The following text is from Louise Erdrich's 1986 novel The Beet Queen. The narrator discusses her relationship with her young...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from Louise Erdrich's 1986 novel The Beet Queen. The narrator discusses her relationship with her young niece, Dot. Celestine, the narrator's sister-in-law, is Dot's mother.
Dot was as impatient with babyhood as I. She tried at once to grow out of it. Celestine never saw that, because she, and only she, took pleasure in Dot's helpless softness. Only Celestine was saddened by her daughter's fierce progress. Day by day, Dot grew stronger. In her shopping-cart stroller she exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles.
©1986 by Louise Erdrich
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It offers a detail that shows how Dot is growing stronger.
It expresses hope that Celestine will mature psychologically.
It explores some of the narrator's psychological characteristics.
It indicates how sad Celestine is by describing a behavior she engages in.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Dot was as impatient with babyhood as I." |
|
| "She tried at once to grow out of it." |
|
| "Celestine never saw that, because she, and only she, took pleasure in Dot's helpless softness." |
|
| "Only Celestine was saddened by her daughter's fierce progress." |
|
| "Day by day, Dot grew stronger." |
|
| "In her shopping-cart stroller she exercised to exhaustion, bouncing for hours to develop her leg muscles." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The passage explores different attitudes toward Dot's rapid development from babyhood, with the narrator and Dot eager for growth while Celestine mourns the loss of Dot's infant stage.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes that both Dot and the narrator were impatient with babyhood, then contrasts this with Celestine's unique appreciation for Dot's baby softness and sadness at her rapid progress. It concludes by showing Dot's determination to grow stronger through a specific example of her exercise routine.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole
What type of answer do we need? The role or purpose this specific sentence serves
Any limiting keywords? "underlined sentence" and "in the text as a whole"
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The underlined sentence comes right after "Day by day, Dot grew stronger" and gives us a very specific, concrete example of HOW she grew stronger
- It shows her bouncing for hours in her stroller specifically "to develop her leg muscles"
- This sentence serves to:
- Provide concrete evidence for the claim that Dot grew stronger
- Show the specific method of her physical development
- Demonstrate her intense determination to mature
- So the right answer should recognize that this sentence provides specific evidence or detail supporting Dot's physical development
It offers a detail that shows how Dot is growing stronger.
✓ Correct
- This exactly matches what the sentence does - it offers a specific detail about Dot's exercise routine
- Shows HOW she's growing stronger, supporting the previous statement "Day by day, Dot grew stronger"
- The bouncing "to develop her leg muscles" directly demonstrates strength development
It expresses hope that Celestine will mature psychologically.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence describes Dot's exercise routine, not anything about Celestine's psychological state
- Nothing in this sentence expresses hope about Celestine maturing
It explores some of the narrator's psychological characteristics.
✗ Incorrect
- This sentence focuses entirely on Dot's behavior, not the narrator's psychology
- The narrator isn't even mentioned in the underlined sentence
It indicates how sad Celestine is by describing a behavior she engages in.
✗ Incorrect
- The sentence describes Dot's behavior (bouncing in the stroller), not Celestine's behavior
- This choice confuses who is performing the action described