In 1776, the United States sent Benjamin Franklin to France to try to win the country's support in the United...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
In 1776, the United States sent Benjamin Franklin to France to try to win the country's support in the United States' fight for independence from Great Britain. Franklin was very popular in France. This ________ surely helped him to convince France to assist the United States.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
thoughtfulness
esteem
controversy
sincerity
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In 1776, the United States sent Benjamin Franklin to France to try to win the country's support in the United States' fight for independence from Great Britain." |
|
| "Franklin was very popular in France." |
|
| "This _______ surely helped him to convince France to assist the United States." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Franklin's popularity in France helped him successfully persuade the country to support American independence.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Franklin's diplomatic mission to France, notes his popularity there, and then connects this favorable status to his success in securing French support. The missing word must bridge Franklin's popularity with his persuasive effectiveness.
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 describe what Franklin's popularity in France represents or creates
- It needs to logically explain why popularity would help with persuasion
- The word must make sense when we say "This [blank] surely helped him convince France"
- So the right answer should describe the favorable regard or respect that Franklin's popularity generated, making him more persuasive
thoughtfulness
✗ Incorrect
- "Thoughtfulness" refers to being considerate or reflective
- While Franklin may have been thoughtful, this doesn't logically connect to why his popularity in France would help him convince them
esteem
✓ Correct
- "Esteem" means high regard, respect, or admiration
- This directly connects to Franklin's popularity - being popular means being held in high esteem
- High esteem naturally helps with persuasion because people are more likely to listen to and trust someone they respect
controversy
✗ Incorrect
- "Controversy" means disagreement or dispute
- This contradicts Franklin's popularity - if he was controversial, he wouldn't be described as "very popular"
sincerity
✗ Incorrect
- "Sincerity" refers to being genuine or honest
- While sincerity is a positive trait, the passage doesn't establish any connection between Franklin's popularity and his sincerity