In Gothic architecture, flying buttresses are large arches that help support a building's exterior walls. Before the Gothic era, cathedrals'...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
In Gothic architecture, flying buttresses are large arches that help support a building's exterior walls. Before the Gothic era, cathedrals' heavy ceilings had to be supported by thick, short walls, but the invention of flying buttresses eliminated this need. ______ Gothic cathedrals could be built with thinner, higher walls.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Similarly,
For instance,
Nevertheless,
As a result,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In Gothic architecture, flying buttresses are large arches that help support a building's exterior walls." |
|
| "Before the Gothic era, cathedrals' heavy ceilings had to be supported by thick, short walls, but the invention of flying buttresses eliminated this need." |
|
| "Gothic cathedrals could be built with thinner, higher walls." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Flying buttresses revolutionized Gothic architecture by eliminating the need for thick supporting walls.
Argument Flow: The passage defines flying buttresses, explains how they solved an architectural problem that required thick walls in pre-Gothic times, then shows the resulting architectural possibilities this innovation created.
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 analysis, we can see the logical flow clearly
- The sentence before the blank tells us that flying buttresses eliminated the need for thick walls
- The sentence after the blank tells us what Gothic cathedrals could be built with as a result
- This is a clear cause-and-effect relationship
- The right relationship here is: Because flying buttresses solved the thick wall problem, Gothic cathedrals could have different wall characteristics
- We need a transition that signals this logical consequence
Similarly,
Similarly
✗ Incorrect
- Similarly indicates comparison or likeness between two things
- This doesn't fit because we're not comparing Gothic cathedrals to something else - we're showing what became possible because of the flying buttress innovation
For instance,
For instance
✗ Incorrect
- For instance introduces a specific example of a broader concept
- The thin, high walls aren't an example of flying buttresses - they're what became possible because of flying buttresses
Nevertheless,
Nevertheless
✗ Incorrect
- Nevertheless shows contrast or opposition, suggesting something unexpected
- There's no contrast here - the thin, high walls are exactly what we'd expect after eliminating the need for thick walls
As a result,
As a result
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the cause-and-effect relationship we identified in our analysis
- Shows that the ability to build thinner, higher walls is a direct consequence of the flying buttress innovation