Valia is a 1907 short story by Leonid Andreyev. In the story, the author emphasizes that the setting where the...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Valia is a 1907 short story by Leonid Andreyev. In the story, the author emphasizes that the setting where the character Valia is reading is nearly silent: ______
Which quotation from "Valia" most effectively illustrates the claim?
The hand in which he carried his book was getting stiff with cold, but he would not ask his mother to take the book from him.
Valia was reading a huge, very huge book, almost half as large as himself.
Valia approached the window and examined the toys.
Everything in the room was quiet, so quiet that the only thing to be heard was the rustling of the pages he turned.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'Valia' is a 1907 short story by Leonid Andreyev. |
|
| In the story, the author emphasizes that the setting where the character Valia is reading is nearly silent: _____ |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The question establishes that Andreyev's story emphasizes the nearly silent setting where Valia reads, and we need to find the best evidence for this claim.
Argument Flow: The setup provides context about the story's authorship and date, then states the specific claim about emphasis on silence in Valia's reading setting, leading to a request for supporting evidence.
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 right answer should directly describe the quietness or silence of the setting where Valia is reading
- It should use language that emphasizes how quiet the environment is and be specific about the reading context mentioned in the claim
The hand in which he carried his book was getting stiff with cold, but he would not ask his mother to take the book from him.
- This discusses Valia's hand getting cold while holding a book
- Focuses on physical discomfort, not the sound environment
- No mention of silence or quietness in the setting
Valia was reading a huge, very huge book, almost half as large as himself.
- Describes the size of the book Valia is reading
- Focuses on the physical dimensions of the book
- Contains no information about sound levels or silence
Valia approached the window and examined the toys.
- Shows Valia examining toys at a window
- Describes an action but gives no information about sound
- No reference to quietness or silence in the environment
Everything in the room was quiet, so quiet that the only thing to be heard was the rustling of the pages he turned.
- Explicitly states "Everything in the room was quiet, so quiet"
- Uses repetition to emphasize the extreme silence
- Specifies that only page rustling could be heard, highlighting how silent everything else was
- Directly connects to the reading context through "pages he turned"