Quechua language communities across the Andes maintain strong cultural connections despite geographic separation, with speakers in Peru, Bolivia, and ...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Quechua language communities across the Andes maintain strong cultural connections despite geographic separation, with speakers in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador sharing core grammatical structures and basic vocabulary. Cultural linguist Dr. Elena Vasquez and her research team found minimal dialectical variation in everyday communication patterns, yet discovered that ceremonial language use has developed location-specific meanings—traditional wedding blessings carry different spiritual significance between Bolivian and Peruvian communities, harvest celebration terminology shows regional variations in both pronunciation and cultural context, and ritualistic expressions demonstrate subtle but growing interpretive differences across mountain communities. Vasquez notes that these ceremonial divergences could deepen sufficiently to create distinct cultural identities among geographically separated groups, indicating that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
although Quechua represents a unified cultural-linguistic tradition currently, it may be evolving toward separate regional identities with distinct characteristics.
although Quechua speakers across regions share basic vocabulary, communities in mountainous areas rely on ceremonial language more than those in other locations.
although all Quechua communities use traditional expressions, speakers in some regions employ ceremonial terms that speakers in other areas cannot interpret.
although Quechua communities from different locations maintain cultural connections presently, Bolivian and Peruvian groups are sufficiently distinct linguistically to be considered separate cultural traditions.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Quechua language communities across the Andes maintain strong cultural connections despite geographic separation, with speakers in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador sharing core grammatical structures and basic vocabulary." |
|
| "Cultural linguist Dr. Elena Vasquez and her research team found minimal dialectical variation in everyday communication patterns," |
|
| "yet discovered that ceremonial language use has developed location-specific meanings" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While Quechua communities currently maintain linguistic and cultural unity, research shows that ceremonial language variations could eventually lead to the development of distinct regional cultural identities.
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 passage shows us a contrast: Quechua communities are currently unified (shared grammar, vocabulary, minimal everyday variation), but ceremonial language is developing regional differences that could lead to distinct cultural identities
- The logical indication is that despite current unity, these communities may be moving toward separation
although Quechua represents a unified cultural-linguistic tradition currently, it may be evolving toward separate regional identities with distinct characteristics.
✓ Correct
- Captures both the current unified state and the potential future evolution
- Directly follows from Vasquez's conclusion that ceremonial divergences "could deepen sufficiently to create distinct cultural identities"
although Quechua speakers across regions share basic vocabulary, communities in mountainous areas rely on ceremonial language more than those in other locations.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on mountainous areas relying more on ceremonial language, which is not what the passage indicates
- The passage discusses regional variations in ceremonial language, not differences in reliance levels
although all Quechua communities use traditional expressions, speakers in some regions employ ceremonial terms that speakers in other areas cannot interpret.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests speakers already cannot interpret ceremonial terms from other regions
- The passage describes "subtle but growing interpretive differences," not complete inability to interpret
although Quechua communities from different locations maintain cultural connections presently, Bolivian and Peruvian groups are sufficiently distinct linguistically to be considered separate cultural traditions.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims groups are already "sufficiently distinct linguistically"
- This contradicts the passage, which emphasizes current unity and describes ceremonial differences as something that "could" create distinct identities in the future