While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Portland, Oregon implemented a comprehensive bike lane network throughout the...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Portland, Oregon implemented a comprehensive bike lane network throughout the downtown area in 2010.
- The bike lane project cost the city $2.3 million and reduced car traffic by 15%.
- Austin, Texas launched its bike share program in the same year with 500 bicycles at 50 stations.
- Austin's bike share program cost $3.1 million but increased cycling by only 8% citywide.
- Portland's approach focused on permanent infrastructure changes.
- Austin's approach prioritized flexible, moveable resources.
The student wants to highlight a key difference in the cities' approaches. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Portland's bike lane network cost $2.3 million while Austin's bike share program cost $3.1 million.
While Portland invested in permanent infrastructure with its bike lane network, Austin chose flexible resources through its bike share program.
Both Portland and Austin launched their cycling initiatives in 2010 to promote alternative transportation.
Portland achieved a 15% reduction in car traffic, compared to Austin's 8% increase in cycling.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Portland, Oregon implemented a comprehensive bike lane network throughout the downtown area in 2010. |
|
| The bike lane project cost the city $2.3 million and reduced car traffic by 15%. |
|
| Austin, Texas launched its bike share program in the same year with 500 bicycles at 50 stations. |
|
| Austin's bike share program cost $3.1 million but increased cycling by only 8% citywide. |
|
| Portland's approach focused on permanent infrastructure changes. |
|
| Austin's approach prioritized flexible, moveable resources. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Portland and Austin took different strategic approaches to promoting cycling in 2010, with Portland focusing on permanent infrastructure while Austin emphasized flexible resources.
Argument Flow: The notes present parallel information about two cities' cycling initiatives launched in the same year. First, we get basic details about each program, then specific cost and outcome data, and finally the key strategic distinction between permanent versus flexible approaches.
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 correct answer should directly contrast the two cities' strategic approaches rather than just listing facts or results
- From our analysis, the key difference is that Portland invested in permanent, fixed infrastructure (bike lanes) while Austin chose flexible, temporary resources (bike share program)
- The right answer should capture this fundamental strategic distinction between permanent versus flexible approaches
Portland's bike lane network cost $2.3 million while Austin's bike share program cost $3.1 million.
- Simply compares costs without addressing approaches
- Focuses on financial data rather than strategic differences
While Portland invested in permanent infrastructure with its bike lane network, Austin chose flexible resources through its bike share program.
- Directly contrasts 'permanent infrastructure' with 'flexible resources'
- Captures the fundamental strategic difference between the cities' approaches using the exact language from the notes
Both Portland and Austin launched their cycling initiatives in 2010 to promote alternative transportation.
- Emphasizes similarities rather than differences
- Completely fails to highlight any contrast between approaches
Portland achieved a 15% reduction in car traffic, compared to Austin's 8% increase in cycling.
- Compares outcomes/results rather than approaches/strategies
- Focuses on what happened rather than how each city approached the problem