Urban centers across medieval Europe underwent significant demographic expansion, which certain scholars of urban history have credited to the creatio...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Urban centers across medieval Europe underwent significant demographic expansion, which certain scholars of urban history have credited to the creation of sophisticated waste management infrastructure that decreased epidemic deaths and facilitated population increases. However, documentary evidence from prominent medieval urban centers reveals an absence of complex waste disposal systems throughout the eras of their most substantial demographic increases, including London's population doubling throughout the 1100s, Paris achieving its most dramatic growth during the 1200s, and Venice attaining its trade dominance, indicating that ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
demographic expansion in medieval European cities was not reliant upon sophisticated waste management infrastructure.
waste disposal infrastructure evolved distinctly among different European urban centers throughout the medieval era.
European urban centers possessing the most sophisticated waste management facilities achieved the most substantial demographic increases during medieval times.
medieval European urban centers would presumably have expanded further had their waste disposal methods been somewhat less developed.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Urban centers across medieval Europe underwent significant demographic expansion,' |
|
| 'which certain scholars of urban history have credited to the creation of sophisticated waste management infrastructure that decreased epidemic deaths and facilitated population increases.' |
|
| 'However, documentary evidence from prominent medieval urban centers reveals an absence of complex waste disposal systems throughout the eras of their most substantial demographic increases,' |
|
| 'including London's population doubling throughout the 1100s, Paris achieving its most dramatic growth during the 1200s, and Venice attaining its trade dominance,' |
|
| 'indicating that ______' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture
Main Point: Documentary evidence contradicts the scholarly theory that sophisticated waste management infrastructure caused medieval European urban demographic expansion.
Argument Flow: The passage introduces a scholarly theory about what caused medieval urban population growth, then presents contradictory historical evidence showing major cities grew without sophisticated waste systems, leading to a conclusion that challenges the original theory.
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 passage shows scholars think sophisticated waste management caused population growth, but evidence shows major cities experienced their biggest growth periods WITHOUT these systems
- So the logical conclusion should challenge the scholars' theory and conclude that demographic expansion in these medieval cities did not depend on sophisticated waste management infrastructure
demographic expansion in medieval European cities was not reliant upon sophisticated waste management infrastructure.
- This directly follows from our evidence
- If cities grew dramatically without sophisticated waste systems, then such systems were not necessary for growth
- This matches our prethinking by concluding the opposite of what the scholars claimed
waste disposal infrastructure evolved distinctly among different European urban centers throughout the medieval era.
- Focuses on how waste infrastructure evolved differently among cities
- The passage does not discuss how systems evolved or differed between cities - it shows they were absent during peak growth periods
European urban centers possessing the most sophisticated waste management facilities achieved the most substantial demographic increases during medieval times.
- Claims cities with the most sophisticated waste facilities had the most growth
- This directly contradicts our evidence, which shows cities grew most when they lacked sophisticated systems
medieval European urban centers would presumably have expanded further had their waste disposal methods been somewhat less developed.
- Suggests cities would have grown even more with less developed waste methods
- This creates an illogical relationship and is not supported by any evidence in the passage