The following text is from the 1923 poem Black Finger by Angelina Weld Grimké, a Black American writer. A cypress...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from the 1923 poem Black Finger by Angelina Weld Grimké, a Black American writer. A cypress is a type of evergreen tree.
I have just seen a most beautiful thing,
Slim and still,
Against a gold, gold sky,
A straight black cypress,
Sensitive,
Exquisite,
A black finger
Pointing upwards.
Why, beautiful still finger, are you black?
And why are you pointing upwards?
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
The speaker assesses a natural phenomenon, then questions the accuracy of her assessment.
The speaker describes a distinctive sight in nature, then ponders what meaning to attribute to that sight.
The speaker presents an outdoor scene, then considers a human behavior occurring within that scene.
The speaker examines her surroundings, then speculates about their influence on her emotional state.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "I have just seen a most beautiful thing" |
|
| "Slim and still, Against a gold, gold sky" |
|
| "A straight black cypress, Sensitive, Exquisite" |
|
| "A black finger Pointing upwards" |
|
| "Why, beautiful still finger, are you black? And why are you pointing upwards?" |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The speaker describes encountering a beautiful cypress tree and questions the significance of its distinctive characteristics.
Argument Flow: The poem moves from observation to interpretation. The speaker first presents a detailed visual description of a cypress tree, transforms it into a metaphorical "black finger," then shifts to questioning what deeper meaning these physical characteristics might hold.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The overall structure of the text - how the poem is organized and what pattern it follows.
What type of answer do we need? A description of the text's organizational pattern, likely showing a two-part structure.
Any limiting keywords? "Overall structure" tells us we need to capture the big picture flow, not focus on specific details.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- First, we have the speaker describing what she sees - the cypress tree in great detail with vivid imagery
- Then we have a shift where she starts asking questions about what this sight means or represents
- The questions are not about whether her description is accurate, but about the deeper significance of the tree's characteristics
- So the right answer should capture this two-part movement: detailed description of a natural sight, followed by questions about its meaning or significance
The speaker assesses a natural phenomenon, then questions the accuracy of her assessment.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the speaker questions the "accuracy of her assessment"
- The final questions are not about whether her description is right or wrong
- She is asking about meaning, not accuracy
The speaker describes a distinctive sight in nature, then ponders what meaning to attribute to that sight.
✓ Correct
- "Describes a distinctive sight in nature" matches the detailed description of the cypress
- "Ponders what meaning to attribute to that sight" perfectly captures the final questions
- This matches our two-part structure: observation then interpretation
The speaker presents an outdoor scene, then considers a human behavior occurring within that scene.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims there is "human behavior occurring within that scene"
- The passage only describes a tree and the speaker's reaction to it
- No human behavior is presented or considered
The speaker examines her surroundings, then speculates about their influence on her emotional state.
✗ Incorrect
- Says the speaker "speculates about their influence on her emotional state"
- The questions focus on the tree itself, not on how it affects her feelings