Principal Martinez believed that extending the school day by two hours would significantly improve student academic performance. _____ the pilot...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Principal Martinez believed that extending the school day by two hours would significantly improve student academic performance. _____ the pilot program revealed that test scores remained unchanged while student engagement and attendance actually declined.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
However,
Furthermore,
Consequently,
Similarly,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Principal Martinez believed that extending the school day by two hours would significantly improve student academic performance." |
|
| "[MISSING TRANSITION]" |
|
| "the pilot program revealed that test scores remained unchanged while student engagement and attendance actually declined." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A principal's expectation that longer school days would improve academic performance was not supported by pilot program results.
Argument Flow: The passage presents an expected outcome from an educational intervention, then contrasts that expectation with disappointing real-world results.
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
- Martinez had a positive expectation (longer school days would improve performance), but the reality was quite different (no improvement in test scores, plus engagement and attendance got worse)
- The missing connector needs to signal that what follows contradicts what came before
However,
✓ Correct
- Creates the perfect contrast between Martinez's positive expectations and the disappointing reality
Furthermore,
✗ Incorrect
- Would suggest the pilot results supported Martinez's belief, which they didn't
Consequently,
✗ Incorrect
- Shows cause and effect which doesn't make logical sense here
Similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the pilot results were like Martinez's expectations when they were actually opposite