While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 in the western...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 in the western United States.
- It encompasses approximately 2.2 million acres across three states.
- The park is famous for its geothermal features and diverse wildlife.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 in the southeastern United States.
- It covers about 522,000 acres along the Tennessee-North Carolina border.
- The park is renowned for its ancient mountains and rich biodiversity.
The student wants to compare the sizes of the two national parks. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
Yellowstone National Park encompasses approximately 2.2 million acres, making it substantially larger than Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 522,000 acres.
Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872, covers approximately 2.2 million acres across three western states.
Both Yellowstone National Park, established in the western United States, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established in the southeastern United States, preserve important natural ecosystems.
Many of America's national parks, including one established in 1934 along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, protect diverse wildlife habitats.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| • Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 in the western United States. |
|
| • It encompasses approximately 2.2 million acres across three states. |
|
| • The park is famous for its geothermal features and diverse wildlife. |
|
| • Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934 in the southeastern United States. |
|
| • It covers about 522,000 acres along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. |
|
| • The park is renowned for its ancient mountains and rich biodiversity. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The notes provide parallel information about two major national parks, including their establishment dates, sizes, locations, and distinctive features.
Argument Flow: The notes present information about Yellowstone first, then Great Smoky Mountains, with each park getting three bullet points covering establishment, size, and notable characteristics. The structure allows for direct comparison between the two parks across these categories.
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 should:
- mention the sizes of both parks to actually make a comparison
- Use the specific acreage numbers from the notes (2.2 million for Yellowstone, 522,000 for Great Smoky Mountains)
- Clearly establish which park is larger to complete the comparison
Yellowstone National Park encompasses approximately 2.2 million acres, making it substantially larger than Great Smoky Mountains National Park's 522,000 acres.
✓ Correct
- Uses exact size data from the notes
- Makes a direct comparison by stating Yellowstone is substantially larger
- Perfectly accomplishes the student's goal of comparing the sizes
Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872, covers approximately 2.2 million acres across three western states.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions Yellowstone's size and includes irrelevant information about establishment date and location
- Fails to mention Great Smoky Mountains at all, so no comparison is made
Both Yellowstone National Park, established in the western United States, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established in the southeastern United States, preserve important natural ecosystems.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions both parks but focuses on their ecosystems, not size
- Contains no size information from the notes and completely ignores the student's goal of comparing sizes
Many of America's national parks, including one established in 1934 along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, protect diverse wildlife habitats.
✗ Incorrect
- Uses vague language instead of focusing on the specific two parks
- Provides no size information for comparison