The following text is from David Chen's 2020 blog post about community involvement.Our neighborhood thrives when residents actively participate in...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from David Chen's 2020 blog post about community involvement.
Our neighborhood thrives when residents actively participate in local initiatives, from organizing block parties to attending town hall meetings. Last month's community garden project brought together families who had barely spoken before, creating lasting friendships while beautifying our shared spaces. These connections strengthen our social fabric and remind us that individual actions, when combined with others' efforts, can transform our entire community for the better.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To illustrate how community projects can resolve long-standing neighborhood conflicts
To demonstrate the positive impact of active community engagement on neighborhood life
To contrast individual actions with collective community efforts in local improvement projects
To explain the practical steps necessary for organizing successful neighborhood initiatives
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Our neighborhood thrives when residents actively participate in local initiatives, from organizing block parties to attending town hall meetings." |
|
| "Last month's community garden project brought together families who had barely spoken before, creating lasting friendships while beautifying our shared spaces." |
|
| "These connections strengthen our social fabric and remind us that individual actions, when combined with others' efforts, can transform our entire community for the better." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Active community participation creates positive changes that strengthen neighborhoods and bring residents together.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with a general claim that neighborhoods benefit when residents participate in local activities. It then supports this with a specific example of how a garden project created new relationships and improved shared spaces. Finally, it broadens the significance by explaining how these connections strengthen the entire community fabric.
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 capture that the author wrote this passage to show how community involvement benefits neighborhoods
- It should reflect that the author uses both a general principle and a specific example to demonstrate positive outcomes like stronger relationships and community improvement
To illustrate how community projects can resolve long-standing neighborhood conflicts
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses specifically on "resolving long-standing neighborhood conflicts" but the passage doesn't mention conflicts that needed resolving
- Too narrow and inaccurate
To demonstrate the positive impact of active community engagement on neighborhood life
✓ Correct
- This captures the main theme perfectly: community engagement leads to positive impacts
- Matches our prethinking about beneficial changes in neighborhood life
To contrast individual actions with collective community efforts in local improvement projects
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't contrast individual vs. collective efforts
- Instead, it shows how they work together
To explain the practical steps necessary for organizing successful neighborhood initiatives
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't provide practical steps or instructions for organizing initiatives
- It mentions examples but doesn't explain how to organize them