The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s is often credited primarily to famous writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston....
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s is often credited primarily to famous writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. Many people assume that literature dominated this cultural flowering. Visual artists, however, played equally important roles in defining the movement. Aaron Douglas created striking murals that captured the spirit of African American identity. Palmer Hayden's paintings depicted both celebratory and challenging aspects of Black life. Augusta Savage sculpted powerful works while also mentoring younger artists.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To demonstrate that multiple art forms contributed to the Harlem Renaissance
To compare the achievements of writers with those of visual artists
To question whether literature was important to the Harlem Renaissance
To establish that visual art was more significant than writing
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s is often credited primarily to famous writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.' |
|
| 'Many people assume that literature dominated this cultural flowering.' |
|
| 'Visual artists, however, played equally important roles in defining the movement.' |
|
| 'Aaron Douglas created striking murals that captured the spirit of African American identity.' |
|
| 'Palmer Hayden's paintings depicted both celebratory and challenging aspects of Black life.' |
|
| 'Augusta Savage sculpted powerful works while also mentoring younger artists.' |
|
Main Point: The Harlem Renaissance involved important contributions from visual artists, not just the writers who typically receive primary credit.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The question asks for the main purpose of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? We need to identify the overall goal or function the author had in writing this passage
Any limiting keywords? None specified
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage follows a clear pattern: it starts with what people commonly think (writers dominated the Harlem Renaissance), then challenges that view by showing visual artists were equally important
- The author's main goal is correcting an incomplete understanding by showing that multiple types of artists contributed to the movement
To demonstrate that multiple art forms contributed to the Harlem Renaissance
✓ Correct
- This captures that the passage shows both literature AND visual arts contributed to the movement, matching the broader artistic scope demonstrated
To compare the achievements of writers with those of visual artists
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't compare achievements between writers and visual artists, it simply shows both were important
To question whether literature was important to the Harlem Renaissance
✗ Incorrect
- The passage never questions literature's importance, it accepts that writers were important and adds visual artists to the conversation
To establish that visual art was more significant than writing
✗ Incorrect
- The passage states visual artists played 'equally important roles,' not more significant ones