Slowly but surely the great passenger trains of the United States have

Question

Slowly but surely the great passenger trains of the United States have been fading from the rails. Short-run commuter trains still rattle in and out of the cities. Between major cities you can still find a train, but the schedules are becoming less frequent. The Twentieth Century Limited, The Broadway Limited, and other luxury trains that sang along the rails at 60 to 80 miles an hour are no longer running. Passengers on other long runs complain of poor service, old equipment, and costs in time and money. The long-distance traveler today accepts the noise of jets, the congestion at airports, and the traffic between airport and city. A more elegant and graceful way is becoming only a memory.    1 
 1. With respect to the reduction of long-run passenger trains, the writer expresses

(A) regret
(B) pleasure
(C) grief
(D) elation
(E) anger

2 
 2. According to the author the air travel is

(A) costly
(B) slow
(C) streamlined
(D) elegant
(E) uncomfortable

RC Butler 2022  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 79 Date: 23-Feb-2022
 This question is a part of RC Butler 2022 .  Click here for Details

QMG · Answer

1) A (last sentence "is becoming only a memory" implies sadness / regret about this development

2) E

gloomybison · Answer

What is the decisive divide between regret & grief?

I guess both is possible depending on how you explain it, One can comment that grief is felt when someone/something is lost, and we know that old train journeys are becoming noting but a memory so ı believe one can think that the author is grieving the lose

QMG · Answer

So IMO (and the answers confirm it): the feeling of grief is  way stronger  than the feeling of regret. according to the  oxford dictionary:  "grief (over/at something) a feeling of  great sadness , especially when someone dies". The feeling of the author is not that strong.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. With respect to the reduction of long-run passenger trains, the writer expresses

Difficulty Level:   Medium

Explanation

Before you choose the answer, you must deduce what the writer’s feeling is. He does not actually state his feeling, but clues are available so that you may infer what it is.  Choices (B)  and  (D)  are impossible because he gives no word that shows he is pleased by the change.  Choice (C)  is too strong, as is choice  (E) .  Choice (A)  is the most reasonable inference to make. He is sorry to see the change. He is expressing regret.

Answer: A

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

2. According to the author the air travel is

Difficulty Level:   Easy

Explanation

Here we must be careful because he says very little about air travel. However, his one sentence about it presents three negative or annoying points. The choice now becomes fairly clear. Answer  (E)  is correct.

Answer: E

VerbalBot · Answer

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Slowly but surely the great passenger trains of the United States have

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

Slowly but surely the great passenger trains of the United States have

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