Recent analysis of customer loyalty programs reveals a striking pattern. Simple, point-based reward systems have led to higher customer retention...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Recent analysis of customer loyalty programs reveals a striking pattern. Simple, point-based reward systems have led to higher customer retention rates across multiple companies. ______ organizations using complex, multi-tier approaches reported declining customer engagement during the same timeframe.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
To illustrate,
Conversely,
Subsequently,
Specifically,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Recent analysis of customer loyalty programs reveals a striking pattern." |
|
| "Simple, point-based reward systems have led to higher customer retention rates across multiple companies." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "organizations using complex, multi-tier approaches reported declining customer engagement during the same timeframe." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Customer loyalty program analysis shows that simple point-based systems outperform complex multi-tier approaches.
Argument Flow: The passage opens by announcing a discovered pattern, presents evidence that simple systems work well, then contrasts this with evidence that complex systems perform poorly during the same period.
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
- Looking at our analysis, we see simple systems leading to success, then we need a connector before information about complex systems leading to failure
- The relationship we need is one of contrast or opposition - simple systems work well versus complex systems work poorly
- The right transition should signal that we are about to hear something that contrasts with what we just learned about simple systems being successful
To illustrate,
- This would introduce an example of the pattern mentioned, but the second part is not an example - it is contrasting information about a different type of system
Conversely,
- This signals that what follows will contrast with what came before
- Perfectly captures the relationship: simple systems succeeded, conversely complex systems failed
Subsequently,
- This indicates time sequence or what happened next
- The passage is not about what happened after, but about different systems during the same timeframe
Specifically,
- This would narrow down or provide a more detailed example
- The complex systems are not a specific example of the pattern - they are the opposite result