While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Just like states have state flags, some cities have city...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Just like states have state flags, some cities have city flags.
- Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags since 2015.
- The city of Pocatello, Idaho, redesigned its flag after it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America.
- Pocatello's new flag better represents the city's mountainous geography and civic priorities.
- Residents consider the new flag to be a meaningful symbol of civic pride.
The student wants to make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags, including Pocatello, whose flag had been named the most poorly designed flag in North America.
Pocatello is just one of over one hundred US cities that have redesigned their flags.
After it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America, the flag of Pocatello was redesigned to better represent the city's geography and civic priorities.
Redesigning a poorly designed city flag can create a meaningful symbol of civic pride, as was the case when Pocatello redesigned its original flag to better represent its geography and civic priorities.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Just like states have state flags, some cities have city flags.' |
|
| 'Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags since 2015.' |
|
| 'The city of Pocatello, Idaho, redesigned its flag after it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America.' |
|
| 'Pocatello's new flag better represents the city's mountainous geography and civic priorities.' |
|
| 'Residents consider the new flag to be a meaningful symbol of civic pride.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Many cities have redesigned their flags in recent years, with Pocatello serving as an example of how redesigning can transform a poorly designed flag into a meaningful symbol of civic pride.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to make and support a generalization about the effect of redesigning a city flag.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that makes a broad claim about what happens when cities redesign flags, backed up by evidence from the notes.
Any limiting keywords? The question specifically asks for a generalization about the effect of redesigning city flags.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The question specifically asks for a generalization about the effect of redesigning city flags
- From our notes, we can see that Pocatello's redesign had clear effects: the new flag better represented the city and became a meaningful symbol of civic pride
- A good generalization should make a broad claim about what redesigning can accomplish and use the Pocatello example as supporting evidence
Over one hundred US cities have redesigned their flags, including Pocatello, whose flag had been named the most poorly designed flag in North America.
✗ Incorrect
- States facts about redesigns but doesn't address effects or outcomes of redesigning
Pocatello is just one of over one hundred US cities that have redesigned their flags.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply restates that Pocatello is one of many cities that redesigned without providing information about effects
After it was named the most poorly designed flag in North America, the flag of Pocatello was redesigned to better represent the city's geography and civic priorities.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes what happened to Pocatello's flag but focuses on the specific case without making a broader generalization
Redesigning a poorly designed city flag can create a meaningful symbol of civic pride, as was the case when Pocatello redesigned its original flag to better represent its geography and civic priorities.
✓ Correct
- Makes a clear generalization that redesigning a poorly designed city flag can create a meaningful symbol of civic pride, using Pocatello as supporting evidence for this broader claim