While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The Tesla Model S electric vehicle was released in 2012.It...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Tesla Model S electric vehicle was released in 2012.
- It features a lithium-ion battery pack that provides over 400 miles of driving range.
- The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
- The Lucid Air Dream Edition was launched in 2021.
- This electric luxury sedan also uses lithium-ion battery technology for over 400 miles of range.
- The Lucid Air can similarly accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
- Both vehicles represent significant advances in electric vehicle performance.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between the two electric vehicles. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Tesla released the Model S in 2012, while Lucid launched the Air Dream Edition nine years later in 2021.
Both the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air achieve over 400 miles of driving range and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
The Tesla Model S and Lucid Air represent different approaches to electric luxury vehicles, with Tesla focusing on innovation and Lucid on performance.
While both use lithium-ion batteries, the Tesla Model S targets a broader market compared to Lucid's luxury focus.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Tesla Model S electric vehicle was released in 2012.' |
|
| 'It features a lithium-ion battery pack that provides over 400 miles of driving range.' |
|
| 'The vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.' |
|
| 'The Lucid Air Dream Edition was launched in 2021.' |
|
| 'This electric luxury sedan also uses lithium-ion battery technology for over 400 miles of range.' |
|
| 'The Lucid Air can similarly accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.' |
|
| 'Both vehicles represent significant advances in electric vehicle performance.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
VEHICLE 1: Tesla Model S (2012)
├── Battery: Li-ion → 400+ miles
└── Performance: 0-60 < 3 sec
VEHICLE 2: Lucid Air (2021)
├── Battery: Li-ion → 400+ miles (same as Tesla)
└── Performance: 0-60 < 3 sec (same as Tesla)
CONCLUSION: Both = major EV advances
Main Point: The notes document key specifications of two high-performance electric vehicles that share similar technical capabilities despite being released nine years apart.
Argument Flow: The notes present each vehicle chronologically, establishing their release dates, then describing their parallel technical specifications (battery technology and range) and performance capabilities (acceleration), before concluding that both represent significant advances in the electric vehicle field.
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, the two vehicles share several key similarities
- Both use lithium-ion battery technology
- Both achieve over 400 miles of driving range
- Both can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds
- The question specifically asks us to emphasize a similarity, so the correct answer should focus on what these vehicles have in common rather than their differences (like release dates)
- The most effective approach would be to highlight multiple shared features rather than just one
- So the right answer should clearly state specific ways these two vehicles perform similarly, drawing directly from the technical specifications in our notes
Tesla released the Model S in 2012, while Lucid launched the Air Dream Edition nine years later in 2021.
- Focuses entirely on the 9-year difference in release dates (2012 vs 2021)
- This emphasizes a difference, not a similarity, which is the opposite of what the question asks for
- What trap this represents: Students might choose this because it uses factual information from the notes, but they miss that the question specifically asks to emphasize similarity
Both the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air achieve over 400 miles of driving range and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
- States two major similarities: both achieve over 400 miles of driving range and both can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds
- Directly matches the technical specifications from our passage analysis
- Uses the exact language from the notes (over 400 miles and under 3 seconds)
- Fulfills the goal by emphasizing what the vehicles share rather than how they differ
The Tesla Model S and Lucid Air represent different approaches to electric luxury vehicles, with Tesla focusing on innovation and Lucid on performance.
- Claims they represent different approaches which emphasizes difference, not similarity
- The characterizations (Tesla focusing on innovation vs Lucid on performance) are not supported by the notes
- Contradicts the question's goal to emphasize similarity
While both use lithium-ion batteries, the Tesla Model S targets a broader market compared to Lucid's luxury focus.
- While it mentions one similarity (both use lithium-ion batteries), it immediately shifts to emphasizing difference
- Claims Tesla targets a broader market vs Lucid's luxury focus - this distinction is not in the notes
- What trap this represents: Students might be tempted because it starts with a similarity, but it ultimately emphasizes market differences rather than technical similarities