Consider the resources behind an ambition
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
Nolan wanted to mount a solo exhibition, but an aspirational gap separated that goal from his current access to space, materials, and preparation time. His reference group consisted of former classmates whose public portfolios he used to assess his own progress. A neighborhood art circle offered social capital through shared contacts, reciprocal help, and information about available rooms. Nolan began to compare not only finished exhibitions but also the different resources behind them, making his next practical step easier to identify.
The aspirational gap did not show that Nolan's ambition was foolish; it described a distance between a desired achievement and present circumstances. His reference group influenced what seemed normal or attainable even though its members worked with different schedules and support. Social capital from the art circle gave him a way to exchange assistance and learn about opportunities, without guaranteeing a successful exhibition. He planned a small shared display first, using the comparison to inform a manageable goal rather than treating others' visible results as a complete account of their situations.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.