The following text is from remarks made by city mayor James Chen to municipal employees during the launch of a...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from remarks made by city mayor James Chen to municipal employees during the launch of a new community initiative.
'This program will take our city into uncharted territory, addressing challenges that weren't even on our radar when I first took office. The approaches that got us this far won't be sufficient for what lies ahead. You bring the innovation and energy needed to make this vision a reality. Our community's future depends on the fresh solutions your generation will create.'
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To express confidence that employees will continue the mayor's established policies
To motivate employees to embrace the opportunities of the new initiative
To suggest that municipal work involves many complex problems
To warn employees that they will face unprecedented challenges
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'This program will take our city into uncharted territory, addressing challenges that weren't even on our radar when I first took office.' |
|
| 'The approaches that got us this far won't be sufficient for what lies ahead.' |
|
| 'You bring the innovation and energy needed to make this vision a reality.' |
|
| 'Our community's future depends on the fresh solutions your generation will create.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Mayor Chen is motivating municipal employees by emphasizing their crucial role in making a new community initiative successful.
Argument Flow: The mayor opens by establishing that the new program enters unexplored territory with unprecedented challenges. He then pivots from what won't work (old approaches) to what will work (the employees' fresh perspective). Finally, he places the responsibility and opportunity squarely with the employees, telling them they possess exactly what's needed and that the community's future depends on their contributions.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text - what the mayor is trying to accomplish through these remarks.
What type of answer do we need? The overarching goal or intention behind the mayor's speech to the employees.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The mayor is clearly speaking to energize and inspire the employees
- He acknowledges challenges but frames them as opportunities
- He compliments the employees' capabilities and makes them feel essential to success
- The tone throughout is encouraging and empowering
To express confidence that employees will continue the mayor's established policies
- This suggests continuing established policies, but the mayor explicitly says the old approaches won't be sufficient
To motivate employees to embrace the opportunities of the new initiative
- Perfectly captures the motivational intent and matches how the mayor frames challenges as opportunities
To suggest that municipal work involves many complex problems
- While challenges are mentioned, this isn't the main purpose and misses the encouraging tone
To warn employees that they will face unprecedented challenges
- The word warn suggests a negative tone that doesn't match the positive, empowering message