While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Mary Kang is a Korean American portrait photographer.She is based...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Mary Kang is a Korean American portrait photographer.
- She is based in New York City and in Austin, Texas.
- One of Kang's photographs features artist Dominique Fung.
- In the portrait, Fung is seated on the floor.
- Five of Fung's paintings are resting against the wall behind her.
The student wants to describe where Fung is in the photograph to an audience already familiar with Kang and Fung. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Dominique Fung is in a photograph by Mary Kang, a portrait photographer based in New York City and Austin, Texas.
Mary Kang is a photographer based in both New York City and Austin, Texas.
Five paintings by artist Dominique Fung can be seen in the background of Mary Kang's photograph.
In Kang's portrait of her, Fung is seated on the floor, with five of her paintings resting against the wall behind her.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Mary Kang is a Korean American portrait photographer. |
|
| She is based in New York City and in Austin, Texas. |
|
| One of Kang's photographs features artist Dominique Fung. |
|
| In the portrait, Fung is seated on the floor. |
|
| Five of Fung's paintings are resting against the wall behind her. |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes provide details about photographer Mary Kang and describe the specific positioning and background elements in her portrait of artist Dominique Fung.
Argument Flow: The notes start with background information about the photographer Mary Kang, then focus on one specific photograph featuring Dominique Fung, providing precise details about where Fung is positioned and what appears in the background.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Where is Fung positioned in this specific photograph?
What type of answer do we need? A description of Fung's physical placement/location within the image
Any limiting keywords? The audience already knows who Kang and Fung are, so background info isn't needed
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Since the audience already knows who Kang and Fung are, the correct answer should skip the biographical details and focus directly on describing Fung's position in the photograph
- From our analysis, we know Fung is seated on the floor, and there are five of her paintings against the wall behind her
- The right answer should capture both her position (seated on floor) and the relevant spatial context (paintings behind her)
Dominique Fung is in a photograph by Mary Kang, a portrait photographer based in New York City and Austin, Texas.
- Focuses on providing background about Kang being a photographer based in NYC and Austin
- Doesn't actually describe where Fung is positioned in the photograph
Mary Kang is a photographer based in both New York City and Austin, Texas.
- Only talks about Mary Kang's locations (NYC and Austin)
- Completely ignores Fung and her position in the photograph
Five paintings by artist Dominique Fung can be seen in the background of Mary Kang's photograph.
- Describes what's in the background (the five paintings) but doesn't say where Fung herself is positioned
- Misses the main point - we need to know where Fung is, not just what's behind her
In Kang's portrait of her, Fung is seated on the floor, with five of her paintings resting against the wall behind her.
- Directly states that Fung is seated on the floor - answering exactly where she is positioned
- Includes the relevant background context (paintings against the wall behind her) that helps complete the spatial description
- Skips unnecessary background info since the audience already knows both people