The city's aging water infrastructure has been causing frequent service interruptions, and residents have been demanding immediate action from municip...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
The city's aging water infrastructure has been causing frequent service interruptions, and residents have been demanding immediate action from municipal officials. _____ the public works department announces an emergency repair program to replace the most critical pipe sections within six months.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Consequently,
For instance,
Meanwhile,
In contrast,
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The city's aging water infrastructure has been causing frequent service interruptions, and residents have been demanding immediate action from municipal officials." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "the public works department announces an emergency repair program to replace the most critical pipe sections within six months." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Municipal officials respond to public pressure about infrastructure problems by announcing an emergency repair program.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a problem with the city's aging water infrastructure that's affecting residents, then shows how the government responds to public demands for action with an official repair program.
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
- From our analysis, we see that residents were demanding immediate action about the infrastructure problems, and then the public works department announces an emergency repair program
- We need a transition that shows the repair program is a direct result of or response to the public pressure and infrastructure problems
- The logical relationship here is cause-and-effect: the problems and public demands (cause) lead to the official response (effect)
Consequently,
✓ Correct - "Consequently" shows cause-and-effect relationship
- Perfect fit: problems and demands lead to repair program announcement
- Matches our prethinking about direct response to public pressure
For instance,
✗ Incorrect - "For instance" introduces an example
- Doesn't make sense here because the repair program isn't an example of infrastructure problems
Meanwhile,
✗ Incorrect - "Meanwhile" shows things happening at the same time
- Wrong relationship because the announcement comes after the demands, not during them
In contrast,
✗ Incorrect - "In contrast" shows opposition or difference
- Wrong relationship because the repair program agrees with what residents want, doesn't oppose it