Text 1One challenge faced by researchers studying global urbanization is that countries may define urban settlements differently. Many countries defin...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Text 1
One challenge faced by researchers studying global urbanization is that countries may define urban settlements differently. Many countries define urban settlements based on the number of people living in them. However, countries do not all use the same number; for example, Iceland uses a minimum population of 200, while the Netherlands uses 20,000. Other countries use a combination of population and other factors. This variation makes it difficult for researchers to compare aspects of urbanization in different countries.
Text 2
Recently, a group of six international organizations developed global definitions of common types of settlements. The group developed a new measure called the 'degree of urbanization.' This new measure establishes global criteria used to define three types of settlements (cities, towns, and rural areas) and allows researchers to better understand global urbanization rates.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the problem presented in Text 1?
By recommending that a specific institution should further investigate the problem
By suggesting that researchers focus on topics besides urbanization
By supplying additional ways in which urbanization research is difficult
By noting that a possible solution to the problem is available
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Text 1: "One challenge faced by researchers studying global urbanization is that countries may define urban settlements differently." |
|
| "Many countries define urban settlements based on the number of people living in them." |
|
| "However, countries do not all use the same number; for example, Iceland uses a minimum population of 200, while the Netherlands uses 20,000." |
|
| "Other countries use a combination of population and other factors." |
|
| "This variation makes it difficult for researchers to compare aspects of urbanization in different countries." |
|
| Text 2: "Recently, a group of six international organizations developed global definitions of common types of settlements." |
|
| "The group developed a new measure called the 'degree of urbanization.'" |
|
| "This new measure establishes global criteria used to define three types of settlements (cities, towns, and rural areas) and allows researchers to better understand global urbanization rates." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Text 1 identifies the research challenge of inconsistent urban definitions across countries, while Text 2 presents a newly developed global solution to standardize these definitions.
Argument Flow: Text 1 establishes that researchers struggle with comparing urbanization across countries because each nation uses different criteria to define urban areas. Text 2 then describes how international organizations have recently created a standardized global measurement system that directly addresses this comparison problem.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How the author of Text 2 would most likely respond to the problem presented in Text 1
What type of answer do we need? The perspective or approach Text 2's author would take when addressing Text 1's identified challenge
Any limiting keywords? "most likely" suggests we need the response that best aligns with Text 2's actual content and tone
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Text 1 clearly identifies a specific problem: inconsistent definitions make cross-country urbanization research difficult
- Text 2 directly addresses this exact problem by describing a newly developed solution
- The author of Text 2 would likely respond by pointing out that their described solution exists and can help
- The response should acknowledge that Text 1's problem has been recognized and worked on
By recommending that a specific institution should further investigate the problem
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests recommending that an institution investigate the problem further, but Text 2 shows the problem has already been investigated and solved by six organizations
By suggesting that researchers focus on topics besides urbanization
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests focusing on topics besides urbanization, which completely contradicts Text 2's focus on improving urbanization research
By supplying additional ways in which urbanization research is difficult
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests supplying additional difficulties in urbanization research, but Text 2 presents a solution, not more problems
By noting that a possible solution to the problem is available
✓ Correct
- Notes that a possible solution to the problem is available
- This perfectly matches what Text 2 does by describing the newly developed degree of urbanization measure that directly addresses Text 1's stated comparison problem