The following text is from Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel The Secret Garden. Mary, a young girl, is outside trying...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1911 novel The Secret Garden. Mary, a young girl, is outside trying her new jump rope.
The sun was shining and a little wind was blowing—not a rough wind, but one which came in delightful little gusts and brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it. She skipped round the fountain garden, and up one walk and down another.
As used in the text, what does the word 'rough' most nearly mean?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The sun was shining and a little wind was blowing—not a rough wind, but one which came in delightful little gusts and brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it." |
|
| "She skipped round the fountain garden, and up one walk and down another." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Mary enjoys jumping rope outside on a beautiful day with gentle, pleasant weather.
Argument Flow: The passage first establishes the lovely outdoor conditions, specifically contrasting the gentle wind with what a "rough" wind would be like, then shows Mary taking advantage of this perfect weather by actively playing outside.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of the word "rough" as it's used in this specific context.
What type of answer do we need? A synonym that captures how "rough" is being used when describing wind.
Any limiting keywords? "As used in the text" tells us we need to focus on the contextual meaning, not just any definition of "rough."
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- From our analysis, we see "rough" is being contrasted with wind that comes in "delightful little gusts" and brings a "fresh scent"
- The author is describing what the wind is NOT—it's not rough, meaning it's not unpleasant or aggressive
- A rough wind would be the opposite of delightful and gentle
- In this context, "rough" suggests a wind that would be unpleasant, strong, or uncomfortable—something that would make the outdoor experience less enjoyable
- So the right answer should describe wind that is unpleasant, aggressive, or uncomfortable to experience
- "Harsh" perfectly captures the meaning of "rough" in this context
- A harsh wind would be unpleasant and uncomfortable, the exact opposite of the delightful, gentle wind being described
- This matches our prethinking about "rough" meaning unpleasant or aggressive
- "Scratchy" refers to a texture that irritates the skin
- While wind could feel scratchy, this misses the broader meaning of "rough" as unpleasant or harsh
- "Basic" means simple or fundamental
- This doesn't make sense in the context—the contrast isn't between a basic wind and a delightful one
- "Vague" means unclear or indefinite
- This doesn't fit the context at all—the passage isn't about clarity but about the pleasant vs. unpleasant qualities of wind