The following text is from a 1943 letter written by Rosalind Chen, a Chinese-American factory worker in Detroit during World...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from a 1943 letter written by Rosalind Chen, a Chinese-American factory worker in Detroit during World War II.
The work at the plant is demanding—ten-hour shifts assembling aircraft components under strict supervision. Management emphasizes speed and precision, with little tolerance for mistakes. The other women and I have learned to work efficiently despite the noise and heat.
I chose this position because it offers steady wages that allow me to support my family while my husband serves overseas, and it contributes directly to the war effort that will bring him home safely.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It suggests that the worker's family situation creates conflicts with her professional responsibilities.
It explains the personal motivations behind the worker's decision to accept challenging employment conditions.
It establishes that the worker's dedication to her job exceeds that of her colleagues in the factory.
It reveals that the worker's primary concern is financial security rather than patriotic duty.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The work at the plant is demanding—ten-hour shifts assembling aircraft components under strict supervision." |
|
| "Management emphasizes speed and precision, with little tolerance for mistakes." |
|
| "The other women and I have learned to work efficiently despite the noise and heat." |
|
| "I chose this position because it offers steady wages that allow me to support my family while my husband serves overseas, and it contributes directly to the war effort that will bring him home safely." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: A Chinese-American factory worker explains why she willingly accepts demanding wartime factory conditions—both to support her family financially and contribute to the war effort.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes how difficult the factory work is, then shows how workers have adapted to these conditions, and finally reveals the compelling personal and patriotic reasons that make these sacrifices worthwhile.
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
- Looking at our passage analysis, the underlined sentence comes after we've learned about the harsh working conditions
- The sentence explains WHY she chose this difficult job despite all the challenges described earlier
- It provides two clear motivations: supporting her family (personal/financial) and contributing to the war effort (patriotic)
- This sentence essentially answers the question a reader might have after reading about the tough conditions: "Why would she choose this job?"
- The right answer should explain that this sentence provides the personal reasons or motivations for accepting the demanding work conditions described earlier in the passage
It suggests that the worker's family situation creates conflicts with her professional responsibilities.
✗ Incorrect
- States the sentence suggests family situation creates conflicts with professional responsibilities
- The sentence actually shows how her family situation motivates her work, not conflicts with it
- She explicitly states the job helps support her family, indicating alignment rather than conflict
It explains the personal motivations behind the worker's decision to accept challenging employment conditions.
✓ Correct
- Accurately identifies that the sentence explains her personal motivations
- Matches our analysis—the sentence tells us WHY she accepted these challenging employment conditions
- Covers both aspects: family support (personal) and war contribution (also personal motivation)
- Perfect fit with the passage structure: tough conditions → adaptation → motivations
It establishes that the worker's dedication to her job exceeds that of her colleagues in the factory.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the sentence establishes her dedication exceeds that of colleagues
- No comparison is made between her dedication and other workers
- The sentence only mentions "The other women and I" working together efficiently—no hierarchy of dedication
It reveals that the worker's primary concern is financial security rather than patriotic duty.
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests financial security is her primary concern rather than patriotic duty
- The sentence actually presents BOTH motivations equally: steady wages AND war effort contribution
- What trap this represents: Students might focus only on the "steady wages" part and miss that she gives equal weight to the patriotic motivation