Urban communities—housing developments, business districts, and integrated-use zones—require sophisticated infrastructure systems encompassing transit...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Urban communities—housing developments, business districts, and integrated-use zones—require sophisticated infrastructure systems encompassing transit networks, utility services, and municipal amenities. City planning professionals have enhanced their comprehension of neighborhood demands via thorough population research and utilization analyses. A recent investigation by Maria Rodriguez's planning group analyzed research findings from three Portland areas, uncovering distinct trends in transportation service needs and park facility usage. The research findings additionally indicated possible signs of evolving residential choices across various demographic cohorts. Planning professionals anticipate discovering further neighborhood requirement trends as more areas finish comparable evaluations.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Portland's three surveyed districts show similar patterns in transportation and recreation usage.
Urban planning requires understanding both demographic trends and infrastructure capacity limitations.
Survey research helps planners better understand the needs of different community areas.
More neighborhoods should complete demographic assessments to improve urban planning outcomes.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Urban communities—housing developments, business districts, and integrated-use zones—require sophisticated infrastructure systems encompassing transit networks, utility services, and municipal amenities. |
|
| City planning professionals have enhanced their comprehension of neighborhood demands via thorough population research and utilization analyses. |
|
| A recent investigation by Maria Rodriguez's planning group analyzed research findings from three Portland areas, uncovering distinct trends in transportation service needs and park facility usage. |
|
| The research findings additionally indicated possible signs of evolving residential choices across various demographic cohorts. |
|
| Planning professionals anticipate discovering further neighborhood requirement trends as more areas finish comparable evaluations. |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Research helps city planning professionals better understand the specific needs of different neighborhood areas.
Argument Flow: The passage starts by establishing that urban communities have complex infrastructure needs, then explains that planners have gotten better at understanding these needs through research. It supports this with a concrete example of Rodriguez's study in Portland that revealed distinct trends across different areas, and concludes by noting that planners expect to discover more insights as additional areas complete similar research.
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
- The passage is fundamentally about how research helps planners understand community needs
- It should capture the connection between research/studies and improved planning knowledge
- It should reflect that this is about understanding different areas' specific requirements
- The Portland example serves to illustrate this broader point about research's value
- The right answer should emphasize how research or studies help planners better understand what different communities need
Portland's three surveyed districts show similar patterns in transportation and recreation usage.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Portland's three districts show 'similar patterns' but the passage states they found 'distinct trends' - directly contradicts the text
Urban planning requires understanding both demographic trends and infrastructure capacity limitations.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on 'infrastructure capacity limitations' which isn't emphasized in the passage and misses the research angle
Survey research helps planners better understand the needs of different community areas.
✓ Correct
- Captures how survey research helps planners understand community needs, matching the passage's emphasis on research improving planners' comprehension
More neighborhoods should complete demographic assessments to improve urban planning outcomes.
✗ Incorrect
- Presents a recommendation rather than stating what the passage discusses, confusing implications with actual content