Tyrian purple was a highly prized dye among the Phoenicians (an ancient civilization located in present-day Lebanon). The Phoenicians were...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
Tyrian purple was a highly prized dye among the Phoenicians (an ancient civilization located in present-day Lebanon). The Phoenicians were famous for using this natural dye to color their clothes a distinctive purple. ______ the name 'Phoenicia' itself, some historians claim, may have originally meant 'land of purple.'
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Tyrian purple was a highly prized dye among the Phoenicians (an ancient civilization located in present-day Lebanon)." |
|
| "The Phoenicians were famous for using this natural dye to color their clothes a distinctive purple." |
|
| [MISSING TRANSITION] |
|
| "the name 'Phoenicia' itself, some historians claim, may have originally meant 'land of purple.'" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map:
[CONTEXT: Purple dye important to Phoenicians] → [EVIDENCE: Used it for distinctive clothing] → [MISSING CONNECTOR] → [STRONGER EVIDENCE: Name itself may mean "land of purple"]
Main Point: Tyrian purple was so significant to Phoenician culture that it defined both their appearance and possibly even their civilization's name.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that Tyrian purple was valuable to the Phoenicians and explains how they used it for clothing. It then presents an even more striking piece of evidence that historians believe their civilization's very name may have referred to this purple dye, showing just how central it was to their identity.
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 passage analysis, we see that the sentence before the blank talks about how Phoenicians used purple dye for their clothing showing purple was important to them
- The sentence after the blank presents what historians think about the name "Phoenicia" possibly meaning "land of purple" this is an even stronger example of purple's importance
- The relationship we need is one that introduces additional evidence or provides emphasis
- The second piece of information doesn't contradict the first; instead, it builds on it by showing an even more significant way that purple defined this civilization
- So the right answer should signal that we're about to present additional supporting evidence or emphasize the point even further
- "In fact" introduces additional evidence that supports and strengthens the previous point
- Perfect for presenting the stronger evidence that purple was so important it may have been in their civilization's name
- Creates the logical flow: purple was important (clothing) → in fact, even more important (possibly in their name)
- "Regardless" suggests we're dismissing or setting aside what was just mentioned
- This would create a confusing relationship since the name evidence actually supports rather than dismisses the clothing evidence
- "Lastly" indicates this is the final point in a sequence or list
- The passage only presents two pieces of evidence, not a clear sequence requiring a "lastly"
- Doesn't capture the emphasis relationship needed
- "On the contrary" signals direct opposition to what was just stated
- The name evidence supports rather than contradicts the clothing evidence
- Would create an illogical flow suggesting the name contradicts their use of purple for clothes