The stagecoach emerged as a primary means of long-distance passenger transport in America during the early nineteenth century, offering scheduled...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The stagecoach emerged as a primary means of long-distance passenger transport in America during the early nineteenth century, offering scheduled service between major cities and frontier towns. While stagecoaches provided reliable transportation across vast distances, they were severely limited by weather conditions—heavy rains made roads impassable, winter storms could strand passengers for days, and extreme heat exhausted both horses and travelers. Additionally, the rough terrain and poor road conditions made journeys uncomfortable and often dangerous. Consequently, stagecoaches were gradually superseded by transportation methods that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
were less vulnerable to weather and terrain challenges.
could carry more passengers and cargo simultaneously.
required less maintenance and operational expertise.
connected a broader network of cities and settlements.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The stagecoach emerged as a primary means of long-distance passenger transport in America during the early nineteenth century, offering scheduled service between major cities and frontier towns." |
|
| "While stagecoaches provided reliable transportation across vast distances," |
|
| "they were severely limited by weather conditions—heavy rains made roads impassable, winter storms could strand passengers for days, and extreme heat exhausted both horses and travelers." |
|
| "Additionally, the rough terrain and poor road conditions made journeys uncomfortable and often dangerous." |
|
| "Consequently, stagecoaches were gradually superseded by transportation methods that" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: STAGECOACHES IN EARLY 1800s → Positive aspect: Reliable long-distance transport BUT Major Problems: Weather limitations (rain, storms, heat) and Terrain/road problems (uncomfortable, dangerous) → CONSEQUENCE: Replaced by better methods
Main Point: Stagecoaches were eventually replaced because they had serious limitations related to weather and terrain conditions.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes stagecoaches as an important early transportation method, then systematically presents their major weaknesses (weather dependency and terrain challenges), leading to the logical conclusion that they were replaced by superior alternatives.
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
- The passage spent most of its time explaining stagecoaches' problems: weather made roads impassable and stranded passengers, heat exhausted everyone, and rough terrain made journeys uncomfortable and dangerous
- Since these problems caused stagecoaches to be "superseded," the replacement methods must have solved these specific issues
- The right answer should address these weather and terrain vulnerabilities that we just read about in detail
were less vulnerable to weather and terrain challenges.
✓ Correct
- Directly addresses the main problems detailed in the passage: weather conditions and terrain challenges
- Matches our prethinking perfectly - the new methods solved the specific vulnerabilities mentioned
could carry more passengers and cargo simultaneously.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on capacity (passengers and cargo) which wasn't mentioned as a stagecoach limitation
- The passage never suggests carrying capacity was an issue
required less maintenance and operational expertise.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses maintenance and expertise requirements, which aren't mentioned in the passage
- The passage focuses on external challenges (weather, terrain), not operational complexity
connected a broader network of cities and settlements.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the issue was network coverage, but the passage states stagecoaches already connected "major cities and frontier towns"
- The problems weren't about where stagecoaches went, but about the challenges they faced getting there