The following text is adapted from Johanna Spyri's 1881 novel Heidi (translated by Elisabeth Stork in 1915). Eight-year-old Heidi and...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is adapted from Johanna Spyri's 1881 novel Heidi (translated by Elisabeth Stork in 1915). Eight-year-old Heidi and her friend's grandmother are looking at some illustrated books.
Heidi had come and was looking with wondering eyes at the splendid pictures in the large books, that Grandmama was showing her. Suddenly she screamed aloud, for there on the picture she saw a peaceful flock grazing on a green pasture. In the middle a shepherd was standing, leaning on his crook. The setting sun was shedding a golden light over everything. With glowing eyes Heidi devoured the scene.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Heidi is upset until she sees a serene image of a pasture in one of Grandmama's books.
Heidi is delighted and fascinated by an image she sees in one of Grandmama's books.
Heidi is initially frightened by an image in one of Grandmama's books but quickly comes to appreciate its beauty.
Heidi is inspecting an image in one of Grandmama's books because she has never seen a shepherd with his sheep before.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Heidi had come and was looking with wondering eyes at the splendid pictures in the large books, that Grandmama was showing her." |
|
| "Suddenly she screamed aloud, for there on the picture she saw a peaceful flock grazing on a green pasture." |
|
| "In the middle a shepherd was standing, leaning on his crook." |
|
| "The setting sun was shedding a golden light over everything." |
|
| "With glowing eyes Heidi devoured the scene." |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Heidi has an intense, delighted reaction to a beautiful pastoral scene she discovers in one of Grandmama's illustrated books.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text - the central point or message of this brief passage.
What type of answer do we need? A summary that captures the essential story being told about Heidi's experience.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must capture Heidi's strong positive reaction to the pastoral image
- Her "scream" might initially suggest fear, but the context clues - "glowing eyes" and "devoured the scene" - clearly indicate excitement and fascination, not fear or distress
Heidi is upset until she sees a serene image of a pasture in one of Grandmama's books.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Heidi was "upset until" she saw the image.
- No evidence in the passage that she was upset before seeing the pastoral scene
- She was already looking with "wondering eyes" at the "splendid pictures"
Heidi is delighted and fascinated by an image she sees in one of Grandmama's books.
✓ Correct
- Accurately captures Heidi's positive emotional response - "delighted and fascinated."
- Matches the evidence: "glowing eyes" and "devoured the scene" clearly indicate delight
Heidi is initially frightened by an image in one of Grandmama's books but quickly comes to appreciate its beauty.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests Heidi was "initially frightened" by the image.
- While she did "scream aloud," the immediate context shows this was excitement, not fear
Heidi is inspecting an image in one of Grandmama's books because she has never seen a shepherd with his sheep before.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims she's "inspecting" because she's never seen shepherds and sheep before.
- No evidence in the passage suggests this is her first time seeing such a scene
- Misses her emotional reaction entirely