Text 1Urban sociologists have long puzzled over why certain neighborhoods experience rapid economic decline while others remain stable. According to...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
Urban sociologists have long puzzled over why certain neighborhoods experience rapid economic decline while others remain stable. According to established theories, areas with similar demographic and economic characteristics should follow predictable trajectories of either growth or decline. Yet many neighborhoods defy these expectations, maintaining vitality despite conditions that theoretically should lead to deterioration. Current models have struggled to account for these anomalies.
Text 2
Researcher Maria Santos and her team have identified a crucial factor overlooked in traditional analyses: the role of informal social networks. Their studies reveal that neighborhoods with strong interpersonal connections among residents can resist economic pressures that would otherwise cause decline. These social bonds, Santos argues, create resilience mechanisms—such as collective resource sharing and community-based problem solving—that operate independently of formal economic indicators.
Based on the texts, how would Santos and her team (Text 2) most likely respond to the established theories discussed in Text 1?
By suggesting that these theories correctly identify the primary factors influencing neighborhood stability but need updating with recent demographic data
By contending that these theories rest on faulty assumptions about what drives neighborhood resilience and decline
By proposing that their research helps explain why some neighborhoods succeed in attracting new economic development
By arguing that more urban sociologists should investigate how formal economic indicators interact with demographic changes
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Urban sociologists have long puzzled over why certain neighborhoods experience rapid economic decline while others remain stable. |
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Main Point: Santos has identified informal social networks as the crucial missing factor that explains why some neighborhoods remain stable despite economic conditions that should theoretically cause decline.
By suggesting that these theories correctly identify the primary factors influencing neighborhood stability but need updating with recent demographic data
- Suggests theories are correct but need demographic updates
- Santos is not saying we need more demographic data - she is saying social networks are the key factor that has been completely overlooked
- Misses that Santos found something entirely different rather than better demographic information
By contending that these theories rest on faulty assumptions about what drives neighborhood resilience and decline
- Says theories rest on faulty assumptions about what drives resilience and decline
- Perfectly matches our analysis - Santos found that established theories miss the crucial factor of social networks
- Aligns with Santos argument that resilience mechanisms operate independently of formal economic indicators that theories typically focus on
By proposing that their research helps explain why some neighborhoods succeed in attracting new economic development
- Focuses on attracting new economic development
- Santos research is about neighborhood resilience and resistance to decline, not about attracting development
- Students might confuse maintaining vitality with attracting development, but these are different concepts
By arguing that more urban sociologists should investigate how formal economic indicators interact with demographic changes
- Suggests investigating formal economic indicators with demographics
- Santos actually argues that social bonds work independently of formal economic indicators
- Completely opposite to Santos findings about informal social networks being key