Question 98·Medium·Command of Evidence
The following passage is from a contemporary memoir in which the author describes moving from a large city to a rural town.
At one point in the memoir, the author asserts that “life in the village depends on a quiet web of mutual care.”
Which sentence from the passage most effectively supports the author’s assertion?
For “Which sentence best supports the assertion?” questions, start by underlining key ideas in the claim (here, words like “depends,” “quiet,” and “mutual care”). Then quickly check each option and ask, “Does this sentence directly show that idea with a concrete example, especially involving people’s actions?” Eliminate choices that only describe setting, mood, or unrelated details, and pick the one that gives clear, specific evidence of the concept stated in the assertion.
Hints
Clarify the claim
Restate the assertion in your own words: the author is saying village life relies on neighbors quietly helping and supporting one another.
Look for actions, not just descriptions
Scan the answer choices for a sentence where people are doing something for each other, not just describing sounds, smells, or scenery.
Connect directly to “mutual care”
Ask of each option: does this show someone giving help or kindness to someone else in the village in an everyday way?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand the author’s assertion
Focus on the key words in the assertion: “life in the village depends on a quiet web of mutual care.” This means village life relies on people quietly helping and looking out for one another in everyday ways.
Translate the assertion into what the evidence must show
To support this idea, the correct sentence must:
- Involve people, not just places or things.
- Show care or help being given.
- Be “quiet” or ordinary—not dramatic, but everyday support. Pure description of setting, sounds, or smells will not be enough; we need an example of mutual help.
Test each answer choice against the idea of mutual care
Go through the options:
- One option talks about a regular sound in the village (the forge). This is about routine noise, not care between people.
- Another option describes how the post office smells. That shows setting, not relationships.
- Another describes a road turning into a footpath in a swamp. That’s pure landscape, no people at all.
- Only one option describes neighbors taking kind, helpful actions for the narrator in response to a problem. Identify which sentence clearly involves neighbors quietly helping someone.
Choose the sentence that directly illustrates quiet, mutual help
The sentence “When Mrs. Hanley heard I had sprained my ankle, she sent her son across the field with a kettle of stew while Mr. Ortiz repaired my fence without being asked.” best supports the assertion because it shows two neighbors independently helping the narrator in simple, quiet ways, illustrating the village’s “web of mutual care.”