When sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was designing the Statue of Liberty, he sought the advice of engineer Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
When sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was designing the Statue of Liberty, he sought the advice of engineer Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel suggested that he make the statue's arm thick and position it straight above the figure's head. ________ Bartholdi decided to slim the arm and tilt it out at an angle.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'When sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was designing the Statue of Liberty, he sought the advice of engineer Gustave Eiffel.' |
|
| 'Eiffel suggested that he make the statue's arm thick and position it straight above the figure's head.' |
|
| 'Bartholdi decided to slim the arm and tilt it out at an angle.' |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Bartholdi made design choices that differed from the engineering advice he received from Eiffel.
Argument Flow: The passage sets up a consultation scenario where Bartholdi seeks expert advice from Eiffel. We learn Eiffel's specific recommendation, then discover that Bartholdi ultimately chose a different approach entirely, going against the engineer's suggestions.
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
- Looking at our analysis, we have Eiffel suggesting one approach (thick arm straight above head), followed immediately by Bartholdi doing something completely different (slim arm at an angle)
- These are opposite choices
- The relationship here is contrast or opposition - Bartholdi rejected the advice and went a different direction
- We need a transition that shows this opposition between the suggestion and the actual decision
- This would suggest Bartholdi's decision was in addition to following Eiffel's advice
- But Bartholdi didn't follow the advice at all - he did the opposite
- This signals that Bartholdi chose a different path rather than following Eiffel's suggestion
- Perfectly captures the contrast between thick vs. slim and straight vs. angled
- This would indicate Bartholdi's decision was a result of Eiffel's advice
- But his choices directly contradict what Eiffel suggested
- This would suggest Bartholdi's decision illustrates Eiffel's suggestion
- But slimming the arm and angling it is the opposite of making it thick and straight