While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:In the early 1900s, over 300 distinct indigenous languages were...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In the early 1900s, over 300 distinct indigenous languages were spoken across North America.
- The expansion of English-medium education and urbanization in the mid-20th century promoted linguistic homogenization.
- Many indigenous languages were considered impractical for modern communication and education.
- Today, fewer than 175 of these languages remain actively spoken, with many having fewer than 100 speakers.
- The Endangered Languages Project works to document and revitalize indigenous languages before they disappear.
- Linguists estimate that one indigenous language dies every two weeks globally.
The student wants to emphasize the decline in indigenous language diversity and specify what caused this decline. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?
Following the expansion of English-medium education and urbanization, North American communities primarily adopted dominant languages, leading to the loss of over 125 indigenous languages considered impractical for modern use.
The Endangered Languages Project focuses on documenting indigenous languages that were lost after changes in educational and social practices during the mid-20th century.
Although over 300 indigenous languages were spoken in North America in the early 1900s, fewer than 175 remain actively spoken today.
With the rise of urbanization in the mid-20th century, the number of languages selected for educational and professional use decreased significantly.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In the early 1900s, over 300 distinct indigenous languages were spoken across North America.' |
|
| 'The expansion of English-medium education and urbanization in the mid-20th century promoted linguistic homogenization.' |
|
| 'Many indigenous languages were considered impractical for modern communication and education.' |
|
| 'Today, fewer than 175 of these languages remain actively spoken, with many having fewer than 100 speakers.' |
|
| 'The Endangered Languages Project works to document and revitalize indigenous languages before they disappear.' |
|
| 'Linguists estimate that one indigenous language dies every two weeks globally.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Indigenous language diversity in North America has dramatically declined from over 300 languages in the early 1900s to fewer than 175 today due to educational and social changes.
Argument Flow: The notes establish a clear trajectory from abundance to scarcity. They begin with the historical richness of indigenous languages, identify the mid-20th century forces that promoted homogenization, and conclude with today's stark reality of widespread language loss, while noting both preservation efforts and the global scope of this crisis.
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 right answer should combine specific data about the decline with clear identification of the causal factors
- It should emphasize decline with concrete numbers showing the dramatic drop from 300+ languages to fewer than 175 today
- It should specify causes including English-medium education expansion and urbanization
- It should connect these causes directly to the language loss
Following the expansion of English-medium education and urbanization, North American communities primarily adopted dominant languages, leading to the loss of over 125 indigenous languages considered impractical for modern use.
✓ Correct
- Emphasizes decline with specific numbers and specifies multiple causes including expansion of English-medium education, urbanization, and languages being considered impractical
- Creates clear causal relationship between factors and outcome
The Endangered Languages Project focuses on documenting indigenous languages that were lost after changes in educational and social practices during the mid-20th century.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on preservation efforts rather than emphasizing the decline itself
- Mentions causes vaguely without clear specification
Although over 300 indigenous languages were spoken in North America in the early 1900s, fewer than 175 remain actively spoken today.
✗ Incorrect
- Effectively emphasizes decline with numbers but completely fails to specify what caused this decline
With the rise of urbanization in the mid-20th century, the number of languages selected for educational and professional use decreased significantly.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions only one cause while ignoring others, and doesn't clearly emphasize indigenous language decline specifically