The following text is Vita Sackville-West's circa 1920 poem Evening. Spars are ships' masts, moorings are ropes that hold docked...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
The following text is Vita Sackville-West's circa 1920 poem Evening. Spars are ships' masts, moorings are ropes that hold docked ships in place, and a riding-light is a light that a ship shines when it is anchored.
When little lights in little ports come out,
Quivering down through water with the stars,
And all the fishing fleet of slender spars
Range at their moorings, veer with tide about;
When race of wind is stilled and sails are furled,
And underneath our single riding-light
The curve of black-ribbed deck gleams palely white,
And slumbrous waters pool a slumbrous world;
—Then, and then only, have I thought how sweet
Old age might sink upon a windy youth,
Quiet beneath the riding-light of truth,
Weathered through storms, and gracious in retreat.
Which choice best states the main idea of the text?
The tranquility of a port in the evening can incline a person to appreciate the stillness of old age.
The difficulty of bringing a ship into port is apt training for dealing with the types of struggles encountered in old age.
A person who leads a long life that is varied and active may find it difficult to stay in a calm place.
The contrast between the peacefulness of a port at night and its activity during the day reflects the contrast between the calm of old age and the vibrancy of youth.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "When little lights in little ports come out, Quivering down through water with the stars," |
|
| "And all the fishing fleet of slender spars Range at their moorings, veer with tide about;" |
|
| "When race of wind is stilled and sails are furled, And underneath our single riding-light" |
|
| "The curve of black-ribbed deck gleams palely white, And slumbrous waters pool a slumbrous world;" |
|
| "—Then, and then only, have I thought how sweet Old age might sink upon a windy youth," |
|
| "Quiet beneath the riding-light of truth, Weathered through storms, and gracious in retreat." |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The peaceful evening harbor scene inspires the speaker to imagine how sweet and graceful old age could be after a lifetime of weathering storms.
Argument Flow: The poem first establishes a detailed, tranquil evening scene at a harbor with boats at rest. This peaceful setting then triggers the speaker's reflection that only in such moments of calm does he contemplate how appealing old age might be - quiet and dignified after surviving life's challenges, like ships safely anchored after rough voyages.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The main idea of the entire text
What type of answer do we need? A statement that captures the central message/theme of the poem
Any limiting keywords? "main idea" - we need the overarching point, not a detail
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct answer needs to capture how the peaceful evening harbor scene leads the speaker to reflect positively on old age
- It should connect the tranquil setting with the speaker's thoughts about aging gracefully
- The poem uses the calm, anchored ships as a metaphor for peaceful retirement after life's storms
The tranquility of a port in the evening can incline a person to appreciate the stillness of old age.
✓ Correct
- Directly connects the "tranquility of a port in the evening" with appreciating "the stillness of old age"
- Matches exactly what happens in the poem - the calm scene triggers positive thoughts about aging
- "Incline a person to appreciate" perfectly captures how the setting inspires the reflection
The difficulty of bringing a ship into port is apt training for dealing with the types of struggles encountered in old age.
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on "difficulty of bringing a ship into port" but the poem shows ships already peacefully anchored
- Mentions training for struggles, but the poem emphasizes rest and grace after storms, not preparation for future difficulties
A person who leads a long life that is varied and active may find it difficult to stay in a calm place.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims someone with a varied life would find it "difficult to stay in a calm place"
- Completely contradicts the poem - the speaker finds the calm appealing and thinks old age "might sink" sweetly into peace
The contrast between the peacefulness of a port at night and its activity during the day reflects the contrast between the calm of old age and the vibrancy of youth.
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses contrast between "night and day" activity, but the poem only describes evening/night
- The poem doesn't compare daytime port activity with nighttime calm