While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Traditional Pueblo pottery has been practiced in the American Southwest...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Traditional Pueblo pottery has been practiced in the American Southwest for over a thousand years.
- Traditional potters use natural clay from local sources and fire their pieces in outdoor kilns.
- Contemporary ceramic artists often work with commercially prepared clay and use electric or gas kilns.
- Traditional pottery features earth-tone glazes made from local minerals and plants.
- Contemporary ceramics frequently incorporate synthetic glazes in bright, non-natural colors.
- Both approaches produce distinctive and culturally significant artwork.
The student wants to emphasize a difference between traditional and contemporary ceramic approaches. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Traditional potters use natural materials and outdoor firing, while contemporary artists often rely on commercial supplies and controlled kilns.
Both traditional Pueblo pottery and contemporary ceramics produce culturally significant artwork.
Traditional Pueblo pottery and contemporary ceramic art are two distinct approaches to working with clay.
Contemporary ceramic artists have access to synthetic glazes that create bright, non-natural colors.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Traditional Pueblo pottery has been practiced in the American Southwest for over a thousand years." |
|
| "Traditional potters use natural clay from local sources and fire their pieces in outdoor kilns." |
|
| "Contemporary ceramic artists often work with commercially prepared clay and use electric or gas kilns." |
|
| "Traditional pottery features earth-tone glazes made from local minerals and plants." |
|
| "Contemporary ceramics frequently incorporate synthetic glazes in bright, non-natural colors." |
|
| "Both approaches produce distinctive and culturally significant artwork." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes compare traditional and contemporary ceramic approaches, showing they use different materials and methods but both create culturally significant art.
Argument Flow: The notes establish traditional pottery's history, then systematically contrast traditional and contemporary approaches across three categories (materials/firing, glazes), before noting their shared cultural significance.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which choice best emphasizes differences between the two approaches
What type of answer do we need? A choice that highlights contrasts using specific details from the notes
Any limiting keywords? "emphasize a difference" - we need contrast, not similarity; "uses relevant information" - must be based on the notes provided
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- To emphasize a difference, the correct answer needs to: Direct contrast traditional and contemporary approaches
- Use specific details from the notes (not just general statements)
- Show clear distinctions in methods, materials, or techniques
- So the right answer should present a side-by-side comparison using concrete details from the notes that highlight how the two approaches differ
Traditional potters use natural materials and outdoor firing, while contemporary artists often rely on commercial supplies and controlled kilns.
- Correct - Creates direct contrast between traditional (natural materials, outdoor firing) and contemporary (commercial supplies, controlled kilns)
- Uses specific details straight from the notes
- Perfectly matches the goal of emphasizing differences with concrete evidence
Both traditional Pueblo pottery and contemporary ceramics produce culturally significant artwork.
- Incorrect - States that both approaches produce culturally significant artwork
- Emphasizes similarity rather than difference, which is opposite of what the question asks for
Traditional Pueblo pottery and contemporary ceramic art are two distinct approaches to working with clay.
- Incorrect - Says the approaches are distinct but doesn't explain how they're different
- Uses vague language instead of the specific details available in the notes
Contemporary ceramic artists have access to synthetic glazes that create bright, non-natural colors.
- Incorrect - Only describes contemporary ceramics without mentioning traditional pottery
- Fails to create any contrast or comparison between the two approaches