to update the show" and provides Debbie Allen success as evidence
- So the right answer should reflect Text 2 position that updating/revising The Nutcracker is better than completely abandoning it
By questioning the idea that the story of The Nutcracker is stuck in the past and by rejecting the suggestion that contemporary audiences would enjoy an updated version
- This suggests Text 2 would question whether The Nutcracker is actually outdated, but Text 2 explicitly agrees "The Nutcracker is outdated" - no questioning there
- Also suggests rejecting updated versions, which contradicts Text 2 whole argument about creative modernization
By agreeing that contemporary audiences have largely stopped going to see performances of The Nutcracker because it's so old-fashioned
- This focuses on audiences stopping attendance because it is old-fashioned
- Text 2 does not discuss audience attendance declining - it actually mentions The Nutcracker as a "holiday favorite"
- Misses Text 2 main point about modernization being the solution
By pointing out that most dance companies could increase their incomes by offering modernized versions of The Nutcracker
- While Text 2 mentions income benefits, this choice focuses only on financial gains from modernization
- Text 2 argument is broader - it is about keeping and updating the show for multiple reasons (holiday tradition, income, AND creative possibilities)
By suggesting that dance companies should consider offering revised versions of The Nutcracker instead of completely rejecting the show
- Perfectly captures Text 2 central argument: instead of "completely rejecting the show," offer "revised versions"
- This directly counters Text 1 claim that it "should no longer be produced"
- Aligns with Text 2 evidence about Debbie Allen successful modernization and matches the text suggestion that "there are creative ways to update the show"