Love Redefined | GMAT GRE RC Practice

Is Valentine’s Day really dying, or just evolving beyond our expectations? Could Gen Z’s reimagining of this holiday reveal something deeper about how we define meaningful relationships? These easy GMAT passages explore the apparent contradiction between declining romantic observance and record-high participation rates, challenging readers to distinguish between cultural transformation and tradition’s demise.

Read these RC passage(s) in Social Sciences and answer the question(s) that follows. You can choose the GMAT style Reading Passage and the question or the GRE RC variant and answer the GRE-style question. Even better, you could solve both.

GMAT Passage | Easy | ~210 words

The traditional Valentine’s Day model, solidified through decades of commercial marketing, positioned romantic love as the holiday’s exclusive focus, creating a framework that inadvertently marginalized single individuals while imposing performative expectations on couples. This paradigm emphasized grand gestures, expensive dinners, and material demonstrations of affection, often prioritizing spectacle over genuine emotional connection.

Generation Z has systematically redefined Valentine’s Day by expanding its scope beyond romantic partnerships. Recent data indicates that nearly 79 percent of Gen Z participants planned Valentine’s celebrations in 2026, yet only one-third intended to observe it with romantic partners. This demographic has reframed the holiday as an opportunity to celebrate platonic relationships, with “Galentine’s Day” festivities gaining prominence alongside traditional couple-oriented activities. Self-gifting has emerged as another distinctive practice, with Gen Z consumers purchasing personal care items at double the rate of the broader population, transforming Valentine’s Day into an occasion for self-validation rather than external affirmation.

Furthermore, Gen Z’s approach prioritizes experiential authenticity over commercial extravagance. This generation favors personalized, low-pressure celebrations—cooperative cooking sessions, handmade cards, locally-sourced flowers—that emphasize thoughtfulness and environmental responsibility. Such preferences suggest that Valentine’s Day has not declined but rather evolved into a more inclusive, sustainable celebration that accommodates diverse relationship structures while challenging the commercialized romanticism that previously defined it.

Question Type: Title | Question Difficulty: Easy

Which of the following best serves as a title for the passage?

1. The Decline of Valentine’s Day Traditions Among Younger Generations
2. How Gen Z Redefines Valentine’s Day: From Romantic Exclusivity to Inclusive Celebration
3. Commercial Marketing’s Impact on Valentine’s Day Observance Patterns
4. Self-Gifting and Friendship: New Valentine’s Day Trends that are not so new
5. Sustainability and Authenticity in Modern Holiday Celebrations

GRE RC Practice | Easy | ~130 words

Popular discourse frequently characterizes Valentine’s Day as a declining tradition, ostensibly abandoned by disillusioned younger generations. However, recent survey data contradicts this narrative: nearly 79 percent of Generation Z respondents plan to observe Valentine’s Day in 2026, representing the highest participation rate across all age cohorts. The apparent paradox dissolves upon closer examination of celebratory practices. While previous generations predominantly marked the occasion with romantic partners, only one-third of Gen Z participants intend romantic observance. Instead, this demographic has recalibrated the holiday’s focus toward platonic friendships and self-affirmation, with phenomena such as communal gatherings among friends and personal gift purchases becoming normative practices. This shift suggests that Gen Z has not rejected Valentine’s Day but rather repurposed it, expanding the category of relationships deemed worthy of ceremonial recognition beyond the traditionally privileged romantic dyad.

Question Type: Inference SOMA | Question Difficulty: Easy

The passage suggests which of the following about Generation Z’s approach to Valentine’s Day? Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.

1. Commercial aspects of Valentine’s Day continue to appeal to younger generations, as indicated by high participation.
2. Gen Z’s celebration patterns reflect a broader conception of which interpersonal bonds merit formalized acknowledgment
3. Gen Z views the validation of platonic relationships as comparably significant to romantic partnerships.