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

effective legislator

by abcgmat » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:48 am
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

[spoiler]OA:B[/spoiler]
I have a confusion between B and E
In ' hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon'
X on the Y of Z.
I think 'Which' normally refers to main noun in preposition phrase
But here we have two preposition phrase (on the , of)

Is the main noun here X or Y?
as it also looks sensible for the 'impeachment of Nixon' or the 'hearings' to be televised
Source: — Sentence Correction |

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:57 pm
Location: India
Thanked: 16 times
Followed by:1 members

by shantanu86 » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:44 am
Hi abcgmat,

IMO it answer should be B.

In "hearings on the impeachment of President Richard Nixon" hearings are being televised and hence is the main verb.
Therefore options with 'was' ([A], [C] & [E]) are ruled out.

Also, since the sentence opens with past-perfect (had been known), it should be followed by simple past. Thus 'being' option [D] is ruled out.

Therefore, [spoiler][/spoiler] is the correct choice.

Regards,
Shantanu
If you feel like it, hit thanks :)

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

by abcgmat » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:52 am
But can which not refer to 'impeachment of President Richard Nixon '
It also makes sense when we say the impeachment of President Richard Nixon was televised

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 88
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:01 pm
Thanked: 54 times
Followed by:37 members

by chris@magoosh » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:52 pm
The key difference between (B) and (E) is the 'which were' and 'which was.'

On the GMAT, at least from the research I've done and from what other experts have been able to glean, the word that comes directly before 'which' (right before the comma), does is not necessarily being modified by 'which.' In this case, we have a noun phrase that consists of a prepositional phrase, 'hearings on the impeachment...". We have to ask ourselves, what in the noun phrase was/were being televised? Aha, it was the hearings. Therefore, the plural noun must take 'were.'

Hope that helps!

Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:46 am
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

IMO: B

• Page 1 of 1