The following text is adapted from Paul Laurence Dunbar's 1902 novel The Sport of the Gods. Joe and some of...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Paul Laurence Dunbar's 1902 novel The Sport of the Gods. Joe and some of his family members have recently moved to New York City. [Joe] was wild with enthusiasm and with a desire to be a part of all that the metropolis meant. In the evening he saw the young fellows passing by dressed in their spruce clothes, and he wondered with a sort of envy where they could be going. Back home there had been no place much worth going to, except church and one or two people's houses.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
It illustrates a character's reaction to a new environment.
It explains why a character has traveled to a city.
It compares a character's thoughts about an event at two different times of day.
It presents a character feeling regret over leaving home.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| [Joe] was wild with enthusiasm and with a desire to be a part of all that the metropolis meant. |
|
| In the evening he saw the young fellows passing by dressed in their spruce clothes, and he wondered with a sort of envy where they could be going. |
|
| Back home there had been no place much worth going to, except church and one or two people's houses. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Joe is experiencing excitement and curiosity about the possibilities of city life, which contrasts sharply with the limited social opportunities of his previous home.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Joe's enthusiastic mindset toward city life, then shows how he observes the social scene around him with envious curiosity, and finally provides context by contrasting this rich environment with the sparse social opportunities he had back home.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of this text passage
What type of answer do we need? A statement about what the entire passage is doing or accomplishing
Any limiting keywords? main purpose tells us we need the primary function, not a secondary detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage is fundamentally about Joe encountering a new environment (NYC) and having a specific response to it
- We see his internal excitement, his external observations of city social life, and how this all contrasts with his more limited previous experience
- The correct answer should capture that we're seeing Joe's reaction to being in a new, more exciting urban environment
It illustrates a character's reaction to a new environment.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly matches our analysis - Joe is indeed reacting to a new environment (NYC)
- His enthusiasm, curiosity about the well-dressed young men, and contrast with his limited home options all demonstrate his reaction to this new urban setting
It explains why a character has traveled to a city.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't explain why Joe traveled to the city - it takes his presence there as a given
- We learn about his reaction to being there, not his motivation for coming
It compares a character's thoughts about an event at two different times of day.
✗ Incorrect
- This completely misreads the passage structure - it's not comparing thoughts at different times of day
- The evening reference is just when he makes his observations, not a time-based comparison
It presents a character feeling regret over leaving home.
✗ Incorrect
- Joe shows enthusiasm and desire, not regret - the passage emphasizes his excitement about city possibilities
- While he notes home's limitations, this serves to highlight the city's appeal, not to express regret