The following text is adapted from Sadakichi Hartmann's 1894 short story Magnolia Blossoms. The narrator is standing on the deck...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
The following text is adapted from Sadakichi Hartmann's 1894 short story Magnolia Blossoms. The narrator is standing on the deck of a boat.
What a night it was! My soul had left its body to lose itself in the wild unrestrained beauty around me—from where it came—and only left a trembling suggestion of its existence within me. The other passengers moved around me like shadows, and again and again my eyes drank in all the glory and wealth of that night.
As used in the text, what does the word 'suggestion' most nearly mean?
Trace
Opinion
Dispute
Command
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "What a night it was!" |
|
| "My soul had left its body to lose itself in the wild unrestrained beauty around me—from where it came—" |
|
| "and only left a trembling suggestion of its existence within me." |
|
| "Other passengers moved around me like shadows," |
|
| "and again and again my eyes drank in all the glory and wealth of that night." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The narrator experienced a transcendent night where his soul seemed to leave his body and merge with the natural beauty around him.
Argument Flow: The passage opens with enthusiasm about an extraordinary night, then describes how the narrator's soul seemed to leave his body to merge with the wild beauty, leaving only a faint trace within him, and concludes by showing how this altered state affected his perception of others and his continued absorption of the night's beauty.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The meaning of the word "suggestion" as used in this specific context.
What type of answer do we need? A word that has the same meaning as "suggestion" in this particular usage.
Any limiting keywords? "As used in the text" - so we need to focus on the contextual meaning, not general definitions.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at the context "only left a trembling suggestion of its existence within me," we need a word that means a faint indication or hint of something
- The narrator is describing how after his soul left his body to merge with the beauty around him, only a weak or barely noticeable indication of his soul remained within him
- The word should convey something subtle, barely detectable, like a faint sign or remnant of what was once there
- So the right answer should mean a faint indication or barely noticeable sign of something
Trace
- "Trace" means a barely detectable amount or sign of something
- This perfectly matches the context where only a faint indication of the narrator's soul remained within him
- Fits with the idea that most of his soul had departed, leaving only a minimal remnant
Opinion
- "Opinion" refers to a belief or judgment about something
- This doesn't make sense in the context - the narrator isn't talking about having an opinion about his soul's existence
- The passage is describing a mystical experience, not expressing a viewpoint
Dispute
- "Dispute" means an argument or disagreement
- This is completely unrelated to the context of describing what remained of the soul's presence
- There's no conflict or disagreement being described
Command
- "Command" means an order or instruction
- This doesn't fit the context at all - nothing about the soul's remaining presence suggests giving orders
- The passage describes a passive, barely-there quality, not an authoritative action