The following text is adapted from a neighborhood association newsletter. The Riverside Community Center is hosting its annual fundraising gala...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from a neighborhood association newsletter. The Riverside Community Center is hosting its annual fundraising gala next weekend.
Sarah knocked on her neighbor Tom's door, holding a stack of flyers. When Tom answered, she took a deep breath. "I'm here about the fundraising gala next weekend," she began. "Tom, I know you want to help with community events, but your approach at last year's auction was... problematic. Several long-time donors mentioned feeling pressured by your aggressive bidding commentary." Tom looked confused. "I was just trying to generate excitement and drive up prices for charity." Sarah winced. "Your 'excitement' made people uncomfortable. The organizing committee has asked me to suggest that maybe this year you could support the fundraiser in other ways—perhaps by making a direct donation instead of attending."
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To explain the importance of the annual fundraising gala
To describe Tom's contributions to community fundraising efforts
To show that Sarah wants Tom to skip the gala
To present details about the auction format at community events
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The following text is adapted from a neighborhood association newsletter. The Riverside Community Center is hosting its annual fundraising gala next weekend." |
|
| "Sarah knocked on her neighbor Tom's door, holding a stack of flyers." |
|
| "When Tom answered, she took a deep breath. 'I'm here about the fundraising gala next weekend,' she began." |
|
| "'Tom, I know you want to help with community events, but your approach at last year's auction was... problematic.'" |
|
| "'Several long-time donors mentioned feeling pressured by your aggressive bidding commentary.'" |
|
| "Tom looked confused. 'I was just trying to generate excitement and drive up prices for charity.'" |
|
| "Sarah winced. 'Your 'excitement' made people uncomfortable.'" |
|
| "'The organizing committee has asked me to suggest that maybe this year you could support the fundraiser in other ways—perhaps by making a direct donation instead of attending.'" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Sarah is delivering a message from the organizing committee asking Tom to skip the gala and donate instead because his behavior last year made donors uncomfortable.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the context of an upcoming community gala, then focuses on a conversation where Sarah explains to Tom that his well-intentioned but problematic behavior at last year's auction created issues with donors, leading to the committee's request that he support the fundraiser differently this year by not attending.
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 right answer should capture that Sarah's main purpose is to communicate that Tom should skip the gala this year
- The passage centers entirely on Sarah's conversation with Tom about the upcoming gala
- The key action being Sarah delivering an uncomfortable message from the organizing committee asking Tom not to attend the gala this year
- This is due to his problematic behavior that made donors uncomfortable last year
To explain the importance of the annual fundraising gala
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the passage explains why the gala is important
- The passage focuses specifically on Sarah's difficult conversation with Tom, not on the gala's importance
To describe Tom's contributions to community fundraising efforts
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the passage describes Tom's contributions positively
- The passage actually presents Tom's past involvement as problematic
To show that Sarah wants Tom to skip the gala
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures what Sarah is doing throughout the passage
- The committee specifically asked her to suggest Tom support the fundraiser in other ways by making a direct donation instead of attending
To present details about the auction format at community events
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the passage gives details about how auctions work
- The passage only briefly mentions bidding as context for Tom's problematic behavior