Question 59·Medium·Command of Evidence
In the chapter “Solitude” from Walden (1854), Henry David Thoreau describes how living alone in the woods gives him a sense of satisfying companionship: _____
Which quotation from Walden most effectively supports this claim?
For “best evidence” questions in Reading & Writing, start by restating the claim in your own words and underlining its key pieces (here: alone + companionship + satisfying/positive). Then scan the answer choices and quickly eliminate any that are off-topic or only mention one part of the claim. Among the remaining choices, choose the one that most directly and completely matches all parts of the claim in clear language, not the one that is just interesting, familiar, or loosely related.
Hints
Focus on the key idea in the question
Underline the words in the prompt that describe Thoreau’s feeling: he is living alone but experiences a sense of satisfying companionship. Your answer should clearly connect these ideas.
Match all parts of the claim, not just one
Look for an option that doesn’t just mention being alone or being with others, but also shows how he feels about that situation—especially whether it feels like good company.
Eliminate off-topic or only partially relevant quotes
Cross out any option that (1) doesn’t mention solitude or companionship at all, or (2) focuses mainly on arrangements or other images instead of directly expressing how he feels about being alone.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify the claim in the question
The prompt says Thoreau describes how living alone in the woods gives him a sense of satisfying companionship.
Break that into key ideas:
- He is alone (solitude).
- Yet he feels a kind of companionship (he feels like he has a companion).
- That companionship is satisfying/positive, not lonely or negative.
You want the quotation that directly shows solitude itself feels like good company to him.
Check which options mention solitude or being with others
Now look at each choice and ask:
- Does it talk about solitude or society?
- Does it talk about companionship or company?
- Is the tone positive about that companionship?
Quick scan:
- One option focuses on how being with other people becomes tiring.
- One is about the sun and doesn’t mention solitude or companionship.
- One lists the number of chairs he has for different social situations.
- One explicitly compares solitude to a companion and evaluates how good that companion is.
Only one of these directly connects solitude with being a good companion.
Select the quotation that best matches all parts of the claim
The best evidence must show that when Thoreau is alone, he still feels as if he has the best possible company.
Choice D, "I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude," fits perfectly because it directly states that solitude itself is the most pleasant, satisfying companion he has ever had, matching every part of the claim in the question.