The following text is from an 1876 newspaper article about preparations for a presidential campaign visit.The courthouse square had been...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from an 1876 newspaper article about preparations for a presidential campaign visit.
The courthouse square had been swept clean, and fresh bunting hung from every lamppost. Mayor Henderson stood on the courthouse steps in his formal coat, surveying the preparations with satisfaction. The ladies' committee had arranged tables along the square's perimeter, their white cloths bright against the morning sun. Citizens gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed, excited tones. The entire town had been anticipating this moment for weeks, and now the distinguished visitor's train was due within the hour.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To illustrate the community's arrangements for an important visitor's arrival
To highlight the contrast between formal and informal social gatherings
To demonstrate the political divisions within the community
To describe the economic impact of political campaigns on small towns
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The courthouse square had been swept clean, and fresh bunting hung from every lamppost." |
|
| "Mayor Henderson stood on the courthouse steps in his formal coat, surveying the preparations with satisfaction." |
|
| "The ladies' committee had arranged tables along the square's perimeter, their white cloths bright against the morning sun." |
|
| "Citizens gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed, excited tones." |
|
| "The entire town had been anticipating this moment for weeks, and now the distinguished visitor's train was due within the hour." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The entire community has organized extensive preparations for an important political visitor's imminent arrival.
Argument Flow: The text moves systematically through different aspects of community preparation - from physical cleaning and decorating, to official oversight, to organized committees, to citizen participation - all building toward the revelation that this massive effort is for a distinguished visitor arriving very soon.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
- What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text
- What type of answer do we need? The overall function or goal of what the author wrote
- Any limiting keywords? "Main purpose" means we need the central, overarching reason this text exists
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The text systematically shows us all the different ways the community is preparing - cleaning, decorating, organizing, gathering
- Everything builds toward the reveal that a "distinguished visitor" is coming very soon
- The focus is entirely on the community's active preparations and anticipation, not on politics, economics, or social contrasts
- The right answer should capture that this text exists to show us how a community has organized itself to welcome an important visitor
To illustrate the community's arrangements for an important visitor's arrival
✓ Correct
- Perfectly matches what we see: community preparations (swept square, bunting, tables, gathering citizens) for an important visitor (the "distinguished visitor")
- Captures both the community aspect and the arrangements/preparations focus we identified
To highlight the contrast between formal and informal social gatherings
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text highlights contrast between formal and informal gatherings
- No such contrast exists - we only see one type of gathering (the community preparation event)
- What trap this represents: Students might notice "formal coat" and think there's a formal/informal comparison, but the text doesn't contrast different social gathering types
To demonstrate the political divisions within the community
✗ Incorrect
- Suggests the text demonstrates political divisions within the community
- Actually shows the opposite - unified community effort with everyone participating together
- No divisions or conflicts are mentioned anywhere
To describe the economic impact of political campaigns on small towns
✗ Incorrect
- Claims focus is on economic impact of political campaigns
- Text mentions no economic effects, costs, or financial implications
- Focuses purely on preparations and anticipation, not economics