Jhumpa Lahiri's story collection Interpreter of Maladies features multiple stories about romantic relationships. In 'This Blessed House,' newlyweds ar...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Jhumpa Lahiri's story collection Interpreter of Maladies features multiple stories about romantic relationships. In 'This Blessed House,' newlyweds argue over whether to replace items left by the previous owners of their new home. ______ in 'A Temporary Matter,' a husband and wife attempt to rekindle their relationship during a four-night blackout.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Granted,
For example,
Likewise,
Hence,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Jhumpa Lahiri's story collection Interpreter of Maladies features multiple stories about romantic relationships.' |
|
| 'In 'This Blessed House,' newlyweds argue over whether to replace items left by the previous owners of their new home.' |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| 'in 'A Temporary Matter,' a husband and wife attempt to rekindle their relationship during a four-night blackout.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Lahiri's collection includes multiple stories examining different aspects of romantic relationships.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces the collection's focus on romantic relationships, then presents two specific stories as examples—both dealing with couples facing relationship challenges in different domestic settings.
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 have two stories from the same collection, both about romantic relationships facing difficulties
- The first story shows newlyweds in conflict, and the second shows a married couple trying to repair their relationship
- Both represent relationship challenges in domestic settings
- The transition should signal that the second story is similar to the first—another example of romantic relationship struggles from the same collection
- We need a connector that shows continuation or similarity, not contrast, causation, or concession
Granted,
Granted
- ✗ Incorrect
- 'Granted' signals concession—acknowledging a point before presenting a contrasting view
- This doesn't fit because we're not conceding anything about the first story or presenting a contrast
For example,
For example
- ✗ Incorrect
- 'For example' introduces a specific instance of something more general
- This doesn't work because both stories are examples of the same thing (romantic relationships in the collection)
Likewise,
Likewise
- ✓ Correct
- 'Likewise' signals similarity—that the following information is similar to what came before
- This perfectly fits our analysis: both stories deal with romantic relationships facing challenges
Hence,
Hence
- ✗ Incorrect
- 'Hence' indicates a result or conclusion drawn from previous information
- The second story isn't a result of the first story—they're separate, independent stories