The following text is adapted from Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. The speaker, Tom, is considering staging a play...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Jane Austen's 1814 novel Mansfield Park. The speaker, Tom, is considering staging a play at home with a group of his friends and family.
We mean nothing but a little amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our powers in something new. We want no audience, no publicity. We may be trusted, I think, in choosing some play most perfectly unexceptionable; and I can conceive no greater harm or danger to any of us in conversing in the elegant written language of some respectable author than in chattering in words of our own.
Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?
To offer Tom's assurance that the play will be inoffensive and involve only a small number of people
To clarify that the play will not be performed in the manner Tom had originally intended
To elaborate on the idea that the people around Tom lack the skills to successfully stage a play
To assert that Tom believes the group performing the play will be able to successfully promote it
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "We mean nothing but a little amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our powers in something new." |
|
| "We want no audience, no publicity." |
|
| "We may be trusted, I think, in choosing some play most perfectly unexceptionable;" |
|
| "and I can conceive no greater harm or danger to any of us in conversing in the elegant written language of some respectable author than in chattering in words of our own." |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Tom is reassuring others that their planned theatrical performance will be harmless, private, and actually beneficial.
Argument Flow: Tom begins by downplaying their ambitions—it's just for fun and personal growth among themselves. He then emphasizes the privacy (no outside audience) and promises they'll choose appropriate content. Finally, he argues that speaking an author's refined language is actually superior to everyday conversation, positioning the activity as an improvement rather than a risk.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main purpose of the entire text—what Tom is trying to accomplish with his speech.
What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures Tom's overall goal or intention in making this argument.
Any limiting keywords? "Main purpose" tells us we need the overarching objective, not a detail or side point.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Tom is clearly in a persuasive mode here—he's trying to convince others (likely skeptical family members or friends) that staging a play is a good idea
- His key strategy is reassurance on multiple fronts: The scope will be small and private, they'll choose content that's completely proper and inoffensive, and the activity is actually beneficial rather than harmful
- The right answer should capture this reassuring, defensive tone—Tom is essentially saying "don't worry, this will be completely safe and appropriate"
To offer Tom's assurance that the play will be inoffensive and involve only a small number of people
✓ Correct
- This perfectly captures Tom's reassuring approach—he's promising the play will be "unexceptionable" (inoffensive) and emphasizing it's just among themselves with no audience
- Matches our prethinking about Tom providing assurances on both content appropriateness and limited scope
To clarify that the play will not be performed in the manner Tom had originally intended
✗ Incorrect
- Tom never mentions any original intentions or suggests he's changing his plans
- The passage shows Tom explaining his current vision, not contrasting it with a previous approach
To elaborate on the idea that the people around Tom lack the skills to successfully stage a play
✗ Incorrect
- Tom actually expresses confidence in the group's abilities—he says they "may be trusted" to choose well
- The passage shows Tom defending their competence, not elaborating on any lack of skills
To assert that Tom believes the group performing the play will be able to successfully promote it
✗ Incorrect
- Tom explicitly says "we want no audience, no publicity"—the exact opposite of promotion
- This misses Tom's emphasis on keeping the performance private and small-scale