The theoretical framework known as the urban density paradox (UDP) maintains that community solidarity and population concentration exhibit an inverse...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The theoretical framework known as the urban density paradox (UDP) maintains that community solidarity and population concentration exhibit an inverse relationship, with the UDP explaining this phenomenon through social fragmentation whereby increased density creates impersonal environments and weakened social bonds. Two metrics that function as affirmative measures of community solidarity include civic engagement (citizen participation in municipal decision-making) and local trust (readiness to depend on neighboring community members). After examining information from 950 metropolitan areas, Chen and collaborators claim that their results contradict the UDP.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support Chen and collaborators' claim?
Chen and collaborators found an inverse relationship between community solidarity and population concentration.
Chen and collaborators found a direct relationship between population concentration and both civic engagement and local trust.
Chen and collaborators found a direct relationship between community solidarity and civic engagement.
Chen and collaborators found an inverse relationship between community solidarity and both civic engagement and local trust.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The theoretical framework known as the urban density paradox (UDP)' |
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| 'maintains that community solidarity and population concentration exhibit an inverse relationship' |
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| 'with the UDP explaining this phenomenon through social fragmentation whereby increased density creates impersonal environments and weakened social bonds' |
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| 'Two metrics that function as affirmative measures of community solidarity include civic engagement and local trust' |
|
| 'After examining information from 950 metropolitan areas, Chen and collaborators claim that their results contradict the UDP' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Chen and collaborators' research on 950 metropolitan areas contradicts the urban density paradox theory that community solidarity decreases as population density increases.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes the UDP theory which claims an inverse relationship between density and solidarity, explains the mechanism behind this theory, defines how solidarity is measured, then introduces Chen's research that contradicts these theoretical predictions.
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
- Since UDP claims that community solidarity and population concentration have an inverse relationship, Chen's results would contradict this if they found a direct positive relationship between density and solidarity, or a direct relationship between density and the measures of solidarity (civic engagement and local trust)
- The right answer should show Chen found that higher population density goes with higher community solidarity or its measures
Chen and collaborators found an inverse relationship between community solidarity and population concentration.
- This says Chen found an inverse relationship between solidarity and concentration
- This actually SUPPORTS the UDP, not contradicts it
Chen and collaborators found a direct relationship between population concentration and both civic engagement and local trust.
- Shows Chen found population concentration directly relates to civic engagement and local trust
- Since these are measures of community solidarity, this means density and solidarity are directly related
- This directly contradicts UDP's claim of an inverse relationship
Chen and collaborators found a direct relationship between community solidarity and civic engagement.
- This only tells us about the relationship between solidarity and its own measures
- Doesn't address the key relationship between population density and solidarity that UDP focuses on
Chen and collaborators found an inverse relationship between community solidarity and both civic engagement and local trust.
- Claims solidarity has an inverse relationship with its own measures
- This doesn't make logical sense since civic engagement and local trust ARE measures of solidarity