While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Medieval scribes in 13th-century England frequently incorporated French vocabulary ...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Medieval scribes in 13th-century England frequently incorporated French vocabulary into their manuscripts.
- Words like "government," "justice," and "parliament" began appearing alongside traditional Anglo-Saxon terms.
- This linguistic borrowing intensified following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
- French-speaking nobles and English-speaking commoners lived in close contact for centuries.
- Linguist Sarah Mitchell's 2018 analysis of manuscript evidence revealed the scope of this language contact.
- Mitchell determined that sustained interaction between English and Norman French communities introduced over 10,000 French words into Middle English.
The student wants to present the conclusion of Mitchell's 2018 analysis. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Sustained interaction between English and Norman French communities introduced over 10,000 French words into Middle English.
French words like "government," "justice," and "parliament" began appearing in English manuscripts after 1066.
Medieval scribes frequently incorporated French vocabulary alongside traditional Anglo-Saxon terms in their manuscripts.
Sarah Mitchell analyzed manuscript evidence to understand how language contact affected medieval English.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Medieval scribes in 13th-century England frequently incorporated French vocabulary into their manuscripts." |
|
| "Words like 'government,' 'justice,' and 'parliament' began appearing alongside traditional Anglo-Saxon terms." |
|
| "This linguistic borrowing intensified following the Norman Conquest of 1066." |
|
| "French-speaking nobles and English-speaking commoners lived in close contact for centuries." |
|
| "Linguist Sarah Mitchell's 2018 analysis of manuscript evidence revealed the scope of this language contact." |
|
| "Mitchell determined that sustained interaction between English and Norman French communities introduced over 10,000 French words into Middle English." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: Medieval scribes used French vocabulary (13th century) with specific examples like government, justice, parliament. Practice intensified after Norman Conquest (1066) due to social conditions where French nobles and English commoners lived in contact.
MITCHELL'S RESEARCH: 2018 analysis of manuscript evidence. CONCLUSION: Sustained interaction led to over 10,000 French words entering Middle English.
Main Point: Medieval contact between English and Norman French communities led to extensive French vocabulary adoption in English, as demonstrated by Mitchell's analysis showing over 10,000 French words entered Middle English.
Argument Flow: The notes begin with historical context about medieval scribes incorporating French vocabulary, provide examples and explain the intensification after the Norman Conquest, describe the social conditions that enabled this language contact, introduce Mitchell's 2018 research, and conclude with her specific finding that this sustained interaction introduced over 10,000 French words into Middle English.
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, Mitchell's conclusion appears in the final bullet point where we see her specific research finding
- The right answer should tell us what Mitchell determined or concluded from her analysis - not what she studied or how she studied it, but what she found
- From our table, Mitchell's conclusion was that sustained interaction between English and Norman French communities led to over 10,000 French words being introduced into Middle English
- So the right answer should present Mitchell's specific numerical finding about how language contact affected Middle English vocabulary
Sustained interaction between English and Norman French communities introduced over 10,000 French words into Middle English.
✓ Correct
- This directly states Mitchell's research conclusion from our final bullet point
- Includes both the cause (sustained interaction between communities) and the specific quantified result (over 10,000 French words)
- Matches exactly what our analysis identified as Mitchell's determination
French words like "government," "justice," and "parliament" began appearing in English manuscripts after 1066.
✗ Incorrect - Trap: confusing supporting examples with research conclusion
- This describes examples from the historical background, not Mitchell's conclusion
- Focuses on specific words and timing rather than Mitchell's quantified finding
Medieval scribes frequently incorporated French vocabulary alongside traditional Anglo-Saxon terms in their manuscripts.
✗ Incorrect - Trap: selecting general topic information instead of specific research conclusion
- This summarizes the general historical practice described in the opening context
- Doesn't mention Mitchell or her specific findings at all
Sarah Mitchell analyzed manuscript evidence to understand how language contact affected medieval English.
✗ Incorrect - Trap: confusing research method with research conclusion
- This describes what Mitchell did (analyzed evidence) rather than what she concluded
- Focuses on her research process, not her findings