While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:The Statue of Liberty is a monument in New York...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- The Statue of Liberty is a monument in New York Harbor.
- It was dedicated in 1886 as a gift from France to the United States.
- It stands at 305 feet tall from base to torch.
- Christ the Redeemer is a monument in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- It was completed in 1931 and overlooks the city from Corcovado mountain.
- It measures 98 feet tall from base to outstretched arms.
The student wants to compare the heights of the two monuments. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Both the Statue of Liberty, located in New York Harbor, and Christ the Redeemer, located in Rio de Janeiro, serve as important cultural monuments in their respective countries.
The Statue of Liberty, which stands at 305 feet tall, was dedicated in 1886 as a gift from France to the United States.
The Statue of Liberty measures 305 feet from base to torch, making it significantly taller than Christ the Redeemer at 98 feet.
Some of the world's most famous monuments, including one that overlooks Rio de Janeiro from Corcovado mountain, stand over 90 feet tall.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| The Statue of Liberty is a monument in New York Harbor. |
|
| It was dedicated in 1886 as a gift from France to the United States. |
|
| It stands at 305 feet tall from base to torch. |
|
| Christ the Redeemer is a monument in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
|
| It was completed in 1931 and overlooks the city from Corcovado mountain. |
|
| It measures 98 feet tall from base to outstretched arms. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes provide parallel information about two famous monuments, including their locations, historical details, and physical dimensions.
Argument Flow: The notes present factual data about each monument in a systematic way - first identifying location, then providing historical context, and finally giving height measurements. This parallel structure allows for direct comparison between the two monuments.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find which choice most effectively compares the heights of the two monuments using information from the notes.
What type of answer do we need? A sentence that uses the height data from the notes to make a clear comparison between the Statue of Liberty and Christ the Redeemer.
Any limiting keywords? "Most effectively" means we want the choice that does the best job of comparing heights, and "uses relevant information from the notes" means it should incorporate the specific measurements provided.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer should include both monuments' heights (305 feet for Statue of Liberty, 98 feet for Christ the Redeemer)
- Make an explicit comparison showing the relationship between these measurements
- Focus specifically on height comparison rather than other aspects
- Be clear and direct
Both the Statue of Liberty, located in New York Harbor, and Christ the Redeemer, located in Rio de Janeiro, serve as important cultural monuments in their respective countries.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on cultural importance and locations of both monuments
- Completely ignores the height information from the notes
- Doesn't accomplish the goal of comparing heights at all
The Statue of Liberty, which stands at 305 feet tall, was dedicated in 1886 as a gift from France to the United States.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions one monument's height (Statue of Liberty at 305 feet)
- Provides no information about Christ the Redeemer's height
- Cannot make a comparison with only one data point
The Statue of Liberty measures 305 feet from base to torch, making it significantly taller than Christ the Redeemer at 98 feet.
✓ Correct
- Includes both specific height measurements (305 feet and 98 feet) directly from the notes
- Makes an explicit comparison using "significantly taller than"
- Accomplishes the stated goal of comparing heights effectively
- Uses the most relevant information for this specific purpose
Some of the world's most famous monuments, including one that overlooks Rio de Janeiro from Corcovado mountain, stand over 90 feet tall.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses vague language instead of specific measurements from the notes
- Only indirectly references one monument without naming it
- Doesn't provide clear comparison between the two monuments