SC: Barbara Effective legislator

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

SC: Barbara Effective legislator

by abcgmat » Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:37 pm
Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was televised nationwide.
A. later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was
B. later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which were
C. later in the United States House of Representatives, it was not until 1974 that Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure, with her participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was
D. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, not until 1974 did Barbara Jordan become a nationally recognized figure, as she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, being
E. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was

Can someone explain is it necessary for 'Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States
House of Representatives,' to be followed by 'Barbara jordan'. Can this be a reason to eliminate
A,C, and D
can we have any other subject like in C.

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:51 pm
Hi abcgmat--

First of all, we think the answer is B; is that correct?

This one has a very simple grammar error in two of the choices -- simple, we say, but so easy to overlook!!

Choices C and E say "which was televised nationwide" -- but that verb does not agree with the noun of "hearings" -- so you can rule out those two.

The original (Choice A) is wrong because the "not until" clause is the object of a sentence -- with that sentence structure, you'd need to say "Although she had.... , it was not until Barbara Jordan..." So that one is bunk, too. Choice D has the same issue.

All of these options are grammar traps. The meaning is (sort of) the same with each one, but they've all got subtle (and not-so-subtle) mistakes in how the clauses and prepositional phrases are arranged.

Not 100% sure on what you're asking about the "followed by" question -- but if we understand you correctly, then we think yes, the name Barbara Jordan works best at the beginning of that phrase so that the reader knows who "she" is -- but this sentence would also be correct:

Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States House of Representatives, it was not until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon which were televised nationwide, that Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure.

That's pretty clunky though.

Hopefully we were able to answer your question somewhere in all this!

EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1239
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:25 am
Thanked: 233 times
Followed by:26 members
GMAT Score:680

by sam2304 » Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:52 pm
it is necessary for the first clause to be followed by Barbara jordan. The usage of Barbara Jordan after the comma rightly refers to the she in the previous clause.

The contrast is clear only in B with both the clauses maintaining the structure - who and what made them popular. The usage of which and 'were' in B rightly refer to the hearings.

A - not until Barbara Jordan's participation is wrong.
C - it was not until 1974 - period is used here - wrong
D - same as above - period is used - wrong
E - usage of then also affects the parallelism in E - first in texas senate and later in US House of rep

Hope i am right and it helps. I got way too confused trying to put this in words :(
IMO B
Getting defeated is just a temporary notion, giving it up is what makes it permanent.
https://gmatandbeyond.blogspot.in/

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:37 am
Thanked: 3 times

by studentps2011 » Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:17 am
abcgmat wrote:Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was televised nationwide.
A. later in the United States House of Representatives, not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was
B. later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which were
C. later in the United States House of Representatives, it was not until 1974 that Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure, with her participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was
D. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, not until 1974 did Barbara Jordan become a nationally recognized figure, as she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, being
E. then also later in the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was

Can someone explain is it necessary for 'Although she had been known as an effective legislator first in the Texas Senate and later in the United States
House of Representatives,' to be followed by 'Barbara jordan'. Can this be a reason to eliminate
A,C, and D
can we have any other subject like in C.


In D & E, 'then'...'later' :redundant, so left with A, B & C

A & C : Singular/Plural issue: 'Hearings'....'was'

Hence correct ans should be B

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:55 pm
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

by bpdulog » Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:24 am
B for same reasons listed above.
NO EXCUSES

"Winston tastes good like a cigarette should."

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:55 pm
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

by bpdulog » Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:24 am
B for same reasons listed above.
NO EXCUSES

"Winston tastes good like a cigarette should."

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:19 am
OA: B

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:09 pm
Essatsnark and others

Thanks a lot for the reply, Yes thats pretty much what I wanted to to clarify.
Should Barbara Jordan be required immediately after 'Although....,BJ)
If C had 'were' for hearings would it be correct answer or would it still be wrong as it is followed by 'It was not until..' and not 'Barbara Jordan' after comma.

From the posts, I am still confused as few have opinion that
it is required for Barbara Jordan to be followed after first comma(like sam2304 ) and few say its not required( like Essatsnark)

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:34 pm
Hi abcgmat--

First, your easy question:

In our opinion, if C had "were" then yes, it would be grammatically correct, but it wouldn't be ideal. The comma after "figure" seems off to us.

The construction of C with "it was not until" is actually fine. You do not need to include "Barbara Jordan" in that position in the sentence. It sounds like maybe you're looking for a rule here about whether the proper noun must go in a certainly place in the clause, but in this case there is no such rule that you can apply.

Let's look at it another way:

This problem is really testing your understanding of the "Although" structure.

Here's how that works - this sentence is basically in this format:

"Although this fact is true, this other fact is true, too."

The "although" phrase is a dependent clause; the "this other fact" phrase is an INDEPENDENT clause.

And, as you surely know, the independent clause must be a complete sentence unto itself.

