While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Maria Rodriguez serves as director of the California Department of...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Maria Rodriguez serves as director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- In 2018, she launched the Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project.
- This project focused on restoring native plant communities across 50,000 acres of mountain watersheds.
- In 2020, she initiated the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative.
- This initiative established protective measures for 25 endangered bird species along California's coastline.
The student wants to compare Rodriguez's two environmental initiatives. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project focused on mountain ecosystem restoration, while the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative addressed endangered coastal bird species protection.
Both the Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project and the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative demonstrate Rodriguez's leadership at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Maria Rodriguez launched her first initiative in 2018 and her second initiative two years later in 2020.
Rodriguez's mountain project covered 50,000 acres, whereas her coastal initiative protected 25 endangered species.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Maria Rodriguez serves as director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.' |
|
| 'In 2018, she launched the Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project.' |
|
| 'This project focused on restoring native plant communities across 50,000 acres of mountain watersheds.' |
|
| 'In 2020, she initiated the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative.' |
|
| 'This initiative established protective measures for 25 endangered bird species along California's coastline.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Maria Rodriguez has led two distinct environmental initiatives during her time as director - one focused on mountain habitat restoration and another on coastal wildlife protection.
Argument Flow: The notes establish Rodriguez's authority, then present her two major environmental initiatives chronologically. Each initiative is described with its specific focus, scope, and geographic area.
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
- A strong comparison of Rodriguez's two initiatives should highlight what makes them different or similar in meaningful ways
- From our analysis, we can see that one project focused on mountain ecosystems and plant restoration while the other focused on coastal areas and bird protection
- The right answer should clearly contrast what each initiative was designed to accomplish
The Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project focused on mountain ecosystem restoration, while the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative addressed endangered coastal bird species protection.
- This choice directly compares the core purposes of each initiative
- It highlights that one focused on mountain ecosystem restoration while the other addressed endangered coastal bird species protection
- This captures the geographic difference and the biological focus difference using relevant information from the notes effectively
Both the Sierra Nevada Habitat Restoration Project and the Coastal Wetlands Protection Initiative demonstrate Rodriguez's leadership at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
- This choice focuses on what both initiatives have in common rather than comparing their differences
- While true that both demonstrate her leadership, this doesn't actually compare the initiatives themselves
Maria Rodriguez launched her first initiative in 2018 and her second initiative two years later in 2020.
- This only provides timeline information without comparing the substance of the initiatives
- While the dates are accurate, this doesn't help us understand how the initiatives differ in their approaches or goals
Rodriguez's mountain project covered 50,000 acres, whereas her coastal initiative protected 25 endangered species.
- This attempts to compare scope but uses incomparable measures (acres vs. number of species)
- You can't meaningfully compare 50,000 acres to 25 species - these are different types of measurements