While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Jon Ching is a Los Angeles-based painter.He uses the term...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Jon Ching is a Los Angeles-based painter.
- He uses the term 'flauna' to describe the plant-animal hybrids that he depicts in his surreal paintings.
- 'Flauna' is a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna.'
- His painting Nectar depicts a parrot with leaves for feathers.
- His painting Primaveral depicts a snow leopard whose fur sprouts flowers.
The student wants to provide an explanation and example of 'flauna.' Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The term 'flauna,' used by Los Angeles-based painter Jon Ching, is a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna.'
Jon Ching uses the term 'flauna,' a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna,' to describe the subjects of his surreal paintings: plant-animal hybrids such as a parrot with leaves for feathers.
Jon Ching, who created Nectar, refers to the subjects of his paintings as 'flauna.'
The subjects of Nectar and Primaveral are types of 'flauna,' a term that the paintings' creator, Jon Ching, uses when describing his surreal artworks.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Jon Ching is a Los Angeles-based painter." |
|
| "He uses the term 'flauna' to describe the plant-animal hybrids that he depicts in his surreal paintings." |
|
| "'Flauna' is a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna.'" |
|
| "His painting Nectar depicts a parrot with leaves for feathers." |
|
| "His painting Primaveral depicts a snow leopard whose fur sprouts flowers." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Jon Ching creates surreal paintings featuring "flauna" - his term for plant-animal hybrid creatures.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the notes to provide an explanation AND example of 'flauna.'
What type of answer do we need? A response that both explains what flauna means and gives a concrete example of it.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively" means we need the choice that does the best job of accomplishing both goals - explanation AND example.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
The correct choice needs to accomplish two specific tasks:
- Explain what flauna means: This could include the etymology (flora + fauna) and/or the definition (plant-animal hybrids)
- Provide a concrete example: This should reference one of the specific paintings mentioned
- Connect these effectively: The explanation and example should work together to help readers understand the concept
The term 'flauna,' used by Los Angeles-based painter Jon Ching, is a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna.'
✗ Incorrect
- Only provides the etymology (flora + fauna combination) but gives no example whatsoever
- Fails to accomplish half of what the question asks for
Jon Ching uses the term 'flauna,' a combination of the words 'flora' and 'fauna,' to describe the subjects of his surreal paintings: plant-animal hybrids such as a parrot with leaves for feathers.
✓ Correct
- Provides complete explanation including etymology and definition, plus gives specific example of parrot with leaves for feathers
- Uses relevant information efficiently and accomplishes both required goals
Jon Ching, who created Nectar, refers to the subjects of his paintings as 'flauna.'
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions the term "flauna" but doesn't explain what it means
- References a painting but doesn't describe what makes it an example of flauna
The subjects of Nectar and Primaveral are types of 'flauna,' a term that the paintings' creator, Jon Ching, uses when describing his surreal artworks.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions that the paintings are examples but doesn't actually describe what makes them examples
- Provides no explanation of what flauna means