Question 50·Medium·Text Structure and Purpose
The following excerpt is from a 1916 newspaper editorial advocating for daylight saving time.
I remember the long summer evenings of my childhood, when sunlight lingered past bedtime and every hour felt stretched and generous. Now, as factories whistle their workers home under a prematurely dark sky, I wonder why we so willingly surrender that light. A proposal now circulating in Parliament would set the clocks forward by one hour each spring, effectively returning some of that squandered brightness to our evenings. The change, modest though it seems, would reduce household fuel costs, extend leisure hours, and invigorate public health. Critics fear confusion in railway timetables, but that inconvenience is both temporary and minor when weighed against the daily gift of another hour of daylight.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
For text-structure questions, skim the passage with two key checks: (1) what the writer does in the first 1–2 sentences (personal story, definition, claim, question, etc.), and (2) what the writer mainly does afterward (give reasons, compare things, describe steps, present two sides, etc.). Then quickly eliminate any choices that mention elements not in the passage (like scientific studies or neutrality when the tone is clearly one-sided) and choose the option that best captures this beginning-and-then pattern. Focus on actions (remembers, explains, compares, criticizes, supports) rather than getting lost in the topic details.
Hints
Focus on the opening sentence
Reread the first sentence. Ask yourself: is the author starting with data, an official statement, two sides of a debate, or something more personal?
Look at what happens after the opening
After the first 1–2 sentences, does the author spend more time explaining reasons for something, comparing two things, or neutrally listing pros and cons?
Check for the author’s stance
Does the author stay neutral, clearly favor one side, or conclude that something is not practical? Look for value words that show approval or disapproval.
Eliminate choices that mention things you don’t see
Ask: Do you see scientific studies? A government plan being rejected? A balanced presentation with no preference? Cross out any answer that mentions something that is not actually in the passage.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main topic and purpose
Read the passage once to see what it’s about overall. It is an editorial discussing a proposal for daylight saving time and clearly arguing in favor of that proposal, mentioning benefits and downplaying objections.
Examine how the passage begins
Look closely at the first sentence: "I remember the long summer evenings of my childhood..." This is not a policy description, a study, or an argument yet. It is a personal, nostalgic memory that sets a mood and frames the issue of evening daylight.
See what the writer does after the opening
After the personal opening, the author introduces "a proposal now circulating in Parliament" to move clocks forward, and then lists several benefits: reducing fuel costs, extending leisure hours, and improving public health. The author then briefly notes critics’ concerns but minimizes them, calling the inconvenience "temporary and minor" compared to the benefits.
Match this structure to the answer choices
Now compare this pattern—starting with a personal memory that leads into a proposal, followed by reasons in support of that proposal—to the options. The only choice that accurately describes this structure is: D) The author reminisces about a past experience to introduce an idea, then presents arguments supporting that idea.