While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: The city council approved the Riverside District revitalization project...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The city council approved the Riverside District revitalization project in 2023.
- The project aims to transform a former industrial area into mixed-use development.
- Planners designed the development to integrate residential housing with commercial spaces.
- Ground-floor areas will house retail stores and restaurants.
- Upper floors will contain apartment units and office spaces.
- Green courtyards will connect the different building sections.
The student wants to describe how planners structured the mixed-use integration. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Riverside District revitalization project was approved by the city council in 2023 to transform industrial space.
Planners structured the mixed-use integration by placing retail and restaurants on ground floors, apartments and offices above, with green courtyards linking the sections.
The former industrial area in Riverside District will become a mixed-use development with both residential and commercial components.
Green courtyards will be included in the Riverside District development project designed by city planners.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The city council approved the Riverside District revitalization project in 2023." |
|
| "The project aims to transform a former industrial area into mixed-use development." |
|
| "Planners designed the development to integrate residential housing with commercial spaces." |
|
| "Ground-floor areas will house retail stores and restaurants." |
|
| "Upper floors will contain apartment units and office spaces." |
|
| "Green courtyards will connect the different building sections." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Riverside District project will integrate residential and commercial uses through a specific vertical arrangement with connecting green spaces.
Argument Flow: The notes establish project context and goals, then provide concrete structural details showing how planners achieve mixed-use integration through floor organization and connecting courtyards.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to describe how planners structured the mixed-use integration - the specific organizational approach they used.
What type of answer do we need? A description showing the structural arrangement and integration method.
Any limiting keywords? We need the choice that best captures structural details from the notes to explain the integration approach.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should explain the specific physical arrangement planners used
- The right answer should mention both residential and commercial elements
- The right answer should include the connecting mechanism (green courtyards)
- The notes give us a clear vertical structure: retail/restaurants on ground level, apartments/offices above, with courtyards linking everything together
The Riverside District revitalization project was approved by the city council in 2023 to transform industrial space.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on project approval and general transformation goal
- Misses specific organizational details the question asks for
Planners structured the mixed-use integration by placing retail and restaurants on ground floors, apartments and offices above, with green courtyards linking the sections.
✓ Correct
- Captures the exact structural arrangement with retail/restaurants on ground floors, apartments/offices above, and green courtyards linking sections
- Directly answers how planners structured the mixed-use integration
The former industrial area in Riverside District will become a mixed-use development with both residential and commercial components.
✗ Incorrect
- Only provides general information about mixed-use development without explaining the structural approach or specific arrangement
Green courtyards will be included in the Riverside District development project designed by city planners.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions green courtyards, missing the vertical arrangement that is central to how the integration works