In the 1960s, documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman was frustrated by the artificial nature of traditional documentaries that relied heavily on...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
In the 1960s, documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman was frustrated by the artificial nature of traditional documentaries that relied heavily on narration and staged interviews. He observed that people behaved more naturally when cameras were present but not intrusive, and when no interviewer was directing the conversation. Based on this observation, Wiseman pioneered a filmmaking approach that eliminated voice-over narration and talking-head interviews entirely. His "direct cinema" technique captured subjects in their natural environments, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions from unmediated footage.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To compare direct cinema with traditional documentary approaches
To discuss Wiseman's development of the direct cinema technique
To explain the problems with voice-over narration in documentaries
To describe how people behave when cameras are present
I'll solve this step-by-step, following the structured process to help students understand both the correct approach and common pitfalls.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In the 1960s, documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman was frustrated by the artificial nature of traditional documentaries that relied heavily on narration and staged interviews." |
|
| "He observed that people behaved more naturally when cameras were present but not intrusive, and when no interviewer was directing the conversation." |
|
| "Based on this observation, Wiseman pioneered a filmmaking approach that eliminated voice-over narration and talking-head interviews entirely." |
|
| "His 'direct cinema' technique captured subjects in their natural environments, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions from unmediated footage." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage explains how Frederick Wiseman developed his revolutionary direct cinema documentary technique in response to his frustration with traditional artificial documentary methods.
Argument Flow: The text follows a clear problem-solution structure. It begins with Wiseman's frustration, presents his key observation about natural behavior, shows how this led to his innovation, and concludes by describing his resulting technique and its effects.
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 passage clearly follows Wiseman's journey from problem to solution
- It starts with his frustration, shows his key insight, and explains how he created something new
- The right answer should capture this developmental story - it's not just comparing techniques or explaining problems, but specifically about how Wiseman created his direct cinema approach
- The answer should mention both Wiseman and the development/creation of direct cinema, since that's the central narrative arc
- The right answer should tell us that this passage is about Wiseman developing or creating his direct cinema technique
To compare direct cinema with traditional documentary approaches
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the passage equally weighs traditional vs. direct cinema approaches
- While the passage mentions traditional documentaries, it's only as background context for Wiseman's innovation
- The focus isn't on comparison but on development process
To discuss Wiseman's development of the direct cinema technique
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the passage's developmental narrative from frustration to innovation
- Focuses on Wiseman (the main subject) and the creation process (the main action)
- Matches our passage map showing problem to observation to solution to technique
To explain the problems with voice-over narration in documentaries
✗ Incorrect
- Too narrow - voice-over narration is just one element mentioned
- The passage isn't primarily about problems with narration but about Wiseman's creative process
- Misses the positive development aspect that dominates the passage
To describe how people behave when cameras are present
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on human behavior rather than Wiseman's filmmaking innovation
- People's camera behavior is just supporting evidence for Wiseman's technique, not the main point
- Completely misses the central figure (Wiseman) and main action (developing technique)