While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes: The Mountain Heritage Foundation was established by community elders...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
The Mountain Heritage Foundation was established by community elders to safeguard traditional Appalachian crafts facing decline. Founded with the mission of maintaining cultural practices for future generations. Community members identified master craftspeople specializing in woodworking, pottery, and textile arts from various mountain towns. These artisans included renowned woodcarver Samuel Creek and potter Maria Holbrook. The Foundation created apprenticeship programs pairing young people with master craftspeople and organized workshops where techniques could be learned and practiced.
The student wants to explain how the Mountain Heritage Foundation preserved traditional crafts. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Foundation identified skilled artisans from different communities and established apprenticeship programs where traditional techniques could be taught and practiced.
Community elders established the Mountain Heritage Foundation to safeguard Appalachian crafts that were facing decline.
Master craftspeople like Samuel Creek and Maria Holbrook participated in the Mountain Heritage Foundation's preservation efforts.
The Mountain Heritage Foundation focused on woodworking, pottery, and textile arts from various mountain towns.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The Mountain Heritage Foundation was established by community elders to safeguard traditional Appalachian crafts facing decline." |
|
| "Founded with the mission of maintaining cultural practices for future generations." |
|
| "Community members identified master craftspeople specializing in woodworking, pottery, and textile arts from various mountain towns." |
|
| "These artisans included renowned woodcarver Samuel Creek and potter Maria Holbrook." |
|
| "The Foundation created apprenticeship programs pairing young people with master craftspeople and organized workshops where techniques could be learned and practiced." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Mountain Heritage Foundation preserved traditional Appalachian crafts by identifying master craftspeople and creating structured learning programs to transfer skills to younger generations.
Argument Flow: The notes establish the Foundation's purpose, then detail their two-pronged preservation approach: finding skilled artisans across different communities, then creating formal educational structures to ensure knowledge transfer.
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, the Foundation preserved crafts through two main actions
- They identified skilled master craftspeople from different mountain communities
- They created structured learning programs (apprenticeships pairing youth with masters, plus workshops) where traditional techniques could be taught and practiced
- The right answer should mention these concrete preservation methods rather than just stating the Foundation's purpose, giving examples of participants, or listing the types of crafts involved
The Foundation identified skilled artisans from different communities and established apprenticeship programs where traditional techniques could be taught and practiced.
- Directly addresses HOW preservation happened through two key methods: identifying artisans + creating educational programs
- Uses information from multiple parts of the notes to give a complete method explanation
Community elders established the Mountain Heritage Foundation to safeguard Appalachian crafts that were facing decline.
- Only explains WHO established the Foundation and WHY
- Doesn't address the HOW question - gives background but no preservation methods
Master craftspeople like Samuel Creek and Maria Holbrook participated in the Mountain Heritage Foundation's preservation efforts.
- Simply states that specific craftspeople participated in preservation efforts
- Doesn't explain any actual preservation methods or how the participation worked
The Mountain Heritage Foundation focused on woodworking, pottery, and textile arts from various mountain towns.
- Only lists WHAT types of crafts the Foundation focused on
- Provides no information about preservation methods or processes