In 1968, US Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill to establish a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
In 1968, US Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill to establish a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The bill didn't make it to a vote, but Conyers was determined. He teamed up with Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress, and they resubmitted the bill every session for the next fifteen years. ________ in 1983, the bill passed.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Instead,
Likewise,
Finally,
Additionally,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 1968, US Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill to establish a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." |
|
| "The bill didn't make it to a vote, but Conyers was determined." |
|
| "He teamed up with Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress, and they resubmitted the bill every session for the next fifteen years." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "in 1983, the bill passed." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture
Main Point: After 15 years of persistent resubmission following initial failure, Conyers and Chisholm's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday bill finally succeeded in 1983.
Argument Flow: The passage follows a timeline of legislative persistence - starting with an initial failed attempt in 1968, showing sustained determination through repeated resubmission over fifteen years, and culminating in eventual success in 1983.
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
- Looking at our passage map, we need a transition that connects "15 years of repeated resubmission" with "in 1983, the bill passed."
- The relationship here is about culmination - after all those years of trying, the effort finally succeeded.
- The transition should signal that this 1983 success represents the end point of their long struggle, the conclusion of their persistent efforts over fifteen years.
Instead,
Instead
✗ Incorrect
- "Instead" signals contrast or an alternative action.
- This would suggest they did something different rather than continuing their efforts.
- Doesn't fit the timeline showing continued persistence leading to success.
Likewise,
Likewise
✗ Incorrect
- "Likewise" indicates similarity or addition of similar information.
- This would suggest the 1983 event was similar to the previous 15 years of failure.
- Contradicts the fact that 1983 was when they finally succeeded.
Finally,
Finally
✓ Correct
- "Finally" signals the conclusion of a long process or the achievement of a long-sought goal.
- Perfectly captures that after 15 years of resubmitting the bill, they achieved success.
- Creates the logical flow from persistent effort to eventual triumph.
Additionally,
Additionally
✗ Incorrect
- "Additionally" suggests adding more information or another similar event.
- This would imply the bill passing was just another event, not the culmination.
- Doesn't acknowledge the significance of success after years of failure.