While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The painter Frida Kahlo is one of the most influential...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The painter Frida Kahlo is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.
- She was born in Coyoacán, Mexico, in 1907.
- She is best known for her vivid and richly symbolic self-portraits.
- The Two Fridas (1939) features two versions of Kahlo sitting together.
- One version wears a European-style dress and the other a traditional Tehuana dress.
The student wants to introduce Kahlo to an audience unfamiliar with the artist. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Known for being vivid and richly symbolic, Frida Kahlo's self-portraits include The Two Fridas (1939).
The 1939 painting The Two Fridas is one example of a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo.
One painting by Frida Kahlo features two versions of herself, with one version wearing a European-style dress and the other a traditional Tehuana dress.
One of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is best known for her self-portraits, which are vivid and richly symbolic.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The painter Frida Kahlo is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. |
|
| She was born in Coyoacán, Mexico, in 1907. |
|
| She is best known for her vivid and richly symbolic self-portraits. |
|
| The Two Fridas (1939) features two versions of Kahlo sitting together. |
|
| One version wears a European-style dress and the other a traditional Tehuana dress. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: [KAHLO'S SIGNIFICANCE] → [BASIC BIOGRAPHY] → [ARTISTIC SPECIALTY] ├── General description (vivid, symbolic self-portraits) └── Specific example: The Two Fridas └── Details: European vs. traditional dress
Main Point: These research notes establish Frida Kahlo as a highly influential 20th century Mexican painter known primarily for her vivid, symbolic self-portraits.
Argument Flow: The notes move from establishing Kahlo's historical importance, to providing basic biographical context, to explaining her artistic specialty, and finally offering a concrete example with specific visual details from one of her famous works.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to select which choice most effectively introduces Frida Kahlo to an audience that has never heard of her before.
What type of answer do we need? An introductory statement that uses the research notes strategically to accomplish the specific goal of familiarizing an unfamiliar audience with the artist.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively" means we need the choice that best serves the introduction purpose, and "relevant information from the notes" means we should draw from the provided research material.
The key here is understanding what an audience "unfamiliar with the artist" would need: they'd need to know who she is, why she matters, and what she's known for - not just specific details about individual paintings.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- For an audience unfamiliar with Frida Kahlo, the introduction needs to establish three key elements: her significance (why she matters), her identity (who she is), and her artistic reputation (what she's known for)
- An effective introduction wouldn't dive into specific painting details before establishing these fundamentals
- The research notes give us perfect building blocks: her status as "one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century," her identity as Mexican, and her reputation for "vivid and richly symbolic self-portraits"
Known for being vivid and richly symbolic, Frida Kahlo's self-portraits include The Two Fridas (1939).
✗ Incorrect
- Assumes the audience already knows who Frida Kahlo is
- Jumps straight to describing her work without establishing why she matters
The 1939 painting The Two Fridas is one example of a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses narrowly on just one painting example
- Provides no context about who Kahlo is or her significance
One painting by Frida Kahlo features two versions of herself, with one version wearing a European-style dress and the other a traditional Tehuana dress.
✗ Incorrect
- Gets lost in very specific visual details about clothing
- Completely ignores Kahlo's importance and broader artistic identity
One of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is best known for her self-portraits, which are vivid and richly symbolic.
✓ Correct
- Opens by establishing her historical significance
- Identifies her as "Mexican painter" giving cultural context
- Explains her artistic specialty with "best known for her self-portraits"
- Describes the key characteristics with "vivid and richly symbolic"
- Perfectly structured for an unfamiliar audience: importance → identity → specialty → characteristics