While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Nissologists are scientists who study islands.Some nissologists define an island...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
Nissologists are scientists who study islands.
Some nissologists define an island as any piece of land surrounded by water.
Using that definition, they determined that Sweden has 221,000 islands.
Other nissologists define an island as being 1 kilometer square, a certain distance from the mainland, and having at least 50 permanent residents.
Using that definition, they determined that Sweden has 24 islands.
The student wants to make and support a generalization about nissologists' definition of an island. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?
The definition of an island as any piece of land surrounded by water is supported by some nissologists, scientists who study islands.
Multiple counts of Sweden's islands have been based on different definitions of an island.
Based on a recent count, Sweden has a relatively small number of islands with at least 50 permanent residents.
Nissologists' different definitions can result in huge disparities in counts of islands, as the example of Sweden shows.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Nissologists are scientists who study islands." |
|
| "Some nissologists define an island as any piece of land surrounded by water." |
|
| "Using that definition, they determined that Sweden has 221,000 islands." |
|
| "Other nissologists define an island as being 1 kilometer square, a certain distance from the mainland, and having at least 50 permanent residents." |
|
| "Using that definition, they determined that Sweden has 24 islands." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Nissologists use vastly different definitions of island, leading to dramatically different counts for the same location.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes who nissologists are, then presents two contrasting definitional approaches used by different groups of these scientists. Each definition is immediately followed by its practical application to Sweden, demonstrating the enormous difference in results (221,000 vs. 24 islands) depending on which definition is used.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The student wants to make and support a generalization about nissologists' definition of an island.
- What type of answer do we need? An answer that makes a broad conclusion or pattern about the definitional approaches, uses the evidence provided to support that generalization, and goes beyond just restating facts from the passage.
- Any limiting keywords? The answer must make and support a generalization.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key insight is that different definitional approaches by nissologists lead to wildly different results for the same place
- The Sweden example demonstrates this with a difference of over 200,000 islands depending on which definition you use
- The right answer should recognize that nissologists' different definitional approaches can produce dramatically different results, using Sweden as supporting evidence
The definition of an island as any piece of land surrounded by water is supported by some nissologists, scientists who study islands.
- This just restates one of the definitions from the passage
- Doesn't make any generalization about definitional approaches
Multiple counts of Sweden's islands have been based on different definitions of an island.
- States a fact about multiple counts existing but doesn't generalize about the definitions themselves
- Focuses on the counts rather than making a broader point about definitional approaches
Based on a recent count, Sweden has a relatively small number of islands with at least 50 permanent residents.
- Focuses only on one specific result
- Too narrow and doesn't make a generalization about definitional approaches
Nissologists' different definitions can result in huge disparities in counts of islands, as the example of Sweden shows.
- Makes a clear generalization that different definitions can result in huge disparities in counts
- Uses Sweden specifically as supporting evidence
- Captures the broader significance of the definitional differences rather than just restating them