The following text is adapted from Charles Chesnutt's 1899 short story 'Mars Jeems's Nightmare.' The narrator and his wife have...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Charles Chesnutt's 1899 short story 'Mars Jeems's Nightmare.' The narrator and his wife have recently moved to the southern United States, and Julius is their carriage driver.
Julius [was] very useful when we moved to our new residence. He had a thorough knowledge of the neighborhood, was familiar with the roads and the watercourses, knew the qualities of the various soils and what they would produce, and where the best hunting and fishing were to be had. He was a marvelous hand in the management of horses and dogs.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To compare the narrator's reaction to a new home with his wife's reaction
To give an example of Julius's knowledge about soil
To show that the narrator and Julius often hunt and fish together
To explain different ways in which Julius was helpful
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Julius [was] very useful when we moved to our new residence. |
|
| He had a thorough knowledge of the neighborhood, was familiar with the roads and the watercourses, knew the qualities of the various soils and what they would produce, and where the best hunting and fishing were to be had. |
|
| He was a marvelous hand in the management of horses and dogs. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: This text explains the various ways Julius proved helpful to the narrator and his wife when they relocated.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with a general claim about Julius's usefulness, then systematically lists specific areas where his knowledge and skills proved valuable—from local geography and agriculture to animal management.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the text—what the author's overall goal was in writing this passage.
What type of answer do we need? A statement about the text's primary function or objective.
Any limiting keywords? Main purpose tells us we need the overarching goal, not a detail or secondary function.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, the text has a clear structure: it makes a claim about Julius being useful, then backs that up with multiple specific examples
- The purpose isn't to focus on any one area of expertise, but rather to demonstrate the breadth of ways Julius was helpful
- The right answer should capture this comprehensive listing of Julius's various useful qualities and knowledge areas
To compare the narrator's reaction to a new home with his wife's reaction
- This suggests the text compares how the narrator and his wife each reacted to their new home
- The passage never mentions the wife's reaction or compares anyone's responses to the move
To give an example of Julius's knowledge about soil
- This claims the text gives an example of Julius's soil knowledge
- While soil knowledge is mentioned, it's just one item in a longer list
- This choice is far too narrow
To show that the narrator and Julius often hunt and fish together
- This suggests the text shows the narrator and Julius hunt and fish together
- The passage only says Julius knew where the best hunting and fishing were to be had
To explain different ways in which Julius was helpful
- This captures exactly what our analysis revealed: the text lists various ways Julius was helpful
- This encompasses all the evidence and aligns with the comprehensive approach