The following text is adapted from Zora Neale Hurston's 1921 short story 'John Redding Goes to Sea.' John is a...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Zora Neale Hurston's 1921 short story 'John Redding Goes to Sea.' John is a child who lives in a town in the woods.
Perhaps ten-year-old John was puzzling to the folk there in the Florida woods for he was an imaginative child and fond of day-dreams. The St. John River flowed a scarce three hundred feet from his back door. On its banks at this point grow numerous palms, luxuriant magnolias and bay trees. On the bosom of the stream float millions of delicately colored hyacinths. [John Redding] loved to wander down to the water's edge, and, casting in dry twigs, watch them sail away down stream to Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world and [he] wanted to follow them.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?
It provides an extended description of a location that John likes to visit.
It reveals that some residents of John's town are confused by his behavior.
It illustrates the uniqueness of John's imagination compared to the imaginations of other children.
It suggests that John longs to experience a larger life outside the Florida woods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Perhaps ten-year-old John was puzzling to the folk there in the Florida woods for he was an imaginative child and fond of day-dreams. |
|
| The St. John River flowed a scarce three hundred feet from his back door. |
|
| On its banks at this point grow numerous palms, luxuriant magnolias and bay trees. On the bosom of the stream float millions of delicately colored hyacinths. |
|
| [John Redding] loved to wander down to the water's edge, and, casting in dry twigs, watch them sail away down stream to Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world and [he] wanted to follow them. |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: John is an imaginative child who feels drawn to escape his small Florida woods community for the larger world beyond.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes John as different from others in his community, then describes the beautiful river setting near his home, and finally reveals how this river represents his pathway to dreams of a bigger life beyond his current surroundings.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The function of the underlined sentence within the overall text structure
What type of answer do we need? How this specific sentence serves the passage's purpose - what job it performs
Any limiting keywords? "underlined sentence" (focusing on one specific sentence) and "in the text as a whole" (considering its role in the entire passage)
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, the underlined sentence shows John performing his regular activity of throwing twigs into the river and watching them float toward "Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world" - and crucially, that "he wanted to follow them."
- This sentence moves beyond just describing what John does to revealing his deeper psychological motivation.
- It shows us that John doesn't just enjoy the river as a pretty location - he sees it as a pathway to escape his current life for something much bigger.
- The right answer should capture how this sentence reveals John's longing to leave his small Florida woods community and experience a larger, more expansive life beyond his current boundaries.
It provides an extended description of a location that John likes to visit.
✗ Incorrect
- This choice focuses only on location description.
- While the sentence does mention the water's edge, its main function isn't to describe the place but to show John's desires.
- Misses the key element about John wanting to follow the twigs to bigger places.
It reveals that some residents of John's town are confused by his behavior.
✗ Incorrect
- The underlined sentence doesn't mention other residents or their confusion.
- The sentence is entirely about John's personal activities and desires at the river.
It illustrates the uniqueness of John's imagination compared to the imaginations of other children.
✗ Incorrect
- While John's imagination is part of his character, this sentence isn't comparing his imagination to other children.
- The sentence focuses on John's specific longing for the wider world, not on how unique his imagination is.
It suggests that John longs to experience a larger life outside the Florida woods.
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the sentence's function - showing John's desire to escape to "Jacksonville, the sea, the wide world."
- The phrase "he wanted to follow them" directly expresses his longing for a larger life.
- Connects his river ritual to his deeper motivation to leave the Florida woods for something bigger.