While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:In 1859, the novel Adam Bede was published in England.According...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- In 1859, the novel Adam Bede was published in England.
- According to the novel's title page, the author's name was George Eliot.
- George Eliot was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.
- A pseudonym is a fake name used to conceal an author's identity.
- A woman named Mary Ann Evans later revealed herself as the novel's real author.
The student wants to identify the real author of Adam Bede. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
The real author of Adam Bede was Mary Ann Evans, who published the novel using the pseudonym George Eliot.
George Eliot, which Adam Bede's title page indicated was the name of the novel's author, was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.
The title page of the novel Adam Bede indicated that the author's name was George Eliot.
A woman who had used a pseudonym to conceal her identity later revealed herself as the real author of Adam Bede.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'In 1859, the novel Adam Bede was published in England.' |
|
| 'According to the novel's title page, the author's name was George Eliot.' |
|
| 'George Eliot was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.' |
|
| 'A pseudonym is a fake name used to conceal an author's identity.' |
|
| 'A woman named Mary Ann Evans later revealed herself as the novel's real author.' |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Mary Ann Evans was the real author of Adam Bede, which was originally published under the pseudonym George Eliot.
Argument Flow: The notes first establish the basic publication information, then present the name that appeared on the title page (George Eliot). They then reveal that this name was suspected to be false, explain what a pseudonym is, and finally reveal the true identity of the author as Mary Ann Evans.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student's goal is clear: to identify the real author of Adam Bede.
What type of answer do we need? We need to find which choice most effectively identifies the real author using the relevant information from the notes.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, we know that the real author is Mary Ann Evans, who published under the pseudonym George Eliot.
- So the correct answer must clearly identify Mary Ann Evans as the real author and connect her to the pseudonym George Eliot.
The real author of Adam Bede was Mary Ann Evans, who published the novel using the pseudonym George Eliot.
✓ Correct
- States clearly that Mary Ann Evans was the real author and explains that she published using the pseudonym George Eliot.
- Uses all the relevant information from the notes to fully answer the student's goal.
George Eliot, which Adam Bede's title page indicated was the name of the novel's author, was widely assumed to be a pseudonym.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on the fact that George Eliot was assumed to be a pseudonym but doesn't actually identify who the real author is.
- Fails to mention Mary Ann Evans at all.
The title page of the novel Adam Bede indicated that the author's name was George Eliot.
✗ Incorrect
- Only mentions what was on the title page (George Eliot) and provides no information about the real author's identity.
A woman who had used a pseudonym to conceal her identity later revealed herself as the real author of Adam Bede.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions that a woman revealed herself as the real author but fails to identify this woman as Mary Ann Evans.
- Leaves the reader without knowing the actual name of the real author.