Portland's city government introduced the Emerald Corridor Initiative in 2018, creating the inaugural metropolitan wildlife corridor specifically engi...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Portland's city government introduced the Emerald Corridor Initiative in 2018, creating the inaugural metropolitan wildlife corridor specifically engineered to link separated woodland ecosystems throughout urban regions. The project constructed multiple green overpasses, subterranean passages, and rehabilitated plant communities that enabled indigenous wildlife to travel securely among formerly disconnected habitats. Through enabling wildlife movement and seed distribution, this corridor assisted in reestablishing species diversity in regions where city expansion had severed ecological linkages. This project represents Portland's comprehensive dedication to merging environmental rehabilitation with metropolitan development strategies, an approach reflected in the city's later environmental initiatives.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To explain how the Emerald Corridor Initiative motivated other municipalities to create comparable wildlife corridor projects
To demonstrate Portland's method of integrating environmental rehabilitation with metropolitan development strategies
To evaluate the relative success of elevated walkways compared to subterranean passages in supporting wildlife movement
To contend that separated woodland ecosystems represent the most significant danger to metropolitan species diversity
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Portland's city government introduced the Emerald Corridor Initiative in 2018, creating the inaugural metropolitan wildlife corridor specifically engineered to link separated woodland ecosystems throughout urban regions.' |
|
| 'The project constructed multiple green overpasses, subterranean passages, and rehabilitated plant communities that enabled indigenous wildlife to travel securely among formerly disconnected habitats.' |
|
| 'Through enabling wildlife movement and seed distribution, this corridor assisted in reestablishing species diversity in regions where city expansion had severed ecological linkages.' |
|
| 'This project represents Portland's comprehensive dedication to merging environmental rehabilitation with metropolitan development strategies, an approach reflected in the city's later environmental initiatives.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The text demonstrates how Portland's Emerald Corridor Initiative exemplifies the city's approach to integrating environmental rehabilitation with urban development strategies.
Argument Flow: The passage starts by introducing a specific 2018 project, then details what the project actually built and accomplished, and finally explains what this project represents in terms of Portland's broader environmental philosophy and approach to city planning.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures what the author is trying to accomplish by writing this passage
Any limiting keywords? Main purpose means we need the overarching goal, not a specific detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should capture that this text is primarily about showing us Portland's approach to combining environmental work with city development
- The passage uses the Emerald Corridor as a concrete example to demonstrate this broader approach
- It's not just describing the project for its own sake—it's using the project to illustrate Portland's philosophy of merging environmental rehabilitation with metropolitan development
To explain how the Emerald Corridor Initiative motivated other municipalities to create comparable wildlife corridor projects
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text explains how Portland motivated other cities
- The passage never mentions other municipalities or their responses
- Only mentions Portland's own later initiatives, not influence on others
To demonstrate Portland's method of integrating environmental rehabilitation with metropolitan development strategies
✓ Correct
- Matches exactly what the passage concludes: demonstrating Portland's method of integration
- Uses the specific project as evidence of this broader approach
To evaluate the relative success of elevated walkways compared to subterranean passages in supporting wildlife movement
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the text evaluates and compares different wildlife corridor methods
- The passage simply describes what was built, without comparing effectiveness
To contend that separated woodland ecosystems represent the most significant danger to metropolitan species diversity
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text argues that separated ecosystems are the biggest metropolitan threat
- The passage mentions this as context but doesn't argue it's the most significant danger