The City Planning Commission released a report claiming that their new community engagement process represents a model of inclusive civic...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The City Planning Commission released a report claiming that their new community engagement process represents a model of inclusive civic participation—the process successfully incorporated input from all segments of the population, ensuring that both majority and minority voices were heard with equal consideration.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the Commission's claim?
The engagement process utilized advanced digital platforms and sophisticated data collection methods to maximize efficiency and accessibility.
The Commission's approach received recognition from planning organizations and was featured as a best practice in professional publications nationwide.
Post-process surveys revealed that 89% of participants from underrepresented communities reported feeling their input was genuinely valued, compared to only 34% in the previous engagement process.
Several other municipalities had previously used similar community engagement strategies with varying degrees of success.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The City Planning Commission released a report claiming that their new community engagement process represents a model of inclusive civic participation" |
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| "the process successfully incorporated input from all segments of the population, ensuring that both majority and minority voices were heard with equal consideration." |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The City Planning Commission claims their community engagement process successfully achieved inclusive participation by giving equal consideration to both majority and minority voices.
Argument Flow: The passage presents a single claim from the Commission about the success of their engagement process, with the claim supported by their assertion that they incorporated input from all population segments and treated majority and minority voices with equal consideration.
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 Commission's specific claim is that their process achieved "inclusive civic participation" by incorporating "input from all segments" and ensuring "equal consideration" for both majority and minority voices
- For evidence to support this claim, we need something that shows:
- Minority voices were actually heard and valued (not just consulted)
- There's measurable evidence of inclusivity working
- The process delivered on its promise of equal consideration
- The right answer should provide concrete evidence that underrepresented groups genuinely felt their voices were valued and considered equally in this process
The engagement process utilized advanced digital platforms and sophisticated data collection methods to maximize efficiency and accessibility.
✗ Incorrect
- This focuses on the technical methods (digital platforms, data collection) rather than the outcomes
- Efficiency and accessibility don't prove that voices were heard with "equal consideration"
The Commission's approach received recognition from planning organizations and was featured as a best practice in professional publications nationwide.
✗ Incorrect
- External recognition validates that others liked the process but doesn't prove the specific claim about equal consideration
- Professional accolades don't demonstrate that minority voices were actually heard and valued
Post-process surveys revealed that 89% of participants from underrepresented communities reported feeling their input was genuinely valued, compared to only 34% in the previous engagement process.
✓ Correct
- Directly measures whether underrepresented communities felt "genuinely valued" - exactly what equal consideration should produce
- The 89% vs 34% comparison shows dramatic improvement in minority voice satisfaction
- This data specifically validates the Commission's claim about ensuring minority voices received equal consideration
Several other municipalities had previously used similar community engagement strategies with varying degrees of success.
✗ Incorrect
- Information about other municipalities doesn't support this Commission's specific claim about their own process
- "Varying degrees of success" actually suggests the approach isn't consistently effective