Rejecting the premise that the literary magazine Ebony and Topaz (1927) should present a unified vision of Black American identity,...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Rejecting the premise that the literary magazine Ebony and Topaz (1927) should present a unified vision of Black American identity, editor Charles S. Johnson fostered his contributors' diverse perspectives by promoting their authorial autonomy. Johnson's self-effacement diverged from the editorial stances of W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke, whose decisions for their publications were more _______.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
proficient
dogmatic
ambiguous
unpretentious
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Rejecting the premise that the literary magazine Ebony and Topaz (1927) should present a unified vision of Black American identity," |
|
| "editor Charles S. Johnson fostered his contributors' diverse perspectives by promoting their authorial autonomy." |
|
| "Johnson's self-effacement diverged from the editorial stances of W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke," |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Charles S. Johnson's editorial approach for Ebony and Topaz emphasized contributor autonomy and diverse perspectives, contrasting with the more controlling editorial styles of Du Bois and Locke.
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 sets up a clear contrast between Johnson's editorial style and that of Du Bois and Locke
- Johnson practiced self-effacement and promoted authorial autonomy, meaning he stepped back and let writers do their own thing
- The word we need should describe how Du Bois and Locke were the opposite - more controlling, more imposing their own vision
proficient
proficient
✗ Incorrect
- This describes skill level, not editorial control style
- Being more proficient does not create the logical contrast with Johnson's self-effacing approach
dogmatic
dogmatic
✓ Correct
- This means inflexibly pushing one's own views
- This perfectly contrasts with Johnson's self-effacement and promotion of authorial autonomy
- Creates the logical opposition needed
ambiguous
ambiguous
✗ Incorrect
- This means unclear or vague
- This does not create a meaningful contrast with Johnson's approach regarding editorial control
unpretentious
unpretentious
✗ Incorrect
- This means modest or humble
- This would actually be similar to Johnson's self-effacement, not contrasting with it