The following text is from John Muir's 1913 autobiography The Story of My Boyhood and Youth. Muir describes being on...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is from John Muir's 1913 autobiography The Story of My Boyhood and Youth. Muir describes being on a boat.
The water was so clear that it was almost invisible, and when we floated slowly out over the plants and fishes, we seemed to be miraculously sustained in the air while exploring a veritable fairyland.
As used in the text, what does the word 'clear' most nearly mean?
Simple
Understandable
Obvious
Transparent
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "The water was so clear that it was almost invisible" |
|
| "and when we floated slowly out over the plants and fishes" |
|
| "we seemed to be miraculously sustained in the air while exploring a veritable fairyland" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The water was so incredibly transparent that floating on it created a magical, otherworldly experience.
Argument Flow: Muir first describes the remarkable clarity of the water, then sets up the situation of floating over underwater life, and finally explains how this clarity created an almost supernatural experience where they felt suspended in air rather than water.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? This is a Words in Context question asking us to determine the meaning of "clear" as it is used specifically in this passage.
What type of answer do we need? We need to find the definition that best fits how Muir uses the word when describing the water.
Any limiting keywords? None specified.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at how "clear" is used, Muir says the water was "so clear that it was almost invisible"
- This suggests he is talking about the physical property of being able to see through the water
- It is so see-through that you can barely tell it is there
- The word "clear" here must mean something related to being see-through or transparent
- It allows light and vision to pass through without obstruction
Simple
- "Simple" refers to being uncomplicated or easy to understand
- This does not match the physical description of water that is "almost invisible"
Understandable
- "Understandable" means able to be comprehended or grasped mentally
- Water is not being described in terms of comprehension but physical appearance
Obvious
- "Obvious" means easily perceived or understood
- While this could relate to visibility, it does not capture the specific meaning of being see-through
- The water being "almost invisible" suggests the opposite of obvious
Transparent
- "Transparent" means allowing light to pass through so objects can be seen clearly
- This perfectly matches water being "so clear that it was almost invisible"
- This explains why they felt suspended in air - the transparent water was barely visible