While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Urban planner Marcus Chen specializes in addressing traffic congestion in...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Urban planner Marcus Chen specializes in addressing traffic congestion in metropolitan areas.
- Traffic congestion costs major cities billions of dollars annually in lost productivity.
- Congestion also contributes to air pollution and reduces residents' quality of life.
- Chen has developed integrated transit solutions that combine bus rapid transit with bike-sharing programs.
- His pilot program in Austin reduced downtown traffic by 25% within two years.
- The success led to implementation in five additional cities across Texas.
The student wants to explain why Chen's work is significant to urban development. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Because traffic congestion costs cities billions annually and reduces quality of life, Marcus Chen's integrated transit solutions represent a significant advancement in urban planning.
Marcus Chen specializes in addressing traffic congestion through integrated transit solutions that combine bus rapid transit with bike-sharing programs.
Traffic congestion contributes to air pollution and reduces residents' quality of life, making it a priority concern for urban planners like Marcus Chen.
Chen's pilot program in Austin reduced downtown traffic by 25%, leading to implementation in five additional Texas cities.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Urban planner Marcus Chen specializes in addressing traffic congestion in metropolitan areas." |
|
| "Traffic congestion costs major cities billions of dollars annually in lost productivity." |
|
| "Congestion also contributes to air pollution and reduces residents' quality of life." |
|
| "Chen has developed integrated transit solutions that combine bus rapid transit with bike-sharing programs." |
|
| "His pilot program in Austin reduced downtown traffic by 25% within two years." |
|
| "The success led to implementation in five additional cities across Texas." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Marcus Chen has developed effective integrated transit solutions that successfully address the costly urban problem of traffic congestion.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to explain why Chen's work is significant to urban development.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that connects Chen's work to its broader importance in the field of urban development.
Any limiting keywords? None identified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The right answer needs to connect Chen's work to its significance for urban development by referencing the serious impact of the problem Chen addresses and showing how his solutions represent meaningful progress in urban planning
Because traffic congestion costs cities billions annually and reduces quality of life, Marcus Chen's integrated transit solutions represent a significant advancement in urban planning.
✓ Correct
- Directly explains the significance by connecting the problem's massive impact to Chen's solutions and frames his work as a significant advancement in urban development
Marcus Chen specializes in addressing traffic congestion through integrated transit solutions that combine bus rapid transit with bike-sharing programs.
✗ Incorrect
- Simply describes what Chen does rather than explaining why it's significant
Traffic congestion contributes to air pollution and reduces residents' quality of life, making it a priority concern for urban planners like Marcus Chen.
✗ Incorrect
- Explains why traffic congestion is important to address but doesn't explain why Chen's work specifically is significant
Chen's pilot program in Austin reduced downtown traffic by 25%, leading to implementation in five additional Texas cities.
✗ Incorrect
- Provides specific evidence of Chen's success but doesn't explain why this success is significant to urban development overall