Text 1 Urban renewal projects in historic neighborhoods often proceed without adequate consideration of cultural preservation needs. City planners fr...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Text 1
Urban renewal projects in historic neighborhoods often proceed without adequate consideration of cultural preservation needs. City planners frequently prioritize economic development and modernization, viewing older architectural styles and established community spaces as obstacles to progress. This approach can result in the erasure of cultural landmarks that once served as anchors for local identity and intergenerational connection.
Text 2
The tension between development and preservation presents legitimate challenges, yet successful models exist for balancing both priorities. The revitalization of Boston's North End demonstrates how thoughtful planning can integrate modern amenities while maintaining historic character. Rather than viewing preservation and progress as mutually exclusive, communities can pursue development strategies that honor existing cultural assets.
Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the planners described in Text 1?
By agreeing with the planners' priorities but suggesting that cultural considerations should also influence development decisions
By questioning the planners' approach while offering evidence that development and preservation can be successfully combined
By supporting the planners' focus on modernization while acknowledging that some historic elements deserve protection
By rejecting the planners' framework entirely and advocating for preservation over any form of development
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Text 1: | |
| "Urban renewal projects in historic neighborhoods often proceed without adequate consideration of cultural preservation needs." |
|
| "City planners frequently prioritize economic development and modernization, viewing older architectural styles and established community spaces as obstacles to progress." |
|
| "This approach can result in the erasure of cultural landmarks that once served as anchors for local identity and intergenerational connection." |
|
| Text 2: | |
| "The tension between development and preservation presents legitimate challenges, yet successful models exist for balancing both priorities." |
|
| "The revitalization of Boston's North End demonstrates how thoughtful planning can integrate modern amenities while maintaining historic character." |
|
| "Rather than viewing preservation and progress as mutually exclusive, communities can pursue development strategies that honor existing cultural assets." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: While Text 1 criticizes urban planners for prioritizing development over cultural preservation, Text 2 argues that both goals can be successfully balanced through thoughtful planning strategies.
Argument Flow: Text 1 presents a critical view of current urban renewal, showing how planners who prioritize modernization end up erasing important cultural landmarks. Text 2 responds by acknowledging the challenge but providing evidence (Boston's North End) that development and preservation can work together when communities adopt inclusive strategies rather than viewing the goals as competing.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? How would Text 2's author respond to the specific planners described in Text 1
- What type of answer do we need? The author's likely reaction/response to Text 1's planners and their approach
- Any limiting keywords? "most likely respond" tells us we need the most probable reaction based on Text 2's content and tone
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Text 2's author would disagree with Text 1's planners who see older architecture as "obstacles to progress" and would offer evidence that development and preservation can work together (Boston's North End example)
- The response would be corrective, showing that the planners' either/or thinking is wrong
By agreeing with the planners' priorities but suggesting that cultural considerations should also influence development decisions
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2's author would not agree with prioritizing economics over culture - it advocates for balance from the start, not modifying existing priorities
By questioning the planners' approach while offering evidence that development and preservation can be successfully combined
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures Text 2's approach - questioning the planners' method and providing evidence through the Boston North End example that development and preservation can be successfully combined
By supporting the planners' focus on modernization while acknowledging that some historic elements deserve protection
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2 doesn't support focusing on modernization - it advocates for equal treatment of both goals, not protecting just some historic elements while modernizing
By rejecting the planners' framework entirely and advocating for preservation over any form of development
✗ Incorrect
- Text 2 doesn't reject development entirely - it specifically says communities can pursue development strategies, taking a middle position rather than the opposite extreme