While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The flying buttress emerged in Gothic architecture during the 12th...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The flying buttress emerged in Gothic architecture during the 12th century in France.
- This external support system revolutionized cathedral construction by allowing higher walls.
- The flying buttress transfers structural weight through an arched stone span.
- The system includes a vertical pier that anchors the arch to the ground.
- Eugène Viollet-le-Duc documented Gothic techniques in his 1854 architectural treatise.
- His analysis helped preserve traditional construction knowledge for future generations.
The student wants to explain how the flying buttress enhanced Gothic architecture. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The flying buttress, featuring an arched span and vertical pier, was documented by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in his 1854 treatise.
By transferring structural weight through its arched design, the flying buttress revolutionized cathedral construction and enabled builders to create higher walls.
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's 1854 architectural treatise documented Gothic construction techniques including the flying buttress system.
The flying buttress emerged in 12th-century France as an external support system that included both arched spans and vertical piers.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The flying buttress emerged in Gothic architecture during the 12th century in France.' |
|
| 'This external support system revolutionized cathedral construction by allowing higher walls.' |
|
| 'The flying buttress transfers structural weight through an arched stone span.' |
|
| 'The system includes a vertical pier that anchors the arch to the ground.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The flying buttress was a revolutionary external support system that transformed Gothic cathedral construction by enabling higher walls through its weight-transferring arched design.
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 correct answer needs to show how the flying buttress made Gothic architecture better
- From our notes, the key enhancement was that it 'revolutionized cathedral construction by allowing higher walls' through its mechanism of 'transferring structural weight through an arched stone span'
- The right answer should connect the technical function with the architectural benefit
The flying buttress, featuring an arched span and vertical pier, was documented by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in his 1854 treatise.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on describing components and documentation but doesn't explain how these features enhanced Gothic architecture
By transferring structural weight through its arched design, the flying buttress revolutionized cathedral construction and enabled builders to create higher walls.
✓ Correct
- Explains both the mechanism (transferring structural weight through arched design) and the enhancement (revolutionized construction and enabled higher walls)
- Directly connects how it worked with what improvement it created
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's 1854 architectural treatise documented Gothic construction techniques including the flying buttress system.
✗ Incorrect
- Only discusses documentation of Gothic techniques, completely missing how the flying buttress enhanced architecture
The flying buttress emerged in 12th-century France as an external support system that included both arched spans and vertical piers.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides historical context and structural components but describes what it was rather than how it enhanced architecture