So in this question, I chose the blank to be a positive blank because of the word “that” and the blank should be something that explains nostalgia.
My guess for the blank was “useful tool” and guessed option C.
Can you please tell me how the blank was supposed to be related to “stronger force” and hence option B?
Does “shapes our present identity and aspirations” necessarily need to be positive? Semantics would be a much better approach here.
If that’s the case, i would drop the use of “useful” and guess just tool
“shapes” has to be something that makes us take action or change right?
Fair, but these are reasonings I can make sense of once I know the right answer. How would I practice this to make myself better at these kind of hard questions?
Probably describing the specific function of the blank:
“Blank 1 describes the manner in which nostalgia acts in order to shape our identity and aspirations”
this is a “its not just good, its amazing” case. First part contains “not as a mere”, so the answer should be something stronger than than “sentimental longing”. This discards the bottom two options, although impulse does fit semantically, fleeting doesn’t fit the meaning.
Useful tool is a good guess but you might’ve rushed picking an answer, since mechanical reaction doesn’t make sense semantically. A tool is much more intentional than a reaction, and mechanical doesn’t really fit the theme of feelings. This was my same reasoning for discarding quantum leap. Remember that after your guess yo have to discard all options.
I guess this was the case, I was kinda intimidated by the options and the fact that I have attempted very few hard questions
Greg has mentioned at some point before that the answer choices are what makes this question super hard. Again its not ETS so don’t worry over it.
https://www.reddit.com/r/GRE/comments/1bjwkds/help_with_this_text_competition_question_on/
Ah right yes, its a good question which tests how well you can eliminate options. Thank you!!
