While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Traffic congestion has become a major challenge in rapidly growing...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Traffic congestion has become a major challenge in rapidly growing cities worldwide.
- The Metropolitan Planning Council initiated a study to determine how different intersection designs affect vehicle flow patterns.
- Planners collected traffic data from 150 intersections across the city and used simulation software to model various design scenarios.
- Roundabouts reduced average wait times by 35% compared to traditional four-way stops.
- The study's recommendations will guide future intersection improvements throughout the metropolitan area.
The student wants to emphasize what motivated the research project. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Planners collected traffic data from 150 intersections and used simulation software to model various design scenarios.
The study found that roundabouts reduced average wait times by 35% compared to traditional four-way stops.
To address the challenge of traffic congestion in rapidly growing cities, the Metropolitan Planning Council initiated a study to determine how intersection designs affect vehicle flow patterns.
The study's recommendations will guide future intersection improvements throughout the metropolitan area.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Traffic congestion has become a major challenge in rapidly growing cities worldwide. |
|
| The Metropolitan Planning Council initiated a study to determine how different intersection designs affect vehicle flow patterns. |
|
| Planners collected traffic data from 150 intersections across the city and used simulation software to model various design scenarios. |
|
| Roundabouts reduced average wait times by 35% compared to traditional four-way stops. |
|
| The study's recommendations will guide future intersection improvements throughout the metropolitan area. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: PROBLEM: Traffic congestion = major challenge, RESEARCH RESPONSE: Council initiated study on intersection designs, METHODOLOGY: Data collection + simulation modeling, KEY FINDING: Roundabouts reduce wait times by 35%, APPLICATION: Recommendations guide future improvements
Main Point: A Metropolitan Planning Council study investigated intersection designs to address traffic congestion and found that roundabouts significantly reduce wait times.
Argument Flow: The notes begin by establishing traffic congestion as a major urban problem, then describe how the Metropolitan Planning Council responded with a comprehensive study of intersection designs. The notes detail the research methodology and present a key finding about roundabouts' effectiveness, concluding with how the results will be applied.
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
- The right answer should connect the problem (traffic congestion challenge) with the research action (initiating the study)
- Make clear that traffic congestion was the driving motivation for the research
- Show causation - that the study was undertaken because of the traffic problem
Planners collected traffic data from 150 intersections and used simulation software to model various design scenarios.
- Describes the research methodology rather than why it was initiated
- Doesn't mention the motivating problem of traffic congestion
The study found that roundabouts reduced average wait times by 35% compared to traditional four-way stops.
- Presents a key finding from the study rather than motivation
- Shows what was discovered, not what prompted the research
To address the challenge of traffic congestion in rapidly growing cities, the Metropolitan Planning Council initiated a study to determine how intersection designs affect vehicle flow patterns.
- Explicitly states the motivation using transitional phrase that directly indicates motivation
- Shows clear cause-and-effect: problem led to research initiation
The study's recommendations will guide future intersection improvements throughout the metropolitan area.
- Describes future applications of the study rather than what caused it
- Doesn't address the original motivation for conducting the study