Senator Williams's keynote address at the 2024 Environmental Summit emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation on climate legislation. In her...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Senator Williams's keynote address at the 2024 Environmental Summit emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation on climate legislation. In her speech, Williams directly appealed to both political parties to prioritize long-term environmental protection over short-term economic concerns: _____
Which excerpt from the speech best demonstrates this appeal?
'The science is clear: climate change poses unprecedented risks to our economy and our children's future, requiring bold action from Congress.'
'Both Republicans and Democrats have constituents who breathe the same air and drink the same water—environmental protection should unite us across party lines.'
'I call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to set aside partisan politics and work together to pass comprehensive climate legislation that prioritizes our planet's health over corporate profits, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.'
'Historical analysis shows that environmental legislation has typically required bipartisan support to achieve meaningful implementation.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Senator Williams's keynote address at the 2024 Environmental Summit emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation on climate legislation.' |
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| 'In her speech, Williams directly appealed to both political parties to prioritize long-term environmental protection over short-term economic concerns:' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Senator Williams made a direct appeal to both political parties to prioritize environmental protection over immediate economic interests.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up Williams's speech context at an environmental summit, establishes that her main message was about bipartisan cooperation, and then specifies that she directly appealed to both parties to put long-term environmental concerns ahead of short-term economic ones.
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 correct excerpt must show two key elements working together:
- A direct appeal to both political parties (not just general statements about climate)
- A clear call to prioritize long-term environmental protection over short-term economic concerns
- We need to see Williams specifically addressing both Republicans and Democrats
- We need to see her explicitly asking them to put environmental concerns above immediate economic interests
'The science is clear: climate change poses unprecedented risks to our economy and our children's future, requiring bold action from Congress.'
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on the science and risks but doesn't address both parties directly
- No mention of prioritizing environmental concerns over economic ones
'Both Republicans and Democrats have constituents who breathe the same air and drink the same water—environmental protection should unite us across party lines.'
✗ Incorrect
- Does address both parties but missing the key element about prioritizing environmental protection over short-term economic concerns
- This choice captures the bipartisan element but misses the economic vs. environmental priority aspect
'I call upon my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to set aside partisan politics and work together to pass comprehensive climate legislation that prioritizes our planet's health over corporate profits, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.'
✓ Correct
- Directly addresses 'colleagues on both sides of the aisle' (bipartisan appeal)
- Explicitly calls to 'set aside partisan politics and work together' (bipartisan cooperation)
- Clearly prioritizes 'planet's health over corporate profits' (environmental protection over economic concerns)
- Uses action language 'I call upon' matching the passage's 'directly appealed'
'Historical analysis shows that environmental legislation has typically required bipartisan support to achieve meaningful implementation.'
✗ Incorrect
- Describes historical patterns rather than making a direct appeal
- No call to action or direct address to both parties