The following text is from Beatrice Harraden's 1894 novel Ships that Pass in the Night.In an old second-hand bookshop in...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from Beatrice Harraden's 1894 novel Ships that Pass in the Night.
In an old second-hand bookshop in London, an old man sat reading Gibbon's History of Rome. He did not put down his book when the postman brought him a letter. He just glanced indifferently at the letter, and impatiently at the postman. Zerviah Holme did not like to be interrupted when he was reading Gibbon; and as he was always reading Gibbon, an interruption was always regarded by him as an insult.
Based on the text, how did Zerviah Holme most likely feel when the letter was delivered?
He felt relieved because he had been expecting an important letter.
He felt excited because the letter was from a good friend.
He felt sad because the postman did not stop to talk with him before leaving.
He felt annoyed because he was interrupted while reading his favorite author.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In an old second-hand bookshop in London, an old man sat reading Gibbon's History of Rome." |
|
| "He did not put down his book when the postman brought him a letter." |
|
| "He just glanced indifferently at the letter, and impatiently at the postman." |
|
| "Zerviah Holme did not like to be interrupted when he was reading Gibbon;" |
|
| "and as he was always reading Gibbon, an interruption was always regarded by him as an insult." |
|
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? How Zerviah Holme felt emotionally when the letter was delivered
What type of answer do we need? His emotional state/reaction to the interruption, with the word "most likely" indicating we need the best supported inference from the text evidence
Any limiting keywords? "Most likely" requires the answer to be well-supported by textual evidence
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage gives us clear evidence about Zerviah's reaction
- He looked "impatiently" at the postman, which shows irritation
- The passage explicitly states that he "did not like to be interrupted" and that interruptions were "always regarded by him as an insult"
- Since he was being interrupted while reading his constant activity, he would naturally feel bothered by this
- The right answer should reflect his negative emotional response to being disturbed while reading
He felt relieved because he had been expecting an important letter.
- Claims he felt relieved about expecting an important letter
- No evidence in the passage that he was expecting anything
- His "indifferent" glance at the letter contradicts any sense of anticipation or relief
He felt excited because the letter was from a good friend.
- Suggests excitement about hearing from a friend
- Contradicted by his "indifferent" reaction to the letter itself
- The passage focuses on his annoyance with the interruption, not joy about correspondence
He felt sad because the postman did not stop to talk with him before leaving.
- Claims sadness about the postman not staying to chat
- No evidence he wanted social interaction
- His "impatient" look suggests he wanted the postman to leave quickly, not stay longer
He felt annoyed because he was interrupted while reading his favorite author.
- Matches his "impatient" reaction to the postman
- Aligns with the explicit statement that he "did not like to be interrupted when he was reading Gibbon"
- Supported by the passage's explanation that interruptions were "always regarded by him as an insult"