Warning: QP question
Architects and stonemasons, huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya without benefit of the wheel or animal transport.
(A) huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya without benefit of the wheel or animal transport
(B) without the benefits of animal transport or the wheel, huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya
(C) the Maya built huge palace and temple clusters without the benefit of animal transport or the wheel
(D) there were built, without the benefit of the wheel or animal transport, huge palace and temple clusters by the Maya
(E) were the Maya who, without the benefit of the wheel or animal transport, built huge palace and temple clusters
OA A
why is E incorrect?
It is inverted subject sentence; i have noticed in most of such sentences that Sub Verb Agreement is tested.
No such issue here.
How to eliminate E ? stumped
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E: the Maya who...built huge palace and temple clustersaflaam wrote:why is E incorrect?
Here, no comma precedes who, implying that the portion in red is a RESTRICTIVE MODIFIER serving to distinguish the Maya in the sentence from OTHER TYPES of Maya.
Conveyed meaning:
The Maya in the sentence built huge palace and temple clusters.
Other types of Maya did NOT build huge palace and temple clusters.
Not the intended meaning.
The Maya were a unique people.
There were not different types of Maya.
Eliminate E.
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Hi expert:GMATGuruNY wrote:E: the Maya who...built huge palace and temple clustersaflaam wrote:why is E incorrect?
Here, no comma precedes who, implying that the portion in red is a RESTRICTIVE MODIFIER serving to distinguish the Maya in the sentence from OTHER TYPES of Maya.
Conveyed meaning:
The Maya in the sentence built huge palace and temple clusters.
Other types of Maya did NOT build huge palace and temple clusters.
Not the intended meaning.
The Maya were a unique people.
There were not different types of Maya.
Eliminate E.
Thank you for the explanation of choice E.
I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
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These noun modifiers are known as appositive modifiers.noiceman wrote: Hi expert:
Thank you for the explanation of choice E.
I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
In C (OA), "architects and stonemasons" modifies "the Maya", the noun with which this modifier is placed in apposition.
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As Ali mentions above, the OA employs an APPOSITIVE.noiceman wrote: I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that serves to explain or define another noun or noun phrase.
OA: Architects and stonemasons, the Maya built huge palace and temple clusters without the benefit of animal transport or the wheel..
Here, the portion in blue is an appositive serving to explain the following noun (the Maya).
The conveyed meaning is that the Maya were ARCHITECTS AND STONEMASONS.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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