While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Small business employment policies have significant impacts on local economic...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Small business employment policies have significant impacts on local economic development.
- The effectiveness of tax incentive programs for small businesses has been understudied in rural communities.
- Economist Dr. James Chen investigated how tax incentives affected employment rates in rural Minnesota counties.
- Chen's research team analyzed employment data from 50 counties over a five-year period.
- Counties with tax incentive programs showed an average employment increase of \(12\%\).
The student wants to present the investigation and its results. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Tax incentive programs in rural Minnesota counties have been understudied, but Dr. James Chen's research shows their effectiveness.
Dr. James Chen wanted to investigate tax incentives in rural Minnesota, so his team analyzed employment data from 50 counties.
Dr. James Chen's investigation found that rural Minnesota counties with tax incentive programs experienced an average 12% employment increase.
Rural communities benefit from small business tax incentives, with Minnesota counties showing employment increases averaging 12%.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Small business employment policies have significant impacts on local economic development.' |
|
| 'The effectiveness of tax incentive programs for small businesses has been understudied in rural communities.' |
|
| 'Economist Dr. James Chen investigated how tax incentives affected employment rates in rural Minnesota counties.' |
|
| 'Chen's research team analyzed employment data from 50 counties over a five-year period.' |
|
| 'Counties with tax incentive programs showed an average employment increase of 12%.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Dr. Chen's research on tax incentives in rural Minnesota counties found positive employment effects that help fill a gap in understanding.
Argument Flow: The notes establish the importance of small business employment policies, identify a specific research gap in rural communities, then present Dr. Chen's investigation that addresses this gap and its positive findings showing 12% employment increases.
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 right answer should identify Dr. Chen's investigation specifically
- Present the key result - the 12% employment increase finding
- Connect these elements clearly so both the investigation and its results are presented
Tax incentive programs in rural Minnesota counties have been understudied, but Dr. James Chen's research shows their effectiveness.
✗ Incorrect
- States that programs are understudied and shows Chen's research demonstrates effectiveness
- Misses the goal by not clearly presenting the investigation itself or the specific results (12% increase)
Dr. James Chen wanted to investigate tax incentives in rural Minnesota, so his team analyzed employment data from 50 counties.
✗ Incorrect
- Presents what Chen wanted to investigate and mentions the methodology (50 counties analysis)
- Covers the investigation part but completely omits the results
Dr. James Chen's investigation found that rural Minnesota counties with tax incentive programs experienced an average 12% employment increase.
✓ Correct
- Clearly states 'Dr. James Chen's investigation found that...' which presents the investigation
- Specifies the exact result: 'average 12% employment increase'
- Perfectly matches the goal of presenting both the investigation AND its results
Rural communities benefit from small business tax incentives, with Minnesota counties showing employment increases averaging 12%.
✗ Incorrect
- Presents the results (12% employment increases) but doesn't clearly present the investigation
- Makes a general claim about rural communities rather than presenting Chen's specific investigation