gmatgmat wrote:3. A collection of 38 poems by Phillis Wheatley, a slave, was published in the 1770’s, the first book by a Black woman and it was only the second published by an American woman.
(A) it was only the second published by an American woman
(B) it was only the second that an American woman published
(C) the second one only published by an American woman
(D) the second one only that an American woman published
(E) only the second published by an American woman


The answer is E. I chose C, which i think the sentence sounds better. Can someone help explain why it's E?

Thanks.

This is problem of applying the quantifier. You need to find the correct word in the question on that actually quantifier should be applied.

Here quantifier is "Only" and it should be applied preceding to the noun to which it limits. The question statement asserts that it was the book2nd that was written by a American woman. The first was by a white woman and second by a black women.

If we choose (C) as the right option, then it changes the meaning of the sentence. Option (C) means that American woman has published only the second book and the first and rest of books were published by someone else. In short, it alters the actual meaning of the sentence.

Whereas option (E) clearly states the actual meaning. Hence option (E) is right.

Hope this helps...

Regards,
Code Snooker

PS: Treat SC likes quantitative section. There is always logic in SC question, therefore, there is no place for the options that sounds correct.