While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was founded in...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was founded in 1944 by representatives of fifty tribal governments.
- The NCAI was created to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous tribes.
- Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) was the NCAI's first president.
- In 1975, the US Congress passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 96-638).
- This legislation formally acknowledged tribes' right to self-governance.
- The advocacy of the NCAI was a key factor in the law's passing.
The student wants to identify an accomplishment of the NCAI. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The NCAI, founded by representatives of fifty tribal governments, had Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) as its first president.
Founded in 1944, the NCAI was created by representatives of tribal governments from fifty sovereign Indigenous tribes.
The NCAI's advocacy was key to the passing of Public Law 96-638, legislation formally acknowledging Indigenous tribes' right to self-governance.
In 1975, the NCAI passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which was created to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous tribes.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) was founded in 1944 by representatives of fifty tribal governments. |
|
| The NCAI was created to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous tribes. |
|
| Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) was the NCAI's first president. |
|
| In 1975, the US Congress passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 96-638). |
|
| This legislation formally acknowledged tribes' right to self-governance. |
|
| The advocacy of the NCAI was a key factor in the law's passing. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The NCAI, founded in 1944 to protect tribal sovereignty, achieved a major accomplishment when its advocacy played a key role in the passage of the 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
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 right answer should identify something the NCAI actually accomplished or achieved, not just describe what it was or who founded it
- Looking at our analysis, the clearest accomplishment mentioned is that NCAI's advocacy was key to getting the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act passed
The NCAI, founded by representatives of fifty tribal governments, had Napoleon B. Johnson (Cherokee) as its first president.
✗ Incorrect
- States basic founding facts and identifies first president
- These are background information, not accomplishments
Founded in 1944, the NCAI was created by representatives of tribal governments from fifty sovereign Indigenous tribes.
✗ Incorrect
- Only provides founding information from 1944
- This is background context, not an accomplishment
The NCAI's advocacy was key to the passing of Public Law 96-638, legislation formally acknowledging Indigenous tribes' right to self-governance.
✓ Correct
- Identifies that NCAI's advocacy was key to passing legislation
- Shows a concrete achievement - successfully influencing the passage of important law
In 1975, the NCAI passed the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which was created to protect the sovereignty of Indigenous tribes.
✗ Incorrect
- Incorrectly states that the NCAI passed the legislation
- According to the notes, Congress passed the act, not the NCAI