Almost all works of fiction contain references to the progression of time, including the time of day when events in...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Almost all works of fiction contain references to the progression of time, including the time of day when events in a story take place. In a 2020 study, Allen Kim, Charuta Pethe, and Steven Skiena claim that an observable pattern in such references reflects a shift in human behavior prompted by the spread of electric lighting in the late nineteenth century. The researchers drew this conclusion from an analysis of more than 50,000 novels spanning many centuries and cultures, using software to recognize and tally both specific time references—that is, clock phrases, such as 7 a.m. or 2 p.m.—and implied ones, such as mentions of meals typically associated with a particular time of day.
Which finding from the study, if true, would most directly support the researchers' conclusion?
Novels published after the year 1800 include the clock phrase 10 a.m. less often than novels published before the year 1800 do.
Novels published after 1880 contain significantly more references to activities occurring after 10 p.m. than do novels from earlier periods.
Among novels published in the nineteenth century, implied time references become steadily more common than clock phrases as publication dates approach 1900.
The time references of noon (12 p.m.) and midnight (12 a.m.) are used with roughly the same frequency in the novels.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Almost all works of fiction contain references to the progression of time, including the time of day when events in a story take place.' |
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| 'In a 2020 study, Allen Kim, Charuta Pethe, and Steven Skiena claim that an observable pattern in such references reflects a shift in human behavior prompted by the spread of electric lighting in the late nineteenth century.' |
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| 'The researchers drew this conclusion from an analysis of more than 50,000 novels spanning many centuries and cultures,' |
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| 'using software to recognize and tally both specific time references—that is, clock phrases, such as 7 a.m. or 2 p.m.—and implied ones, such as mentions of meals typically associated with a particular time of day.' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Researchers claim that patterns in time references across novels reflect changes in human behavior caused by the spread of electric lighting in the late 1800s.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with the broad context that fiction contains time references, then presents the researchers' specific claim that these references show a behavioral pattern related to electric lighting. It concludes by explaining their comprehensive methodology using software analysis of over 50,000 novels to identify both explicit and implicit time markers.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? Which research finding would most directly support the researchers' conclusion about electric lighting causing behavioral changes reflected in literature.
What type of answer do we need? A specific study result that would provide the strongest evidence for their electric lighting theory.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most directly support' - we need the finding that has the clearest, most logical connection to their conclusion.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The researchers claim electric lighting in the late 1800s changed human behavior, and this shows up in novels' time references
- Electric lighting would most logically allow people to stay active later into the night - previously, people would have had to rely on candles, oil lamps, or natural light, limiting evening activities
- So we'd expect novels written after electric lighting spread to show more references to late-night activities compared to earlier novels
- The timing matters too - electric lighting became widespread in the 1880s, so we'd want to see a comparison between novels from that period onward versus earlier periods
Novels published after the year 1800 include the clock phrase 10 a.m. less often than novels published before the year 1800 do.
✗ Incorrect
- This compares novels after 1800 vs. before 1800, but electric lighting didn't spread until the 1880s
- A decrease in '10 a.m.' references doesn't connect to the electric lighting theory
- The timing is wrong and morning references don't relate to evening lighting benefits
Novels published after 1880 contain significantly more references to activities occurring after 10 p.m. than do novels from earlier periods.
✓ Correct
- Shows more after-10-p.m. activities in post-1880 novels vs. earlier periods
- Perfect timing match: 1880 is when electric lighting spread
- Late-night activities directly connect to electric lighting benefits - people could stay active later
- This is exactly what we'd expect if electric lighting changed behavior patterns
Among novels published in the nineteenth century, implied time references become steadily more common than clock phrases as publication dates approach 1900.
✗ Incorrect
- About the shift from clock phrases to implied references, not about specific times of day
- Doesn't show any connection to electric lighting's specific effects
The time references of noon (12 p.m.) and midnight (12 a.m.) are used with roughly the same frequency in the novels.
✗ Incorrect
- Shows noon and midnight used with same frequency, but doesn't indicate any change over time
- No comparison between pre- and post-electric lighting periods
- Equal usage doesn't support a theory about behavioral shifts