The following text is from Mark Oshiro's 2018 novel Anger Is a Gift. In the novel, Moss and his friends...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from Mark Oshiro's 2018 novel Anger Is a Gift. In the novel, Moss and his friends are on a subway train in Northern California.
Lights from the outside world then filled the train car as it rose out of the ground and climbed the elevated track. As long as Moss had lived in West Oakland, he'd never tired of this specific view, so he pointed toward the windows. 'Check it,' he said, and the Port of Oakland began to pass by them.
©2018 by Mark Oshiro
As used in the text, what does the word 'specific' most nearly mean?
Imaginary
Energetic
Correct
Particular
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Lights from the outside world then filled the train car as it rose out of the ground and climbed the elevated track." |
|
| "As long as Moss had lived in West Oakland, he'd never tired of this specific view, so he pointed toward the windows." |
|
| "'Check it,' he said, and the Port of Oakland began to pass by them." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Moss consistently enjoys a familiar view of the Port of Oakland when his train emerges above ground.
Argument Flow: The passage moves from setting (train rising above ground) to Moss's emotional connection with a familiar sight, culminating in the revelation of what that sight is.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of the word "specific" as used in this particular context
What type of answer do we need? A synonym that captures how "specific" functions in this sentence
Any limiting keywords? N/A
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Moss "had never tired of this specific view" - he's referring to one particular view among all possible views
- The word "specific" emphasizes that it's this one view, not just any view, that consistently captivates him
- The right answer should capture the idea of "this one in particular"
Imaginary
✗ Incorrect - "Imaginary" suggests the view isn't real, but the passage shows the view is real (the Port of Oakland)
Energetic
✗ Incorrect - "Energetic" describes something lively, but views themselves aren't energetic
Correct
✗ Incorrect - "Correct" implies accuracy, but nothing suggests Moss is evaluating the view's correctness
Particular
✓ Correct - "Particular" means "this one specifically" and perfectly captures how Moss is referring to one identifiable view among many possible views