Educational researcher Dr. James Chen argues that peer tutoring programs significantly improved student outcomes in urban schools during the 1980s....
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Educational researcher Dr. James Chen argues that peer tutoring programs significantly improved student outcomes in urban schools during the 1980s. Many schools faced severe budget constraints that limited their ability to hire additional teaching staff. However, these resource limitations led administrators to explore alternative instructional models: schools paired stronger students with those needing additional support, creating structured mentoring relationships that benefited both tutors and tutees. This approach allowed schools to expand individualized instruction without increasing personnel costs.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
It presents evidence that contradicts a theory about educational resource allocation mentioned earlier in the text.
It describes a historical trend in urban education policy discussed earlier in the text.
It provides additional context about the schools mentioned earlier in the text.
It explains how a constraint mentioned earlier in the text led to an innovative solution.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Educational researcher Dr. James Chen argues that peer tutoring programs significantly improved student outcomes in urban schools during the 1980s.' |
|
| 'Many schools faced severe budget constraints that limited their ability to hire additional teaching staff.' |
|
| 'However, these resource limitations led administrators to explore alternative instructional models: schools paired stronger students with those needing additional support, creating structured mentoring relationships that benefited both tutors and tutees.' |
|
| 'This approach allowed schools to expand individualized instruction without increasing personnel costs.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Budget constraints in 1980s urban schools led administrators to develop peer tutoring programs that improved student outcomes without increasing costs.
Argument Flow: Chen presents his argument that peer tutoring worked well in 1980s urban schools. The passage then explains the context - schools had budget problems that prevented hiring more teachers. However, these very constraints pushed administrators to be creative, leading them to develop peer tutoring systems where students helped each other. This solution worked because it expanded individualized instruction without requiring additional staff costs.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole
What type of answer do we need? How this specific sentence contributes to the overall passage structure and argument
Any limiting keywords? 'underlined portion' - we're only analyzing that specific sentence, and 'in the text as a whole' - we need to consider how it fits into the complete argument
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined portion comes right after we learn about budget constraints that limited hiring
- The word 'However' signals a shift, and then we see how these same budget problems actually led to something positive - administrators exploring new teaching methods like peer tutoring
- So the right answer should recognize that this sentence explains how the constraint we just learned about (budget limitations) actually caused administrators to find an innovative solution (alternative instructional models/peer tutoring)
It presents evidence that contradicts a theory about educational resource allocation mentioned earlier in the text.
- Says the underlined portion contradicts a theory about resource allocation
- But there's no theory being contradicted here - we're seeing how resource constraints led to solutions
- The passage flows logically from problem to solution, not contradiction
It describes a historical trend in urban education policy discussed earlier in the text.
- Claims it describes a historical trend in urban education policy discussed earlier
- Earlier text mentions budget constraints but doesn't discuss education policy trends
- The underlined portion is explaining a specific response to constraints, not describing broader trends
It provides additional context about the schools mentioned earlier in the text.
- Says it provides additional context about the schools mentioned earlier
- While it does mention schools, it's not just giving more context
- It's actually explaining the causal relationship between constraints and solutions
It explains how a constraint mentioned earlier in the text led to an innovative solution.
- Perfectly captures what the underlined portion does
- The 'constraint mentioned earlier' = budget limitations that prevented hiring
- The 'innovative solution' = exploring alternative instructional models (peer tutoring)
- The word 'However' in the underlined portion signals exactly this type of relationship - showing how constraints led to solutions