While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Las sergas de Esplandián was a novel popular in sixteenth-century...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Las sergas de Esplandián was a novel popular in sixteenth-century Spain.
- The novel featured a fictional island inhabited solely by Black women and known as California.
- That same century, Spanish explorers learned of an 'island' off the west coast of Mexico.
- They called it California after the island in the novel.
- The 'island' was actually the peninsula now known as Baja California ('Lower California'), which lies to the south of the US state of California.
The student wants to emphasize the role a misconception played in the naming of a place. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The novel Las sergas de Esplandián featured a fictional island known as California.
To the south of the US state of California lies Baja California ('Lower California'), originally called California after a fictional place.
In the sixteenth century, Spanish explorers learned of a peninsula off the west coast of Mexico and called it California.
Thinking it was an island, Spanish explorers called a peninsula California after an island in a popular novel.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Las sergas de Esplandián was a novel popular in sixteenth-century Spain.' |
|
| 'The novel featured a fictional island inhabited solely by Black women and known as California.' |
|
| 'That same century, Spanish explorers learned of an 'island' off the west coast of Mexico.' |
|
| 'They called it California after the island in the novel.' |
|
| 'The 'island' was actually the peninsula now known as Baja California ('Lower California'), which lies to the south of the US state of California.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Spanish explorers mistakenly named a peninsula 'California' after a fictional island in a popular novel, thinking they had discovered an actual island.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to emphasize the role a misconception played in the naming of a place.
What type of answer do we need? We need a sentence that shows how a misunderstanding directly influenced the naming process.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should clearly identify what the misconception was (explorers thought they found an island when it was actually a peninsula)
- Should show how this misconception directly led to the naming decision
The novel Las sergas de Esplandián featured a fictional island known as California.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply states that the novel had a fictional island called California
- Doesn't mention the explorers' misconception at all
To the south of the US state of California lies Baja California ('Lower California'), originally called California after a fictional place.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows the connection between fiction and reality
- Doesn't identify the specific misconception about thinking the peninsula was an island
In the sixteenth century, Spanish explorers learned of a peninsula off the west coast of Mexico and called it California.
✗ Incorrect
- States that explorers learned of a peninsula and called it California
- This contradicts the misconception by correctly identifying it as a peninsula
Thinking it was an island, Spanish explorers called a peninsula California after an island in a popular novel.
✓ Correct
- Explicitly states 'Thinking it was an island' - clearly identifies the misconception
- Shows the direct result and makes the connection to the novel
- This perfectly emphasizes how the misconception drove the naming decision