A historian analyzing correspondence from the American frontier period notes that Sarah Winnemucca, a Northern Paiute interpreter and advocate, freque...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A historian analyzing correspondence from the American frontier period notes that Sarah Winnemucca, a Northern Paiute interpreter and advocate, frequently portrayed white settlers as maintaining optimistic spirits despite facing significant hardships in their daily survival efforts. This perspective is evident when she writes about encountering a pioneer family, ______
Which quotation from Winnemucca's correspondence most effectively illustrates the claim?
"Though their cabin leaked and provisions ran low, they spoke eagerly of the spring planting and hummed as they mended their tools."
"They asked if I might guide them to the next settlement, as winter was approaching fast."
"I told them our people knew these lands well and could help them find better shelter."
"They seemed grateful for any assistance, saying they had not expected such kindness from strangers."
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "A historian analyzing correspondence from the American frontier period notes that Sarah Winnemucca, a Northern Paiute interpreter and advocate," |
|
| "frequently portrayed white settlers as maintaining optimistic spirits despite facing significant hardships in their daily survival efforts." |
|
| "This perspective is evident when she writes about encountering a pioneer family," |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Visual Structure Map: CONTEXT leads to MAIN CLAIM leads to EVIDENCE SETUP
Main Point: Sarah Winnemucca consistently depicted white settlers as maintaining positive attitudes even while facing serious survival challenges.
Argument Flow: We start with the historical context of a researcher examining Winnemucca's correspondence. The passage then presents the key pattern this historian discovered - that Winnemucca regularly showed settlers as optimistic despite hardships. Finally, it sets up that we're about to see a specific example of this perspective in her writing about a pioneer family.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to find which quotation from Winnemucca's writing best demonstrates the claim that she portrayed settlers as optimistic despite hardships.
What type of answer do we need? The correct answer must show both elements: settlers facing real difficulties AND maintaining positive spirits.
Any limiting keywords? We want the clearest, strongest example of the claim.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct quotation must show settlers dealing with genuine hardships like shortage of supplies, poor living conditions, harsh weather, or other survival challenges
- But at the same time, it needs to demonstrate that despite these real problems, the settlers maintained optimistic attitudes
- Both elements should be obvious in the same quote
"Though their cabin leaked and provisions ran low, they spoke eagerly of the spring planting and hummed as they mended their tools."
✓ Correct
- Directly shows concrete hardships (cabin leaked and provisions ran low) while simultaneously demonstrating optimistic behavior (spoke eagerly of spring planting and hummed as they mended tools)
- Perfectly matches both required elements
"They asked if I might guide them to the next settlement, as winter was approaching fast."
✗ Incorrect
- Shows settlers needing help but asking for guidance is just practical problem-solving, not evidence of maintaining optimistic spirits despite hardships
"I told them our people knew these lands well and could help them find better shelter."
✗ Incorrect
- This is Winnemucca speaking about what her people could offer, not about the settlers' attitudes or hardships
"They seemed grateful for any assistance, saying they had not expected such kindness from strangers."
✗ Incorrect
- Shows gratitude for help, but gratitude for unexpected kindness is not the same as maintaining optimistic spirits despite survival hardships