Translator Maria Santos approaches her work with flexibility rather than rigid adherence to literal meaning. In her acclaimed translation of...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Translator Maria Santos approaches her work with flexibility rather than rigid adherence to literal meaning. In her acclaimed translation of García Márquez's lesser-known novella El Tiempo Perdido (2018), Santos rendered the Spanish phrase 'corazón de piedra' not as the literal 'heart of stone' but as 'soul turned to granite,' capturing the emotional weight while adapting to English poetic traditions. Similarly, her translation of contemporary poet Isabel Hernández's collection Voces del Mar (2020) transforms culturally specific maritime references into imagery familiar to landlocked American readers while preserving the original's contemplative mood.
Which choice best states the text's main idea about Santos?
She prioritizes maintaining the cultural authenticity of original texts over readability for new audiences.
She tends to adapt texts creatively rather than translate them word-for-word.
She focuses primarily on contemporary works rather than classical literature.
She has developed her translation style over time, moving toward more literal approaches.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Translator Maria Santos approaches her work with flexibility rather than rigid adherence to literal meaning.' |
|
| 'In her acclaimed translation of García Márquez's lesser-known novella 'El Tiempo Perdido' (2018), Santos rendered the Spanish phrase 'corazón de piedra' not as the literal 'heart of stone' but as 'soul turned to granite,' capturing the emotional weight while adapting to English poetic traditions.' |
|
| 'Similarly, her translation of contemporary poet Isabel Hernández's collection 'Voces del Mar' (2020) transforms culturally specific maritime references into imagery familiar to landlocked American readers while preserving the original's contemplative mood.' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Maria Santos approaches translation with flexibility, prioritizing creative adaptation over literal word-for-word rendering.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Santos's flexible translation philosophy, then provides two specific examples that demonstrate how she adapts cultural and linguistic elements for her target audience while maintaining the original's emotional and artistic integrity.
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 capture Santos's core approach based on what we just analyzed
- We saw that she explicitly chooses flexibility over literal translation
- Both examples show her adapting rather than translating word-for-word
- She maintains artistic/emotional essence while making cultural adaptations
She prioritizes maintaining the cultural authenticity of original texts over readability for new audiences.
- This suggests she prioritizes cultural authenticity over readability
- Actually contradicts our analysis—she adapts maritime references for landlocked readers, showing she does prioritize readability for new audiences
She tends to adapt texts creatively rather than translate them word-for-word.
- Perfectly matches our analysis of her 'flexibility rather than rigid adherence to literal meaning'
- Both examples demonstrate creative adaptation: 'soul turned to granite' instead of literal translation, and maritime imagery adapted for landlocked readers
She focuses primarily on contemporary works rather than classical literature.
- While she has translated contemporary works, this misses the main point about her translation method
- The passage focuses on HOW she translates, not WHAT types of works she chooses
She has developed her translation style over time, moving toward more literal approaches.
- Directly contradicts the passage—she moves AWAY from literal approaches toward creative adaptation
- No evidence suggests any evolution in her style over time