Ana Castillo's 1986 novel The Mixquiahuala Letters is a story told entirely through expressive letters from the narrator to her...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Ana Castillo's 1986 novel The Mixquiahuala Letters is a story told entirely through expressive letters from the narrator to her friend—letters that Castillo suggests could be read in several different orders. As they began reading it in class, some students remarked that they found the novel's letter format daunting and its treatment of gender relations old-fashioned. The professor, however, pointed out that the novel is written in modern-sounding language and addresses issues that still matter today, suggesting that The Mixquiahuala Letters ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
has more to say about gender relations than other novels from the same period.
is more relevant to contemporary audiences than it may seem at first.
is easier to read than many contemporary novels that focus on friendship.
is best understood after multiple readings in different orders.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Ana Castillo's 1986 novel The Mixquiahuala Letters is a story told entirely through expressive letters from the narrator to her friend—letters that Castillo suggests could be read in several different orders.' |
|
| 'As they began reading it in class, some students remarked that they found the novel's letter format daunting and its treatment of gender relations old-fashioned.' |
|
| 'The professor, however, pointed out that the novel is written in modern-sounding language and addresses issues that still matter today,' |
|
| 'suggesting that The Mixquiahuala Letters ______' |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The novel may appear outdated to some readers initially, but actually contains modern elements that make it relevant today.
Argument Flow: We learn about a 1986 novel that some students find intimidating and old-fashioned. However, the professor counters this perception by pointing out the novel's modern language and contemporary relevance, leading to a conclusion about what this contrast reveals about the book's true nature.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key contrast here is between how the novel initially appears (daunting, old-fashioned) versus what the professor reveals about it (modern language, addresses current issues)
- This sets up a classic 'appearances can be deceiving' scenario
- The right answer should capture this idea that the novel is more relevant or accessible to modern readers than the students' initial reaction suggests
has more to say about gender relations than other novels from the same period.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the novel has more to say about gender relations than other novels from its time period
- This makes a comparison we can't support—we have no information about other novels from 1986
is more relevant to contemporary audiences than it may seem at first.
✓ Correct
- Captures the exact contrast the passage sets up between initial appearance and actual relevance
- Matches the professor's argument that despite seeming old-fashioned, the novel actually connects with today's audiences through modern language and current issues
is easier to read than many contemporary novels that focus on friendship.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on ease of reading and friendship themes, neither of which the professor discussed
- The professor's points were about modern language and contemporary issues, not reading difficulty
is best understood after multiple readings in different orders.
✗ Incorrect
- References the multiple reading orders mentioned in the opening, but this isn't what the professor was suggesting
- The professor's argument was about contemporary relevance, not reading methodology