The Land of Enchantment is a 1906 travel book by Lilian Whiting. In the book, which describes the experience of...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The Land of Enchantment is a 1906 travel book by Lilian Whiting. In the book, which describes the experience of traveling through the southwestern United States by train, Whiting reflects on the escape from everyday life that such a journey provides: ______
Which quotation from The Land of Enchantment most effectively illustrates the claim?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The Land of Enchantment is a 1906 travel book by Lilian Whiting." |
|
| "In the book, which describes the experience of traveling through the southwestern United States by train," |
|
| "Whiting reflects on the escape from everyday life that such a journey provides:" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Whiting's travel book argues that train journeys through the Southwest provide travelers with an escape from their everyday lives.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes the source (Whiting's 1906 travel book), describes its focus (train travel through southwestern US), and presents the key claim that such journeys offer escape from daily life routines.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct quotation must directly relate to the idea of getting away from regular, daily activities and responsibilities
- We need evidence that shows someone stepping away from their normal routine or feeling separated from everyday obligations
- The quote should capture that sense of liberation or detachment from ordinary life that travel can provide
- Talks about "opportunities and advantages" being greater than expected
- Focuses on practical benefits and possibilities, not escape from daily life
- Doesn't address the psychological aspect of getting away from routine
- Describes the "social and picturesque charm" enhanced by leisurely stops
- Focuses on the pleasant aspects of the journey itself
- Doesn't specifically address escaping from everyday responsibilities
- Mentions "seclusion of his berth" which could suggest some separation
- Primarily about the physical start of the journey from Chicago
- Students might choose this because "seclusion" seems related to escape, but it's more about privacy than escaping daily life
- Directly states "detachment from ordinary day and daylight duties"
- "Ordinary day and daylight duties" is essentially the same as "everyday life"
- "Detachment" perfectly captures the escape concept
- "Exhilarating" shows this detachment is viewed positively, matching the positive framing in the passage