When tech entrepreneurs Sarah Kim and David Chen launched their ride-sharing app in 2019, industry experts predicted it would struggle...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
When tech entrepreneurs Sarah Kim and David Chen launched their ride-sharing app in 2019, industry experts predicted it would struggle against established competitors like Uber and Lyft. _____ their focus on rural and underserved communities helped them capture a unique market segment that the larger companies had overlooked.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
As a result,
However,
For example,
To that end,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "When tech entrepreneurs Sarah Kim and David Chen launched their ride-sharing app in 2019, industry experts predicted it would struggle against established competitors like Uber and Lyft." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "their focus on rural and underserved communities helped them capture a unique market segment that the larger companies had overlooked." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [EXPERT PREDICTION] leads to Struggle against competitors, then [MISSING CONNECTOR], then [ACTUAL RESULT] leads to Success through niche focus
Main Point: Despite predictions of failure, the entrepreneurs succeeded by targeting an underserved market.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a prediction of struggle, then shows how the entrepreneurs actually succeeded by taking a different approach than the established competitors.
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 transition must show the relationship between the negative prediction and the positive outcome
- We need a word that indicates contrast or contradiction - the second idea goes against what was expected
- The logical flow is: experts said it would fail BUT/HOWEVER it succeeded through a different strategy
- The right answer should signal a contrast or contradiction between the prediction and the actual result
As a result,
- "As a result" suggests the success came FROM the prediction of struggle
- This creates a cause-and-effect relationship that doesn't make logical sense
However,
- "However" signals that the second idea contrasts with or contradicts the first
- Perfect fit: experts predicted struggle, however they actually succeeded
- Matches our prethinking perfectly - shows the contradiction between prediction and reality
For example,
- "For example" would suggest their success is an example of struggling against competitors
- This doesn't make sense logically - success isn't an example of predicted failure
To that end,
- "To that end" suggests their focus on rural communities was done to fulfill the prediction of struggling
- This creates backward logic - they didn't try to struggle on purpose