So you can look at each of the choices and test whether their INDEPENDENT CLAUSE portions are a) complete sentences, and b) grammatically correct. Then you can see what to do. Let's check them out:

A: Not until Barbara Jordan's participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974 was she made a nationally recognized figure, as it was televised nationwide. -- not a complete sentence
B: Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which were televised nationwide. -- yes, it's a complete sentence, and there are no grammar errors
C: It was not until 1974 that Barbara Jordan became a nationally recognized figure, with her participation in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was televised nationwide. -- yes, it's a complete sentence -- but it has a grammar error with the "hearings" and "which was"
D: Not until 1974 did Barbara Jordan become a nationally recognized figure, as she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, being televised nationwide. -- not a complete sentence
E: Barbara Jordan did not become a nationally recognized figure until 1974, when she participated in the hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon, which was televised nationwide. -- just like C -- yes, it's a complete sentence but it has the same grammar error with the "hearings" and "which was"


Does this help?
EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:50 pm
abcgmat, check out this post too for more on pronouns/antecedents (we just learned that that's what they're called!) - this seems to be what you're trying to figure out.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/11/ ... uitability

EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:03 pm
Hi,

Thanks a lot for great explanation, was very helpful...

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 795
Joined: Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:41 am
Thanked: 177 times
Followed by:85 members

by essaysnark » Fri Nov 04, 2011 1:12 pm
English is tricky; a sentence can be grammatically correct yet still, its meaning might not be clear. All we meant by that "it seems off to us" comment is that the sentence could work without the comma EssaySnark would not have put the comma after "figure" -- but that it's correct either way.

To explain why: the phrase "with her participation" is explaining why she became nationally recognized, so we do not think it should have a comma there. We do not think this is an actual grammar rule though, it's more stylistic.

Again, English is tricky!
EssaySnark
EssaySnark has MBA application guides for HBS, Stanford, Booth, Wharton, NYU and pretty much any other school you can name - including a fully revised and expanded 2015 Columbia essay guide!
https://essaysnark.com/bookstore/
* * * * * * *
The Indians' Guide to Getting In maps out everything you need to evaluate your own profile and select your schools. https://essaysnark.com/ssguide/quicksnar ... ans-guide/
* * * * * * *
MILITARY CANDIDATES! We've got some pro bono offers just for you: https://essaysnark.com/military-mba/
* * * * * * *
Follow EssaySnark on Twitter!

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 » Sat Nov 05, 2011 3:49 am
abcgmat wrote:Essatsnark and others

Thanks a lot for the reply, Yes thats pretty much what I wanted to to clarify.
Should Barbara Jordan be required immediately after 'Although....,BJ)
If C had 'were' for hearings would it be correct answer or would it still be wrong as it is followed by 'It was not until..' and not 'Barbara Jordan' after comma.

From the posts, I am still confused as few have opinion that
it is required for Barbara Jordan to be followed after first comma(like sam2304 ) and few say its not required( like Essatsnark)
Check the following examples from the OG12:

Q7: As ITS sales of computer products have surpassed those of measuring instruments, THE COMPANY...
Q28: Building on civilizations that preceded THEM in coastal Peru, THE MOHICA...
Q31: Even though many of HER colleagues were convinced that genes were relatively simple and static, BARBARA MCCLINTOCK...

In each case, the introductory modifier includes a pronoun without an antecedent. In each case, the referent BEGINS the clause that immediately follows.

Thus, in the SC posted above, I would be skeptical of A, C, and D. B and E are better, since in each the referent of she (Barbara Jordan) BEGINS the clause that follows the introductory modifier.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:22 am, edited 2 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

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:14 am
As you said ,
'In each case, the introductory modifier includes a pronoun without an antecedent. In each case, the antecedent BEGINS the clause that immediately follows. '
`
But why in the below sentence, In her later poems is not followed by Phyllis Wheatley(non underlined section). How is this sentence different from the the sentence posted(Altough..she....,Barbar jordan). what is wrong with my understanding??

In her later poems, Phyllis Wheatley's blending of solar imagery, Judeo-Christian thought and figures, and the images she borrowed from ancient classicism suggestingher range and depth of influences, not the least of which is her African heritage.
(A) the images she borrowed from ancient classicism suggesting
(B) borrowing images from ancient classicism, suggests
(C) she borrowed images from ancient classicism, which suggests
(D) images borrowed from ancient classicism suggests
(E) images that she borrowed from ancient classicism, suggesting

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 » Sat Nov 05, 2011 4:35 am
abcgmat wrote:As you said ,
'In each case, the introductory modifier includes a pronoun without an antecedent. In each case, the antecedent BEGINS the clause that immediately follows. '
`
But why in the below sentence, In her later poems is not followed by Phyllis Wheatley(non underlined section). How is this sentence different from the the sentence posted(Altough..she....,Barbar jordan). what is wrong with my understanding??

In her later poems, Phyllis Wheatley's blending of solar imagery, Judeo-Christian thought and figures, and the images she borrowed from ancient classicism suggestingher range and depth of influences, not the least of which is her African heritage.
(A) the images she borrowed from ancient classicism suggesting
(B) borrowing images from ancient classicism, suggests
(C) she borrowed images from ancient classicism, which suggests
(D) images borrowed from ancient classicism suggests
(E) images that she borrowed from ancient classicism, suggesting
The referent of her (possessive pronoun) is another possessive construction (Phyllis Wheatley's). The referent of her begins the clause that follows the introductory modifying phrase, mirroring the examples that I posted above.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sat Nov 05, 2011 5:49 am, edited 1 time 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