Harriet Tubman's memoir reveals her profound understanding of the enslaved people she guided to freedom. Throughout her account of Underground...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Harriet Tubman's memoir reveals her profound understanding of the enslaved people she guided to freedom. Throughout her account of Underground Railroad operations, Tubman demonstrates her deep insight into the psychological state of those seeking escape, writing, ______
Which quotation from Tubman's memoir most effectively illustrates this claim?
"I always told them they could trust me, for I had never lost a passenger."
"I could see the fear and hope warring in their eyes before they took that first step."
"The journey north was always dangerous, but freedom was worth any risk."
"I knew every safe house and every friendly face along the route."
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Harriet Tubman's memoir reveals her profound understanding of the enslaved people she guided to freedom." |
|
| "Throughout her account of Underground Railroad operations, Tubman demonstrates her deep insight into the psychological state of those seeking escape, writing, ______" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Harriet Tubman's memoir demonstrates her deep psychological understanding of the enslaved people she helped escape through the Underground Railroad.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Tubman's general understanding of the people she guided, then narrows to focus specifically on her psychological insight into their mental state, setting up the need for supporting evidence from her own words.
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 right answer should show Tubman observing or understanding the internal mental state of escapees
- It should reveal her awareness of their emotions, fears, hopes, or psychological conflicts
- It should demonstrate insight beyond just practical knowledge of escape routes or safety
"I always told them they could trust me, for I had never lost a passenger."
✗ Incorrect
- This quote emphasizes Tubman's reliability and track record
- While it shows her understanding of what escapees needed to hear for reassurance, it focuses on her practical success rather than psychological insight
"I could see the fear and hope warring in their eyes before they took that first step."
✓ Correct
- This quote directly describes Tubman observing the psychological state of escapees - she sees "fear and hope warring in their eyes"
- The word "warring" shows her deep understanding of their internal conflict between terror and aspiration
"The journey north was always dangerous, but freedom was worth any risk."
✗ Incorrect
- This quote focuses on the external realities of the journey (danger vs. freedom)
- While it shows understanding of motivation, it doesn't demonstrate insight into psychological states
"I knew every safe house and every friendly face along the route."
✗ Incorrect
- This quote demonstrates practical, logistical knowledge of the Underground Railroad network
- It shows expertise in navigation and contacts, but reveals nothing about psychological understanding of the people she guided