San Francisco is known for the colorful murals painted on many of its buildings. The densest collection of murals is...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Source: Practice Test
Craft and Structure
Text Structure and Purpose
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San Francisco is known for the colorful murals painted on many of its buildings. The densest collection of murals is found on Balmy Alley in the Mission District neighborhood. In the 1970s, Latina artists painted vivid scenes of community life on walls along this block. As the original murals have faded, later generations of artists have painted new ones over them. As a result, Balmy Alley has become a living showcase of San Francisco's artistic spirit, with its murals reflecting changes in the cultural life of the city.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
A
To compare the Balmy Alley murals to other murals in San Francisco
B
To offer an overview of the history and importance of the Balmy Alley murals
C
To urge people to protect the murals of San Francisco from decay
D
To describe the rise of mural painting in San Francisco beginning in the 1970s
Solution
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "San Francisco is known for the colorful murals painted on many of its buildings." |
|
| "The densest collection of murals is found on Balmy Alley in the Mission District neighborhood." |
|
| "In the 1970s, Latina artists painted vivid scenes of community life on walls along this block." |
|
| "As the original murals have faded, later generations of artists have painted new ones over them." |
|
| "As a result, Balmy Alley has become a living showcase of San Francisco's artistic spirit, with its murals reflecting changes in the cultural life of the city." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Balmy Alley has evolved from its 1970s origins into a continuously changing showcase that reflects San Francisco's artistic and cultural development.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? The primary function or goal the author had in writing this passage
Any limiting keywords? "Main purpose" means we need the overarching intent, not a secondary detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage gives us a complete picture of Balmy Alley murals - it tells us where they are, how they started in the 1970s with Latina artists, how the tradition continues as new artists paint over faded ones, and why this makes the alley significant as a "living showcase"
- The author wants us to understand both the historical development and the ongoing importance of these murals
- So the right answer should capture both the historical overview and the significance/importance of Balmy Alley murals
Answer Choices Explained
A
To compare the Balmy Alley murals to other murals in San Francisco
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text compares Balmy Alley murals to other SF murals
- The passage mentions SF has murals citywide but makes no comparisons between Balmy Alley and other locations
B
To offer an overview of the history and importance of the Balmy Alley murals
✓ Correct
- Captures both the historical element (1970s origins, evolution over time) and the importance (living showcase reflecting cultural changes)
- Matches our prethinking perfectly
C
To urge people to protect the murals of San Francisco from decay
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the text is making an argument for protection
- The passage is purely informational with no call to action or urgency about decay
D
To describe the rise of mural painting in San Francisco beginning in the 1970s
✗ Incorrect
- Too narrow in scope - focuses only on the rise of mural painting citywide
- The passage is specifically about Balmy Alley, not San Francisco's overall mural development
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