Scrapbooks of saved fabric pieces were commonly kept by women in the nineteenth-century United States, but few are as meticulously...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
- Scrapbooks of saved fabric pieces were commonly kept by women in the nineteenth-century United States, but few are as meticulously detailed as Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's work.
- Alongside each piece of fabric, Alspaugh recorded intimate memories, such as dressmaking with her sister.
- Additionally, she listed the prices and how she used the fabric.
- Historians note that by representing fifty years of changing textures, patterns, and dress styles, the scrapbook is a record of nineteenth-century textiles and dressmaking as well as Alspaugh's life.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
Alspaugh inspired other women to save pieces of fabric in scrapbooks and provide historical records of nineteenth-century fashions in the United States.
Historians rely on fabric scrapbooks to understand how fashions changed throughout the nineteenth-century United States.
Fabric scrapbooks were a popular hobby for many women in the nineteenth-century United States.
Alspaugh's scrapbook provides a detailed account of her life and historical record of fashion trends in the nineteenth-century United States.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Scrapbooks of saved fabric pieces were commonly kept by women in the nineteenth-century United States," |
|
| "but few are as meticulously detailed as Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's work." |
|
| "Alongside each piece of fabric, Alspaugh recorded intimate memories, such as dressmaking with her sister." |
|
| "Additionally, she listed the prices and how she used the fabric." |
|
| "Historians note that by representing fifty years of changing textures, patterns, and dress styles, the scrapbook is a record of nineteenth-century textiles and dressmaking as well as Alspaugh's life." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's fabric scrapbook stands out for its exceptional detail, serving as both a personal record of her life and a valuable historical documentation of fifty years of nineteenth-century fashion and textiles.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message about Alspaugh's scrapbook
Any limiting keywords? "best states" - we need the most accurate and complete representation
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer must capture that Alspaugh's scrapbook is special because it's unusually detailed, and this detail serves two purposes
- First, it provides intimate details about her personal life
- Second, it serves as a valuable historical record of fifty years of changing fashion and textile trends
Alspaugh inspired other women to save pieces of fabric in scrapbooks and provide historical records of nineteenth-century fashions in the United States.
- Claims Alspaugh "inspired other women" to create scrapbooks
- The passage never mentions her inspiring others
- ✗ Incorrect
Historians rely on fabric scrapbooks to understand how fashions changed throughout the nineteenth-century United States.
- Says "historians rely on fabric scrapbooks" generally
- The passage only discusses historians' views on Alspaugh's specific scrapbook
- ✗ Incorrect
Fabric scrapbooks were a popular hobby for many women in the nineteenth-century United States.
- Only mentions that fabric scrapbooks were "a popular hobby"
- Completely ignores what made Alspaugh's work special
- ✗ Incorrect
Alspaugh's scrapbook provides a detailed account of her life and historical record of fashion trends in the nineteenth-century United States.
- Recognizes that Alspaugh's scrapbook specifically "provides a detailed account of her life"
- Serves as a "historical record of fashion trends"
- This perfectly captures both the personal and historical significance
- ✓ Correct