The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde's 1897 nonfiction work De Profundis.People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Oscar Wilde's 1897 nonfiction work De Profundis.
People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going. They can't know. In one sense of the word it is of course necessary to know oneself: that is the first achievement of knowledge. But to recognise that the soul of a man is unknowable, is the ultimate achievement of wisdom. The final mystery is oneself. When one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself. Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined question in the text as a whole?
It reinforces the text's skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.
It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge.
It cautions readers that the text's directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow.
It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "People whose desire is solely for self-realisation never know where they are going." |
|
| "They can't know." |
|
| "In one sense of the word it is of course necessary to know oneself: that is the first achievement of knowledge." |
|
| "But to recognise that the soul of a man is unknowable, is the ultimate achievement of wisdom." |
|
| "The final mystery is oneself." |
|
| "When one has weighed the sun in the balance, and measured the steps of the moon, and mapped out the seven heavens star by star, there still remains oneself." |
|
| "Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?" |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: True wisdom lies in recognizing that complete self-knowledge is ultimately impossible, even though basic self-knowledge is necessary.
Argument Flow: Wilde begins by stating that people focused solely on self-realization are directionless. He then acknowledges that self-knowledge is important as a foundation, but argues that the highest wisdom actually comes from recognizing the limits of self-knowledge—that the human soul remains fundamentally unknowable. He supports this by showing that even someone who understands the entire cosmos would still face the mystery of the self, concluding with a rhetorical question that emphasizes the impossibility of truly mapping one's own soul.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined rhetorical question within the text as a whole
What type of answer do we need? The role or purpose this specific question serves in Wilde's overall argument
Any limiting keywords? "underlined question" and "in the text as a whole" - we need to focus specifically on how this final rhetorical question contributes to the entire passage's message
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The rhetorical question "Who can calculate the orbit of his own soul?" comes at the very end of Wilde's argument about the limits of self-knowledge
- Based on our analysis, this question should connect to the passage's main theme that complete self-knowledge is impossible
- It should serve as a final reinforcement of the "unknowable soul" concept
- It should function as a concluding emphasis rather than introducing new doubts or concerns
- The question uses the metaphor of calculating an orbit (something precise and scientific) applied to the soul (something mysterious and unmeasurable), which perfectly captures the impossibility Wilde has been building toward
- The right answer should explain how this question drives home the central point that true self-knowledge is ultimately beyond human reach
It reinforces the text's skepticism about the possibility of truly achieving self-knowledge.
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures how the rhetorical question functions in the passage
- The question reinforces the skepticism Wilde has built throughout—from "unknowable soul" to "final mystery" to this concluding impossibility
- It serves as the capstone to his argument that complete self-knowledge is beyond human capability
It speculates that some readers will share the doubts expressed in the text about the value of self-knowledge.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice misinterprets the question's function as being about readers' potential doubts
- The question isn't speculating about what readers might think—it's making a definitive statement about the impossibility of self-knowledge
- Students might confuse a rhetorical question's purpose, thinking it's meant to engage reader speculation rather than emphasize a point
It cautions readers that the text's directions for how to achieve self-knowledge are hard to follow.
✗ Incorrect
- The passage doesn't provide directions for achieving self-knowledge that could be "hard to follow"
- Wilde isn't giving instructions—he's arguing that complete self-knowledge is impossible
- The question doesn't caution about difficulty but rather about impossibility
It concedes that the definition of self-knowledge advanced in the text is unpopular.
✗ Incorrect
- Nothing in the passage suggests Wilde's definition of self-knowledge is unpopular
- The question doesn't concede anything about popularity—it emphasizes the fundamental mystery of the self
- Students might misread the qualifying language early in the passage as a concession about popularity rather than a logical qualification