While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December 1955.Rosa Parks was...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December 1955.
- Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
- Parks was a seamstress and longtime NAACP member.
- The boycott lasted 381 days and successfully ended bus segregation in Montgomery.
- Parks' act of defiance became a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement.
- Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a key leader during the boycott.
The student wants to explain the historical significance of Parks' arrest. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Rosa Parks, a seamstress and NAACP member, was arrested in December 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began after Rosa Parks was arrested and lasted 381 days until bus segregation ended.
Martin Luther King Jr. became a prominent leader during the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott that began in December 1955.
Rosa Parks' December 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat sparked the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott, which successfully ended bus segregation and served as a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The Montgomery Bus Boycott began in December 1955. |
|
| Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. |
|
| Parks was a seamstress and longtime NAACP member. |
|
| The boycott lasted 381 days and successfully ended bus segregation in Montgomery. |
|
| Parks act of defiance became a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement. |
|
| Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a key leader during the boycott. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Rosa Parks arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat sparked a 381-day boycott that not only ended local bus segregation but also catalyzed the broader Civil Rights Movement.
Argument Flow: The notes establish a clear cause-and-effect progression: Parks individual act of defiance triggered the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which achieved both immediate local success and broader historical significance.
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
To explain the historical significance of Parks arrest, the right answer needs to:
- Connect Parks arrest directly to what it caused
- Show the successful outcome
- Demonstrate the broader historical impact
- Include key details that show the magnitude
Rosa Parks, a seamstress and NAACP member, was arrested in December 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
✗ Incorrect
- Only provides basic facts about Parks arrest and background
- Doesn't explain any significance or consequences
- Missing the entire point about historical impact
The Montgomery Bus Boycott began after Rosa Parks was arrested and lasted 381 days until bus segregation ended.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions the boycott duration and outcome
- Connects Parks arrest to the boycott beginning
- Misses the broader historical significance beyond Montgomery
Martin Luther King Jr. became a prominent leader during the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott that began in December 1955.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on MLK Jr emergence rather than Parks arrest
- Completely shifts focus away from Parks significance
Rosa Parks' December 1955 arrest for refusing to give up her bus seat sparked the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott, which successfully ended bus segregation and served as a catalyst for the broader Civil Rights Movement.
✓ Correct
- Directly connects Parks arrest to sparking the boycott
- Includes key details showing magnitude
- Shows both immediate success and broader impact
- Uses multiple relevant pieces from the notes to build a complete picture of historical significance