Manchu forms part of the Tungusic linguistic group, which comprises languages that were traditionally used throughout northeastern Asia. This language...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Manchu forms part of the Tungusic linguistic group, which comprises languages that were traditionally used throughout northeastern Asia. This language group exhibits significant structural variation, as certain members developed intricate case systems whereas others adopted streamlined grammatical frameworks. All members of the Tungusic family descended from a shared ancestral language used by nomadic communities roughly 2,000 years in the past. When these groups relocated and established themselves across various geographical areas—spanning from Siberian woodland regions to Mongolian grasslands—their linguistic systems evolved to articulate the distinct cultural and ecological ideas pertinent to their new environments.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To outline the Tungusic linguistic group and clarify the development of structural variation among these languages
To pinpoint the exact proto-language origin of all northeastern Asian languages and examine the reasons behind their diverse grammatical characteristics
To specify the geographical areas where Manchu is used and recognize other languages sharing similar linguistic traits
To contend that the Tungusic family encompasses all northeastern Asian languages and enumerate the potential ancestral languages of this group
I'll solve this step-by-step, following the systematic process to help you understand exactly how to approach main purpose questions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Manchu forms part of the Tungusic linguistic group, which comprises languages that were traditionally used throughout northeastern Asia." |
|
| "This language group exhibits significant structural variation, as certain members developed intricate case systems whereas others adopted streamlined grammatical frameworks." |
|
| "All members of the Tungusic family descended from a shared ancestral language used by nomadic communities roughly 2,000 years in the past." |
|
| "When these groups relocated and established themselves across various geographical areas—spanning from Siberian woodland regions to Mongolian grasslands—their linguistic systems evolved to articulate the distinct cultural and ecological ideas pertinent to their new environments." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[CLASSIFICATION] Manchu = part of Tungusic group (NE Asia) → [KEY CHARACTERISTIC] Tungusic shows structural variation → [HISTORICAL CONTEXT] All from shared ancestor (~2,000 years ago) → [CAUSAL MECHANISM] Migration → language adaptation to new environments
Main Point: The text explains what the Tungusic linguistic group is and how its structural variation developed through migration and environmental adaptation.
Argument Flow: The passage starts by classifying Manchu within the Tungusic group, then identifies structural variation as a key feature of this group. It provides historical context by explaining their common ancestral origin, and finally reveals the mechanism behind the variation—migration to different environments caused languages to evolve differently.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the text—what the author is fundamentally trying to accomplish
What type of answer do we need? A purpose statement that captures the central goal of the entire passage
Any limiting keywords? "Main purpose" tells us we need the overarching objective, not a minor detail or single aspect
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Based on our analysis, the correct answer should capture two main things the author accomplishes: First, it should mention that the text explains or outlines what the Tungusic linguistic group is (since that's the foundation). Second, it should capture that the text explains how the structural variation in these languages came about—through migration and adaptation to different environments.
- The right answer should NOT claim the text does things it doesn't do, like focusing specifically on where Manchu is used today, or claiming to cover all northeastern Asian languages, or providing exact details about the proto-language.
- So the right answer should describe how the text both introduces the Tungusic group and explains the development of variation within it.
To outline the Tungusic linguistic group and clarify the development of structural variation among these languages
✓ Correct
- Perfectly matches what the text actually does—it outlines the Tungusic group (introduces it, explains its scope) and clarifies how structural variation developed (through migration and adaptation)
- Aligns exactly with our passage map: classification → variation → historical context → mechanism
To pinpoint the exact proto-language origin of all northeastern Asian languages and examine the reasons behind their diverse grammatical characteristics
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text "pinpoints exact proto-language origin" but the passage only mentions a general shared ancestor from ~2,000 years ago without specific details
- Says it covers "all northeastern Asian languages" but the text only discusses the Tungusic family specifically
- What trap this represents: Students might be drawn to this because it sounds comprehensive and scholarly, but it overstates what the passage actually accomplishes
To specify the geographical areas where Manchu is used and recognize other languages sharing similar linguistic traits
✗ Incorrect
- Claims to "specify geographical areas where Manchu is used" but the passage never tells us where Manchu is currently spoken
- The geographical references (Siberian forests, Mongolian grasslands) describe where ancestral groups migrated, not current Manchu usage
- Misses the main focus on explaining structural variation development
To contend that the Tungusic family encompasses all northeastern Asian languages and enumerate the potential ancestral languages of this group
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text "contends that Tungusic encompasses all northeastern Asian languages" but it never makes this broad claim
- Says it "enumerates potential ancestral languages" but only mentions one shared ancestor
- What trap this represents: Students might confuse "languages used throughout northeastern Asia" with "all northeastern Asian languages," but the text is more limited in scope