Radio broadcasting emerged as a dominant communication medium in the early twentieth century, rapidly gaining popularity across American households. T...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Radio broadcasting emerged as a dominant communication medium in the early twentieth century, rapidly gaining popularity across American households. The technology's accessibility and relatively low cost enabled families to access news, entertainment, and educational content from their homes. Radio programming created shared cultural experiences, connecting geographically dispersed communities through simultaneous access to the same broadcasts. Families gathered around radio sets for evening entertainment, while communities organized listening groups to discuss programs together. The medium fundamentally altered how Americans consumed information and participated in national conversations.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Radio broadcasting in the early twentieth century became popular because of its low cost and accessibility.
The emergence of radio broadcasting in the early twentieth century transformed how Americans engaged with information and culture.
Radio programming in the early twentieth century created the first shared cultural experiences for American families.
The accessibility of radio technology in the early twentieth century made it the preferred source of news and entertainment.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Radio broadcasting emerged as a dominant communication medium in the early twentieth century, rapidly gaining popularity across American households." |
|
| "The technology's accessibility and relatively low cost enabled families to access news, entertainment, and educational content from their homes." |
|
| "Radio programming created shared cultural experiences, connecting geographically dispersed communities through simultaneous access to the same broadcasts." |
|
| "Families gathered around radio sets for evening entertainment, while communities organized listening groups to discuss programs together." |
|
| "The medium fundamentally altered how Americans consumed information and participated in national conversations." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Radio broadcasting fundamentally transformed how Americans engaged with information and participated in cultural life during the early twentieth century.
Argument Flow: The passage begins by establishing radio's rapid emergence as a dominant medium, then explains the practical reasons for its spread (accessibility and cost). It develops this by showing radio's broader cultural and social effects, ultimately concluding that radio fundamentally altered American information consumption and national participation.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message/theme
- Any limiting keywords? "best states" - we need the most accurate and comprehensive representation
Content Genre: Humanities & Social Sciences
Content Format: Text-only
Question Type: Main Point or Purpose (entire)
Language Complexity: Accessible
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer should capture radio's emergence and its transformative impact on American society
- It needs to go beyond just explaining why radio became popular and address the broader changes it brought about
- The passage emphasizes transformation - how radio "fundamentally altered" American life, changing information consumption and national participation
- It should also acknowledge the scope (early twentieth century) and the audience (Americans)
- The right answer should acknowledge both radio's emergence and its transformative effect on how Americans engaged with information and culture
Radio broadcasting in the early twentieth century became popular because of its low cost and accessibility.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses only on radio's popularity due to cost and accessibility
- Misses the main point about transformation and cultural impact
- Too narrow - treats causes of popularity as the main idea rather than the broader effects
The emergence of radio broadcasting in the early twentieth century transformed how Americans engaged with information and culture.
✓ Correct
- Captures both radio's emergence and its transformative impact
- Matches our prethinking about transformation being central
- Encompasses the "fundamental alteration" described in the passage's conclusion
- Includes both aspects we identified: information engagement and cultural participation
Radio programming in the early twentieth century created the first shared cultural experiences for American families.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims radio created the "first" shared cultural experiences
- Passage never states these were the "first" such experiences
- What trap this represents: Adding details not stated in the passage - students might assume "shared cultural experiences" means "first" ones
The accessibility of radio technology in the early twentieth century made it the preferred source of news and entertainment.
✗ Incorrect
- States radio became the "preferred" source of news and entertainment
- Passage discusses radio's impact but never compares it to other sources or claims preference
- What trap this represents: Inferring comparative superiority when the passage only describes radio's own effects