Traditional lecture-based instruction allows professors to cover large amounts of material efficiently and ensures all students receive identical info...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Traditional lecture-based instruction allows professors to cover large amounts of material efficiently and ensures all students receive identical information. This approach works particularly well for delivering foundational concepts and theoretical frameworks to large student populations. Interactive seminar discussions promote deeper engagement and critical thinking skills among participants; _____ they require significantly more time per concept and work best with smaller class sizes.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
for example,
however,
therefore,
similarly,
Looking at this transitions question, let me work through it systematically.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Traditional lecture-based instruction allows professors to cover large amounts of material efficiently and ensures all students receive identical information.' |
|
| 'This approach works particularly well for delivering foundational concepts and theoretical frameworks to large student populations.' |
|
| 'Interactive seminar discussions promote deeper engagement and critical thinking skills among participants;' |
|
| '[MISSING TRANSITION]' |
|
| 'they require significantly more time per concept and work best with smaller class sizes.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage compares two teaching methods, highlighting that while both have advantages, they also have specific limitations and contexts where they work best.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes the strengths of traditional lectures and where they work well. It then presents an alternative approach (seminars) with different benefits, but needs a logical connector to show that this alternative also has drawbacks that contrast with its advantages.
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
- Looking at our analysis, the sentence begins by presenting the benefits of interactive seminars (deeper engagement, critical thinking), but after the blank, it shifts to discussing the limitations of seminars (more time needed, smaller class sizes required).
- We need a logical connector that signals this shift from positive aspects to negative aspects within the same sentence about seminars.
- The relationship we need is contrast - the word should show that what comes after opposes or qualifies what came before.
- So the right answer should be a contrasting transition that signals "despite the benefits I just mentioned, here are the drawbacks."
for example,
✗ Incorrect
- "For example" introduces a specific instance or illustration of a general point.
- The text after the blank does not provide examples of engagement or critical thinking - it presents limitations instead.
however,
✓ Correct
- "However" signals contrast, which perfectly fits the sentence structure.
- The sentence presents seminar benefits first, then uses this transition to introduce seminar limitations.
- This matches our prethinking exactly - we need contrast between advantages and disadvantages.
therefore,
✗ Incorrect
- "Therefore" indicates cause and effect or logical conclusion.
- The time requirements and small class sizes are not caused by or concluded from the engagement benefits.
- These are separate, contrasting characteristics.
similarly,
✗ Incorrect
- "Similarly" shows comparison or likeness.
- The limitations (time/size constraints) are not similar to the benefits (engagement/thinking).
- This would illogically suggest the drawbacks are like the advantages.