While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was a road built between...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was a road built between 1792 and 1794.
- It was the first private turnpike in the United States.
- It connected the cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster in the state of Pennsylvania.
- It was sixty-two miles long.
The student wants to emphasize the distance covered by the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The sixty-two-mile-long Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike connected the Pennsylvania cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster.
The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was the first private turnpike in the United States.
The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, which connected two Pennsylvania cities, was built between 1792 and 1794.
A historic Pennsylvania road, the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was completed in 1794.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was a road built between 1792 and 1794. |
|
| It was the first private turnpike in the United States. |
|
| It connected the cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster in the state of Pennsylvania. |
|
| It was sixty-two miles long. |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes provide factual information about the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, covering its construction timeline, historical importance, route, and distance.
Argument Flow: The notes present four discrete pieces of information about the turnpike without establishing a particular argument or flow—they're research notes that could be organized in various ways depending on the writer's emphasis.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish the goal of emphasizing distance.
What type of answer do we need? A sentence that emphasizes the distance covered by the turnpike.
Any limiting keywords? Most effectively and emphasize the distance covered are key—we need the choice that best highlights the 62-mile length.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- It must include the specific distance measurement (sixty-two miles) from the notes
- It should position this distance information prominently to emphasize it
- It may include other relevant details, but distance should be the highlighted feature
- The right answer should prominently feature the sixty-two-mile measurement, likely positioning it early or in a way that draws attention to the distance covered
The sixty-two-mile-long Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike connected the Pennsylvania cities of Philadelphia and Lancaster.
- Places sixty-two-mile-long at the very beginning as a compound modifier
- This positioning immediately emphasizes the distance before any other information
- Matches our prethinking by making distance the leading detail
The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was the first private turnpike in the United States.
- Focuses entirely on the historical significance (first private turnpike)
- Contains no distance information whatsoever
- Completely fails to accomplish the goal of emphasizing distance
The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike, which connected two Pennsylvania cities, was built between 1792 and 1794.
- Emphasizes the construction timeline (1792-1794)
- Mentions the connection between cities but gives no distance measurement
- Provides no information about the sixty-two-mile length
A historic Pennsylvania road, the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike was completed in 1794.
- Emphasizes the historical nature and completion date
- Contains no distance measurement
- Focuses on when it was finished rather than how far it extended