While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:In 1978, Sámi activists staged protests to block the construction...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 1978, Sámi activists staged protests to block the construction of a dam on the Alta River in Norway.
- The dam would disrupt Sámi fishing and reindeer herding.
- The dam was ultimately built, but the Alta conflict had a lasting impact.
- It brought international attention to the issue of Sámi rights.
- It led to a set of 2005 legal protections establishing Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources.
The student wants to make and support a generalization about the Alta conflict. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
During the Alta conflict, Sámi activists staged protests to block the construction of a dam on the Alta River in Norway that would disrupt local fishing and reindeer herding.
Although the dam that the Sámi activists had protested was ultimately built, the Alta conflict had a lasting impact.
Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources received international attention and legal protections as a result of the Alta conflict.
The Alta conflict had a lasting impact, resulting in international attention and legal protections for Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In 1978, Sámi activists staged protests to block the construction of a dam on the Alta River in Norway.' |
|
| 'The dam would disrupt Sámi fishing and reindeer herding.' |
|
| 'The dam was ultimately built, but the Alta conflict had a lasting impact.' |
|
| 'It brought international attention to the issue of Sámi rights.' |
|
| 'It led to a set of 2005 legal protections establishing Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Alta conflict, despite failing to stop the dam, created lasting positive changes for Sámi rights recognition.
Argument Flow: The notes establish a specific protest event, explain why it occurred, then pivot to show that while the immediate goal failed, the conflict generated significant long-term benefits through increased international awareness and concrete legal protections.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses the notes to make and support a generalization about the Alta conflict.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that both makes a broad claim about the conflict AND backs it up with specific details from the notes.
Any limiting keywords? 'most effectively' means we need the choice that best accomplishes both parts - making the generalization AND supporting it with relevant information.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should make a generalization - a broad statement about the significance or nature of the Alta conflict
- Support that generalization with specific information from the notes
- The most logical generalization from these notes is that the conflict had lasting positive effects, since that's what the notes emphasize after the pivot point
During the Alta conflict, Sámi activists staged protests to block the construction of a dam on the Alta River in Norway that would disrupt local fishing and reindeer herding.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply describes what happened during the conflict
- Doesn't make any generalization about the conflict's significance or impact
- Only covers the setup information, ignoring the lasting effects that the notes emphasize
Although the dam that the Sámi activists had protested was ultimately built, the Alta conflict had a lasting impact.
✗ Incorrect
- Makes a generalization ('had a lasting impact') but doesn't support it
- Fails to specify what that lasting impact was
Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources received international attention and legal protections as a result of the Alta conflict.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions the specific outcomes (international attention, legal protections) but presents them awkwardly
- Doesn't clearly establish these as consequences of the Alta conflict
The Alta conflict had a lasting impact, resulting in international attention and legal protections for Sámi rights to lands, waters, and resources.
✓ Correct
- Makes a clear generalization: 'The Alta conflict had a lasting impact' and supports it with specific evidence: 'resulting in international attention and legal protections'
- Uses information from multiple parts of the notes to create a complete picture