The Malmo Green District in Sweden demonstrates how urban communities can address climate challenges by integrating time-tested building practices wit...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The Malmo Green District in Sweden demonstrates how urban communities can address climate challenges by integrating time-tested building practices with cutting-edge environmental technology. Traditional construction methods, such as using locally sourced materials and designing buildings to maximize natural light, form the foundation of the district's development strategy. However, these conventional approaches are enhanced by solar panel installations, smart grid systems, and advanced water recycling infrastructure. The result is a neighborhood that reduces carbon emissions while maintaining the architectural character and community feel that residents value.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To argue that the Malmo Green District should serve as a model for sustainable urban development
To explore how a Swedish community integrates traditional and modern approaches to environmental challenges
To describe the obstacles faced during the construction of an eco-friendly neighborhood
To establish why conventional building methods are insufficient for addressing climate change
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Malmo Green District in Sweden demonstrates how urban communities can address climate challenges by integrating time-tested building practices with cutting-edge environmental technology.' |
|
| 'Traditional construction methods, such as using locally sourced materials and designing buildings to maximize natural light, form the foundation of the district's development strategy.' |
|
| 'However, these conventional approaches are enhanced by solar panel installations, smart grid systems, and advanced water recycling infrastructure.' |
|
| 'The result is a neighborhood that reduces carbon emissions while maintaining the architectural character and community feel that residents value.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Malmo Green District demonstrates how communities can successfully address climate challenges by combining traditional building practices with modern environmental technology.
Argument Flow: The author presents the Malmo Green District as a demonstration of integrated climate solutions. They first establish that traditional methods form the foundation, then show how modern technology enhances these approaches, and conclude by highlighting the successful balance achieved between environmental goals and community values.
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 author's main goal seems to be showing us how one specific community (Malmo Green District) tackles climate challenges
- The key elements the correct answer must have are:
- Focus on the integration/combination approach
- Recognition that it involves both traditional and modern elements
- Understanding this is presented as a demonstration or example
- So the right answer should capture how the text explores or describes this integration of old and new approaches to environmental challenges
To argue that the Malmo Green District should serve as a model for sustainable urban development
✗ Incorrect
- This suggests the text argues Malmo should be a model for others
- The passage describes what Malmo does, but doesn't argue it should be replicated elsewhere
- What trap this represents: Students might think 'demonstrates' means 'argues as a model,' but demonstration can simply mean 'shows' or 'illustrates'
To explore how a Swedish community integrates traditional and modern approaches to environmental challenges
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the integration theme we identified
- 'Explores how' matches the descriptive tone of the passage
- 'Traditional and modern approaches' directly reflects our analysis
- Matches our prethinking about showing the combination approach
To describe the obstacles faced during the construction of an eco-friendly neighborhood
✗ Incorrect
- The passage mentions no obstacles or construction difficulties
- Focuses on the successful integration, not problems faced
- Completely misses the actual content focus
To establish why conventional building methods are insufficient for addressing climate change
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't argue traditional methods are insufficient
- Actually presents traditional methods as the 'foundation' - quite positive
- What trap this represents: Students might focus on the 'However' transition and think it's criticizing traditional methods, when it's actually showing how they work together