While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Urban developer James Chen has been analyzing the impact of...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Urban developer James Chen has been analyzing the impact of mixed-use developments on local economies.
- The Parkview Complex opened in 2018 with residential units, retail spaces, and office buildings.
- Within two years, surrounding property values in the area increased by 15%.
- Local unemployment dropped significantly as new businesses opened near the Parkview Complex.
- The nearby Riverside shopping district experienced a 30% decline in foot traffic after Parkview's opening.
- Several long-established Riverside businesses have closed due to reduced customer base.
The student wants to show how the Parkview Complex affected the surrounding area. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The Parkview Complex's success led to economic benefits for the immediate area but created challenges for the nearby Riverside shopping district.
The Parkview Complex opened in 2018 as a mixed-use development with residential units, retail spaces, and office buildings.
Property values increased by 15% and unemployment dropped significantly in the area surrounding the Parkview Complex.
The Riverside shopping district experienced a 30% decline in foot traffic and business closures after the Parkview Complex opened.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Urban developer James Chen has been analyzing the impact of mixed-use developments on local economies." |
|
| "The Parkview Complex opened in 2018 with residential units, retail spaces, and office buildings." |
|
| "Within two years, surrounding property values in the area increased by 15%." |
|
| "Local unemployment dropped significantly as new businesses opened near the Parkview Complex." |
|
| "The nearby Riverside shopping district experienced a 30% decline in foot traffic after Parkview's opening." |
|
| "Several long-established Riverside businesses have closed due to reduced customer base." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The Parkview Complex created contrasting economic effects—benefiting the immediate surrounding area while harming the nearby Riverside shopping district.
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 needs to capture how the Parkview Complex actually affected its surroundings
- Based on our analysis, the complex had a dual impact: it created positive effects for the immediate area (higher property values, lower unemployment) but negative effects for the nearby Riverside shopping district (reduced foot traffic, business closures)
- The most effective answer should acknowledge both sides of this impact rather than focusing on only the positive or negative effects
The Parkview Complex's success led to economic benefits for the immediate area but created challenges for the nearby Riverside shopping district.
✓ Correct
- Captures both the positive effects and negative effects, directly addresses how the complex affected the surrounding area using relevant information from the notes
The Parkview Complex opened in 2018 as a mixed-use development with residential units, retail spaces, and office buildings.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply describes what the Parkview Complex contains rather than showing its effects
- This represents the trap of thinking description equals impact
Property values increased by 15% and unemployment dropped significantly in the area surrounding the Parkview Complex.
✗ Incorrect
- Only presents the positive effects while ignoring the negative impact on Riverside
- This represents the trap of focusing only on obvious positive statistics
The Riverside shopping district experienced a 30% decline in foot traffic and business closures after the Parkview Complex opened.
✗ Incorrect
- Only presents the negative effects on Riverside while ignoring the positive effects on the immediate area
- Incomplete picture of the overall impact