While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The Nineteenth Amendment granted American women the constitutional right to...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Nineteenth Amendment granted American women the constitutional right to vote.
- It was the culmination of decades of suffrage activism and political organizing.
- The amendment used language stating that voting rights could not be denied based on sex.
- Congress passed this historic amendment on June 4, 1919.
The student wants to emphasize the relationship between suffrage activism and the amendment's success.
Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Congress passed the amendment on June 4, 1919.
The Nineteenth Amendment was the culmination of decades of suffrage activism and political organizing.
American women gained constitutional voting rights through the amendment.
The amendment prohibited denying voting rights based on sex.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Nineteenth Amendment granted American women the constitutional right to vote.' |
|
| 'It was the culmination of decades of suffrage activism and political organizing.' |
|
| 'The amendment used language stating that voting rights could not be denied based on sex.' |
|
| 'Congress passed this historic amendment on June 4, 1919.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Nineteenth Amendment gave women voting rights as the result of long-term suffrage activism.
Argument Flow: The notes start by identifying what the amendment accomplished, then explain its historical roots in decades of activism, provide technical details about its language, and conclude with the formal passage date.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice best uses the research notes to emphasize a specific relationship - between suffrage activism and the amendment's success.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that clearly connects the activism (the cause) with the amendment's achievement (the effect).
Any limiting keywords? 'Most effectively' means we need the strongest, clearest connection. 'Emphasize the relationship' means the choice must highlight the link between activism and success, not just mention one or the other.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should mention both the suffrage activism/organizing AND the amendment's success
- Show how the activism led to or resulted in the amendment
- Use the language from the notes that directly connects these two elements
- Make the connection explicit, not something readers have to infer
Congress passed the amendment on June 4, 1919.
- Only gives the passage date from Congress
- Completely ignores the activism component
- Shows no relationship between activism and success
The Nineteenth Amendment was the culmination of decades of suffrage activism and political organizing.
- Uses the exact language that connects activism to success: 'culmination of decades of suffrage activism and political organizing'
- 'Culmination' explicitly shows the amendment as the successful endpoint of the activism
- Directly emphasizes the cause-effect relationship
American women gained constitutional voting rights through the amendment.
- Mentions the amendment's outcome but ignores the activism entirely
- No connection shown between activism and the amendment's success
The amendment prohibited denying voting rights based on sex.
- Focuses only on the amendment's technical language about sex-based denial
- Makes no reference to suffrage activism or organizing
- Shows no relationship between activism and the amendment's passage