While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Thailand's annual Songkran Water Festival is held each April.It marks...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Thailand's annual Songkran Water Festival is held each April.
- It marks Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year.
- People splash and spray each other for fun at the festival's community-wide water fights.
- In Bangkok, thousands gather along Silom Road for the city's largest water fight.
- In Chiang Mai, thousands gather at a historical monument called the Tha Phae Gate for the city's largest water fight.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity in how people in Bangkok and Chiang Mai celebrate Songkran. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The largest water fight in Bangkok takes place along a city street, whereas the largest water fight in Chiang Mai takes place at a historical monument.
In both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, thousands gather to celebrate Songkran with water fights.
People in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai celebrate Songkran, but they don't do so in exactly the same way.
Each April, people in Thailand celebrate Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year.
Looking at this Rhetorical Synthesis question, I need to help the student understand how to identify the choice that best emphasizes similarities between Bangkok and Chiang Mai's Songkran celebrations.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Thailand's annual Songkran Water Festival is held each April." |
|
| "It marks Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year." |
|
| "People splash and spray each other for fun at the festival's community-wide water fights." |
|
| "In Bangkok, thousands gather along Silom Road for the city's largest water fight." |
|
| "In Chiang Mai, thousands gather at a historical monument called the Tha Phae Gate for the city's largest water fight." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The research notes provide background on Thailand's Songkran Water Festival and specific details about how it's celebrated in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Argument Flow: The notes move from general festival information (timing, significance, activities) to specific examples of how the two major cities host their largest water fights, with thousands participating in both locations.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student has a specific goal: to emphasize a similarity in how people in Bangkok and Chiang Mai celebrate Songkran.
What type of answer do we need? We need a statement that focuses on what Bangkok and Chiang Mai have in common during Songkran.
Any limiting keywords? The key limiting factor is "emphasize similarities" - we must avoid choices that highlight differences.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai have clear similarities:
- Both cities have thousands of people participating
- Both have their "largest water fight" locations
- Both involve the same core Songkran water fight activity
- The right answer should focus on these shared elements rather than highlighting differences like the specific locations.
The largest water fight in Bangkok takes place along a city street, whereas the largest water fight in Chiang Mai takes place at a historical monument.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice emphasizes the difference between locations (street vs. monument), directly contradicting the goal of showing similarity.
In both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, thousands gather to celebrate Songkran with water fights.
✓ Correct
- Directly states that "thousands gather" in "both Bangkok and Chiang Mai" and emphasizes the shared element of large crowds celebrating with water fights.
People in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai celebrate Songkran, but they don't do so in exactly the same way.
✗ Incorrect
- Explicitly states they "don't do so in exactly the same way" which emphasizes differences, not similarities.
Each April, people in Thailand celebrate Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions Thailand generally and doesn't specifically compare Bangkok and Chiang Mai at all.