The following text is adapted from Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.'The second thing is to find my...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Lewis Carroll's 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
'The second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden. I think that will be the best plan.' It sounded like an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and simply arranged; the only difficulty was, that Alice had not the smallest idea how to set about it.
As used in the text, what does the word 'simply' most nearly mean?
Faintly
Hastily
Easily
Foolishly
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden. I think that will be the best plan.' |
|
| It sounded like an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and simply arranged; |
|
| the only difficulty was, that Alice had not the smallest idea how to set about it. |
|
Part B: Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Alice has formed what seems like a good plan, but she lacks any practical knowledge of how to carry it out.
Argument Flow: The passage presents Alice's plan as something that appears well-conceived and organized, but then reveals the ironic twist that she has no actual method for implementing it, highlighting the gap between theory and practice.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? We need to determine the meaning of "simply" as it's used in this specific context.
What type of answer do we need? A synonym or near-synonym that captures how "simply" functions in the phrase "very neatly and simply arranged."
Any limiting keywords? "As used in the text" tells us we must consider the word's meaning within this particular context, not its general dictionary definition.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, "simply" appears in the phrase describing how the plan was arranged - "very neatly and simply arranged."
- The word is paired with "neatly," suggesting organization and clarity.
- In this context, "simply" describes the straightforward, uncomplicated nature of the plan's arrangement.
- The plan appeared to be set up in a way that would be easy to understand or follow.
- The right answer should capture this sense of something being straightforward, uncomplicated, or easy to comprehend - not complex or difficult to grasp.
- So the right answer should mean something like "in a straightforward, uncomplicated manner."
Faintly
Faintly
✗ Incorrect
- "Faintly" means weakly or barely perceptibly.
- This doesn't make sense in context - a plan can't be "faintly arranged".
- This meaning has nothing to do with how organized or clear something is.
Hastily
Hastily
✗ Incorrect
- "Hastily" means done in a rush or with speed.
- The passage emphasizes how well-organized the plan seemed, not how quickly it was made.
- This contradicts the positive assessment of the plan being "excellent" and "neatly" arranged.
Easily
Easily
✓ Correct
- "Easily" captures the sense of something being straightforward and uncomplicated.
- Fits perfectly with "neatly" to describe a well-organized, easy-to-understand plan.
- Matches our prethinking about the plan appearing straightforward and clear.
Foolishly
Foolishly
✗ Incorrect
- "Foolishly" would mean the plan was arranged in a silly or unwise manner.
- This contradicts the narrator calling it "an excellent plan".
- The passage presents the plan positively, not negatively.