While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:University digital libraries organize their collections into two primary access...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- University digital libraries organize their collections into two primary access categories.
- Materials available through open access can be viewed by anyone with internet connection.
- All other digital materials require institutional subscription for access.
- Open access materials constitute approximately 15,000 items in the average university digital library.
- Subscription-based materials typically number around 150,000 items per institution.
The student wants to show the proportion of open access materials relative to subscription-based materials. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
University digital libraries organize their collections into open access and subscription-based categories.
Open access materials, numbering approximately \(\mathrm{15{,}000}\) items, represent a small fraction compared to the typical \(\mathrm{150{,}000}\) subscription-based materials in university digital libraries.
Materials available through open access can be viewed by anyone with internet connection.
Subscription-based materials typically number around \(\mathrm{150{,}000}\) items per institution.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "University digital libraries organize their collections into two primary access categories." |
|
| "Materials available through open access can be viewed by anyone with internet connection." |
|
| "All other digital materials require institutional subscription for access." |
|
| "Open access materials constitute approximately 15,000 items in the average university digital library." |
|
| "Subscription-based materials typically number around 150,000 items per institution." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: University digital libraries organize their collections into open access materials (accessible to anyone) and subscription-based materials (requiring institutional access), with subscription materials vastly outnumbering open access items.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes a two-category system for university digital library organization, defines each category by accessibility requirements, then provides specific quantities showing subscription materials outnumber open access materials by a 10:1 ratio.
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
- To show proportion effectively, the correct answer must include both numerical values (15,000 for open access and 150,000 for subscription-based) and make clear the comparative relationship between them
- The answer should help readers understand how much smaller the open access collection is relative to subscription materials
University digital libraries organize their collections into open access and subscription-based categories.
- Simply restates the organizational framework without any numerical data
- Fails to accomplish the goal of showing proportion since it provides no quantities for comparison
Open access materials, numbering approximately \(\mathrm{15{,}000}\) items, represent a small fraction compared to the typical \(\mathrm{150{,}000}\) subscription-based materials in university digital libraries.
- Includes both specific numbers (15,000 and 150,000) from the research notes and explicitly describes the proportional relationship
- Directly accomplishes the student's goal by quantifying the comparison between the two access types
Materials available through open access can be viewed by anyone with internet connection.
- Only defines what open access means without providing numerical data
- Cannot show proportion since it discusses only one category
Subscription-based materials typically number around \(\mathrm{150{,}000}\) items per institution.
- Provides only the subscription-based number without the open access figure
- Cannot demonstrate proportion since comparison requires both quantities