Studies indicate that pupils with musical background demonstrate disproportionately high enrollment in sophisticated mathematics classes relative to t...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Studies indicate that pupils with musical background demonstrate disproportionately high enrollment in sophisticated mathematics classes relative to their representation within the overall student body. This phenomenon might originate from musical instruction introducing learners to quantitative principles including beat patterns, temporal sequences, and tonal ratios, and this introduction therefore ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
elevates the quantitative prerequisites required for musical programs.
renders sophisticated mathematics classes especially appealing to pupils with musical instruction.
encourages learners lacking musical experience to seek music education prior to mathematics enrollment.
expands the quantity of mathematics classes that integrate musical components.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Studies indicate that pupils with musical background demonstrate disproportionately high enrollment in sophisticated mathematics classes relative to their representation within the overall student body.' |
|
| 'This phenomenon might originate from musical instruction introducing learners to quantitative principles including beat patterns, temporal sequences, and tonal ratios,' |
|
| 'and this introduction therefore ______' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Students with musical backgrounds enroll in advanced math classes at higher rates than expected, possibly because music instruction exposes them to mathematical concepts.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with an intriguing statistical pattern, then proposes that musical training might cause this pattern by teaching quantitative skills, and finally needs us to complete the logical chain of reasoning about what this mathematical exposure accomplishes.
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 passage establishes that music teaches quantitative concepts, so the completion should explain how this exposure affects students' relationship with advanced mathematics
- The right answer should explain that learning these mathematical concepts through music makes advanced math more attractive or accessible to these students
elevates the quantitative prerequisites required for musical programs.
- Claims music programs require higher math prerequisites
- This reverses the causal relationship and doesn't explain why students with musical background choose advanced math
renders sophisticated mathematics classes especially appealing to pupils with musical instruction.
- States that learning quantitative principles through music makes advanced math 'especially appealing'
- Creates the logical bridge: music exposure leads to comfort with mathematical concepts leads to attraction to advanced math
encourages learners lacking musical experience to seek music education prior to mathematics enrollment.
- Focuses on students without musical background seeking music education
- This doesn't address the enrollment pattern we're trying to explain
expands the quantity of mathematics classes that integrate musical components.
- Talks about math classes integrating musical components
- This describes a curriculum change, not a student enrollment behavior