Question 157·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
The following text is from a town council member's statement.
I am told our town is 'falling behind' because we reject flashy development. If 'behind' means measuring ourselves by other people's towers, then I accept the charge. But my aim is not to race; it is to last. When storms knocked out power last winter, it was the small grocer with a generator and the library's wood stove that kept us warm. I want a town that survives rough weather and serves its people, not a skyline that serves a photograph.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
For text-structure questions, first ignore the answer choices and quickly summarize what each sentence or group of sentences is doing—for example, “states a criticism,” “redefines a term,” “gives an example,” “draws a conclusion.” Then turn that into a simple pattern like “criticism → redefinition → example.” Only after you have this pattern in mind should you read the choices and match them to your pattern, eliminating any option that introduces ideas (like economic theories or apologies) that do not appear in the passage.
Hints
Chunk the passage
Briefly label what each part is doing: opening claim/criticism, the speaker’s response, and any concrete example.
Look for a shift in meaning
Notice how the speaker takes the word “behind” and changes (reframes) what it should mean in this context.
Identify the support
Find the specific real-world event the speaker uses to back up their point, and include that as the final part of the structure.
Step-by-step Explanation
Summarize what the passage is about
Read the whole passage and put it in your own words.
The council member says people claim the town is "falling behind" because it refuses flashy development. The speaker responds that if "behind" means not having tall buildings, then fine—but their real goal is for the town to endure and serve its people. They then tell a story about a winter storm where the small grocery store and the library helped residents, and end by saying they want a town that survives rough weather and helps people, not just a pretty skyline.
Identify what each part is doing (its role)
Now focus on the function of each sentence or group of sentences, not the details.
- Sentence 1: "I am told our town is 'falling behind'..." → This reports a criticism/charge against the town.
- Sentence 2: "If 'behind' means... then I accept the charge." → This redefines what "behind" means (being behind in terms of other people's towers).
- Sentence 3: "But my aim is not to race; it is to last." → This states the speaker’s true goal/standard for the town.
- Sentence 4: "When storms knocked out power last winter..." → This gives a specific example/story showing what really mattered.
- Sentence 5: "I want a town that survives rough weather..." → This restates the real priority.
So the structure is: criticism → new definition/standard → example that reveals real priorities.
Create a simple structure statement in your own words
Before looking closely at the choices, say in plain language how the passage is built.
Something like: "The speaker starts by mentioning a complaint about the town. Then they change what it means to be 'behind' and say what they actually care about. Then they use a story about a winter storm to show that the town’s real priority is helping people and lasting through hard times."
Match that structure to the answer choices
Now compare your structure to each option:
- The choice about a catchphrase plus a sequence of actions doesn’t fit: there is no repeated slogan and no step-by-step plan.
- The choice about comparing economic models for profit doesn’t fit: the passage isn’t weighing theories or profitability.
- The choice about admitting a personal mistake and asking forgiveness doesn’t fit: the speaker isn’t apologizing.
The only option that matches criticism → redefinition → specific example is:
“The speaker cites a criticism of the town, reframes what it means to be “behind,” and supports that new standard with a winter-storm example.”