The following text is from David Barclay Moore's 2022 novel Holler of the Fireflies. The narrator has just arrived at...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is from David Barclay Moore's 2022 novel Holler of the Fireflies. The narrator has just arrived at summer camp, which is far away from his home.
This place was different than I thought it would be. I'd never been somewhere like this before. I did feel scared, but also excited.
©2022 by David Barclay Moore
According to the text, how does the narrator feel about being at summer camp?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "This place was different than I thought it would be." |
|
| "I'd never been somewhere like this before." |
|
| "I did feel scared, but also excited." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The narrator has mixed emotions about arriving at summer camp—feeling both scared and excited about this new experience.
Argument Flow: The narrator first establishes that the camp doesn't match his expectations, then provides context that this is completely new territory for him, and finally reveals his complex emotional response combining fear and excitement.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The narrator's feelings about being at summer camp
What type of answer do we need? A description of emotional state/feelings
Any limiting keywords? "According to the text" - we need to stick to what's explicitly stated
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The passage directly tells us the narrator's emotional state in the final sentence
- The correct answer should capture both emotions he explicitly mentions - being scared and being excited
- These aren't contradictory feelings; people often feel nervous excitement about new experiences
- The right answer should reflect this dual emotional response rather than just one feeling or emotions not mentioned in the text
- The passage doesn't describe the narrator as "overjoyed"
- While he mentions excitement, "overjoyed" suggests pure happiness without the fear component he also describes
- Nothing in the passage suggests the narrator feels "peaceful"
- The text describes active emotions (scared, excited) rather than calm states
- Directly matches the narrator's exact words: "I did feel scared, but also excited"
- Captures both emotions he explicitly states
- Uses the same conjunction structure that reflects his mixed feelings
- The narrator never mentions feeling "angry" or "jealous"
- These emotions aren't supported anywhere in the text