While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William...
GMAT Expression of Ideas : (Expression) Questions
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
- O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter.
- He wrote hundreds of short stories in the early 1900s, many featuring surprise endings.
- His works became known for their wit, wordplay, and unexpected plot twists.
- After his death in 1910, his stories remained popular with readers and critics.
- The Society of Arts and Sciences established an annual award for outstanding short story writing.
- They chose to call this literary prize the O. Henry Award in recognition of his contributions to the genre.
The student wants to clarify the connection between the writer and the literary award. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
O. Henry was a pen name used by William Sydney Porter, who wrote hundreds of short stories.
The O. Henry Award honors the writer whose stories were known for wit, wordplay, and surprise endings.
The Society of Arts and Sciences established an annual award after O. Henry's death in 1910.
O. Henry's short stories featured unexpected plot twists and remained popular with readers and critics.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter.' |
|
| 'He wrote hundreds of short stories in the early 1900s, many featuring surprise endings.' |
|
| 'His works became known for their wit, wordplay, and unexpected plot twists.' |
|
| 'After his death in 1910, his stories remained popular with readers and critics.' |
|
| 'The Society of Arts and Sciences established an annual award for outstanding short story writing.' |
|
| 'They chose to call this literary prize the O. Henry Award in recognition of his contributions to the genre.' |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: O. Henry was a distinctive short story writer whose lasting influence led to a prestigious literary award being named in his honor.
Argument Flow: The notes establish O. Henry as a prolific writer known for specific stylistic qualities, then show how his influence persisted after his death, ultimately leading to the creation of a literary award named after him.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The student wants to clarify the connection between O. Henry (the writer) and the O. Henry Award (the literary prize).
What type of answer do we need? A choice that effectively explains how these two things are related, using relevant information from the research notes.
Any limiting keywords? 'Most effectively' means we need the choice that best accomplishes this specific goal of clarifying the connection.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer needs to reference both the writer and the award
- The correct answer needs to explain WHY they're connected (not just that they are)
- The correct answer needs to use specific details from the notes that make this connection clear
- From our analysis, we know the award was named after O. Henry specifically 'in recognition of his contributions to the genre'
- The notes tell us his contributions were his distinctive style (wit, wordplay, surprise endings) and his lasting popularity
O. Henry was a pen name used by William Sydney Porter, who wrote hundreds of short stories.
✗ Incorrect
- Explains who O. Henry was and mentions his prolific output but completely ignores the award
- Fails the basic goal of the question
The O. Henry Award honors the writer whose stories were known for wit, wordplay, and surprise endings.
✓ Correct
- Directly states 'The O. Henry Award honors the writer' and explains WHY he's honored by referencing his distinctive writing qualities
- Uses specific details from the notes that show what made him award-worthy
- Perfectly accomplishes the goal
The Society of Arts and Sciences established an annual award after O. Henry's death in 1910.
✗ Incorrect
- Mentions both the Society and the timing but doesn't clearly connect the award to O. Henry himself
- A reader might not understand WHY the award exists or what it has to do with O. Henry specifically
O. Henry's short stories featured unexpected plot twists and remained popular with readers and critics.
✗ Incorrect
- Describes O. Henry's writing style and popularity but completely ignores the award
- Like Choice A, fails to address the connection