BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Multiple modifiers

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1893
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 11:48 pm
Thanked: 215 times
Followed by:7 members

Multiple modifiers

by kvcpk » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:31 am
Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Legendary Member
Posts: 527
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:06 am
Thanked: 7 times

by real2008 » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:49 am
kvcpk wrote:Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932. (I am not sure referent of THEY)

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America. (Correct choice)

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America. (multiple modifiers of CLOVIS are confusing)

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America. (sentence is not complete)

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932(referent of THEY is not clear)

Comment please.....
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 364
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 5:13 am
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:3 members

by FightWithGMAT » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:33 am
kvcpk wrote:Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932
IMO B

This can be tackled by POE.

A--Preposition (with) + noun + participle (past) .......is a big no no in GMAT....basically it shows redundancy.......moreover "they are named" does not make a good sense contextually.

C--"they have been first discovered in 1932".........eliminate this
D--Clovis points are not faces.....moreover.......construction is funny.......Clovis points, non restrictive modifier, but were........

E-- Completely changes the meaning........original sentence does not indicate that any two actions are going parallel.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2326
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 am
Thanked: 173 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:46 am
Pick A

Try removing the appositive {starting with spear points.......}, still the original sentence makes sense.

"They" seems to cause pronoun ambiguity error. But its NOT a thumb rule. "They " refers back to Clove points to arrive at the intended meaning.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 292
Joined: Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:39 am
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:1 members

by pnk » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:17 pm
kvcpk wrote:Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932
Sentence requires contrast btwn 2 parts.
B - use 'and' - make definition of CP and found 2 different activities
C - do not use any 'contrast' indicators
D - use of 2 different contast indicators - 'even though/but
E - use 'and' - make 'found and named' different activities
IMO - A

No ambiguity with 'they' - pronoun refers to the noun that plays the same grammatical role in its own clause ie if t pronoun is subject it will refer to noun of the other clause. So 'they' and 'Clovis points'match
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:20 pm
Thanked: 74 times
Followed by:4 members

by uwhusky » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:19 pm
I can tell you why A is right =)

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

Ignore the modifier for Clovis points, and you have a pretty straight forward sentence.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:20 pm
kvcpk wrote:Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

The correct answer.

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

Misplaced modifier: What exactly was first discovered in 1932?
Preposition error: of longitudinal grooves is incorrect; the correct preposition is with.

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.

Tense error: they have been first discovered in 1932 should be in the past tense, not the present perfect.
Preposition error: of longitudinal grooves is incorrect; the correct preposition is with.

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.

A mess!
Tense error: with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces. Since the chipping happened in the past, are is the wrong tense.
Modifier error: What exactly was first discovered in 1932?
Conjunction error, Missing modifier: but were found all over North America. No need for the conjunction but. A modifier is needed to show the contrast in time. Sentence should read Clovis points...were later found all over North America.

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932.

Also a mess.
Conjunction error: While is incorrect. The fact that Clovis points are spear points is being contrasted with the fact that they have been found all over North America.
Tense/Parallelism error: and named should be and are named in order to be parallel with they have been found
Tense error: they have been first discovered in 1932 should be in the past tense, not the present perfect.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:27 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
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].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1172
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:20 pm
Thanked: 74 times
Followed by:4 members

by uwhusky » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:21 pm
One minor note to add to why B is wrong: "spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces"
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:30 am
Thanked: 2 times

by r2kins » Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:02 am
(
8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

Misplaced modifier: What exactly was first discovered in 1932?
Preposition error: of longitudinal grooves is incorrect; the correct preposition is with.
Why is this a case of misplaced modifier? Isn't it the Clovis points that are supposed to be modified and correctly so?
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Fri Jul 16, 2010 7:16 am
r2kins wrote:(
8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

Misplaced modifier: What exactly was first discovered in 1932?
Preposition error: of longitudinal grooves is incorrect; the correct preposition is with.
Why is this a case of misplaced modifier? Isn't it the Clovis points that are supposed to be modified and correctly so?
A subject and a verb are needed in order to make clear what exactly was first discovered:

Although named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points...

The pronoun they makes it clear that the Clovis points were first discovered. Even the sentence above, however, is hardly ideal in that it offers the pronoun they before its referent, Clovis points.

Hope this helps!
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
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].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:16 am
Location: NIT Durgapur, INDIA
Thanked: 1 times

by Kushal Kumar » Fri Jul 16, 2010 10:51 am
A subject and a verb are needed in order to make clear what exactly was first discovered:

Although named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points...

The pronoun they makes it clear that the Clovis points were first discovered. Even the sentence above, however, is hardly ideal in that it offers the pronoun they before its referent, Clovis points.
Just completed studying "Modifiers"...a nice take-away from GMATGuruNY :)
I always knew I was going to be rich. I never doubted it for a minute. -- Rakesh Jhunjhunwala (rakeshjhunjhunwala.in)
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

by mundasingh123 » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:58 am
kvcpk wrote:Multiple modifiers in the below question are confusing to me.
Can someone please explain me why the right answer is right?

Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have
been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered
in 1932.

(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

(8) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found allover North America.

(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.

(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.

(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932
Guys please reveal the source
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1893
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 11:48 pm
Thanked: 215 times
Followed by:7 members

by kvcpk » Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:16 am
mundasingh123 wrote:Guys please reveal the source
Here you go.
https://books.google.com/books?id=sQW_fK ... ts&f=false
"Once you start working on something,
don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:38 am
Thanked: 1 times

by tailoc » Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:13 am
First, eliminate B and D ,"New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932" is wrong because Clovis points were discovered in 1932.

finally, eliminate C and E because of wrong tense (have been discovered in 1932). Also E is not concision.

Answer is A
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:26 members

by mundasingh123 » Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:24 am
GmatGuruNY
(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.
Tense error: they have been first discovered in 1932 should be in the past tense, not the present perfect.
GmatGuruNY , How did you know the past tense is required here . Is it because the year in which the discovery took place is mentioned ?

In A
(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.

Didnt the act of naming took place in the past ? so shount "are named " be "were named " ?
I Seek Explanations Not Answers
Top
Post new topic Locked