In the 1850s, William Still was instrumental in helping nearly 1,000 people escape from slavery, earning him the moniker 'the...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
In the 1850s, William Still was instrumental in helping nearly 1,000 people escape from slavery, earning him the moniker 'the Father of the Underground Railroad.' ________ despite the fame of his contributions during his lifetime, Still is discussed far less today than other prominent Black abolitionists from his era, such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
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 |
|---|---|
| "In the 1850s, William Still was instrumental in helping nearly 1,000 people escape from slavery, earning him the moniker 'the Father of the Underground Railroad.'" |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "despite the fame of his contributions during his lifetime, Still is discussed far less today than other prominent Black abolitionists from his era, such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Despite William Still's significant historical contributions to the Underground Railroad, he receives less recognition today than other abolitionists from his era.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Still's impressive credentials and historical fame, then contrasts this with his current lesser visibility compared to contemporaries like Douglass and Tubman.
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 relationship we need to establish is a contrast
- The first part tells us Still was famous and accomplished historically
- The second part says he's discussed less today than other abolitionists
- We need a transition that signals this contrast - something that shows the tension between his past recognition and current lesser visibility
- "For example," suggests the second part will provide a specific instance of the first part
- This doesn't work because his current lesser recognition isn't an example of his historical fame - it's the opposite
- "However," signals a contrast between two opposing ideas
- Perfectly matches the relationship between his past fame and current lesser discussion
- Creates the logical flow: he was famous historically, BUT/HOWEVER he's less recognized now
- "Specifically," indicates that more precise details about the previous statement will follow
- The second part isn't giving specific details about his fame - it's presenting contrasting information about his current recognition
- "Similarly," suggests the two parts are alike or comparable in the same direction
- This contradicts the actual relationship - past fame versus current lesser recognition are opposites, not similarities