Sentence Correction

GMATGuruNY wrote:

iMyself wrote:It seems from the non-underlined part that Europe, China and X (unknown) is not the list of 3 things because there is no COMMA before the final AND.

This is SC79 in the OG13.
In my edition of the OG13, a comma appears after China, as follows:

Ryonosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China, and that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as the content of his fiction.

A) that of Japan were instrumental in his
development as a writer, informing his literary
style as much as
(B) that of Japan was instrumental in his
development as a writer, and it informed both
his literary style as well as
(C) Japan was instrumental in his development as a
writer, informing both his literary style and
(D) Japan was instrumental in his development as a
writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
(E) Japan were instrumental in his development as
a writer, informing both his literary style in
addition to

In A and E, were (plural) does not agree with knowledge (singular).

as well as is a PREPOSITION.
It cannot serve as a substitute for and, which is a CONJUNCTION.
B: both his literary style as well as the content
Here, as well as incorrectly serves as a substitute for and.
Incorrect: both X as well as Y
Correct: both X and Y
Eliminate B.

D: Ryonosuke Akutagawa's knowledge...was instrumental in his development, as it informed his literary style
Here, it is not crystal clear whether it serves to refer to knowledge or to development.
Since C avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate D and choose C.

The correct answer is C.

Ali Tariq wrote:

iMyself wrote:Ryunosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China and that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as the content of his fiction.

a)that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
b)that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed his literary style as well as
c)Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
d)Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
e)Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to

Hi Expert,
Here is the correct sentence:
Ryunosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China and Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and the content of his fiction.

It seems from the non-underlined part that Europe, China and X (unknown) is not the list of 3 things because there is no COMMA before the final AND. As the correct answer is C, China and Japan simultaneously modify 'knowledge of the literatures of Europe'. If "China and Japan" simultaneously modify "knowledge of blah blah blah", I can surely say that "China and Japan" is a modifier. So, there should have a COMMA after the word "Japan", right? If there is NO COMMA after "Japan", then "was instrumental in his development as a writer" will be the modifier along with "China and Japan". If "China and Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer" is a modifier, then the "adverbial modifier (informing)" will not make the Cause and effect situation. So, how can we legitimate answer option C as correct?

An Insight from Ron:
x, y, and z are the list of 3 things.
But, (x, y and z) are not the list of 3 things. Alternately, "y and z" simultaneously modify 'X'

Thank you.

There should have been comma before and as it is list of three regions.
Editing error on part of GMAC.
So don't pick any insight from this SC regarding comma thing.

It is not the first instance of poor editing in non underlined portion.

The second interpretation of China and Japan being in apposition with Europe is straightaway incorrect.

Ali Tariq wrote:

Are you sure that it is the mistake of GMAC?

If copied ad verbatim, then it surely is an editing error.


I am GMAT SC tutor.
All my replies here in BTG are in Sentence Correction section.
On a relative note, I am also a founder of a just launched small gmat prep startup out of Lahore called prepvista, which offers GMAT SC course in Hindi/urdu and in English in parallel.

The SC course our startup offers contains 55+ hours of on deman video content, in which each and every aspect of GMAT SC has been meticulously taken care of. To the best of my knowledge, the quantitative and qualitative aspect of this course is unprecedented in world.

However, claims alone cannot help us built credibility on the top of which any business can be built.
Hollow claims not backed by credibility are short lived; infact this kind of strategy is tentamount to termination.
Credibility about the fact that we actually do know the SC game can only be built by answering querries on the forum such as this one.
If replies of any tutor do not hold substance, they will instantly be challanged by other tutors/prep company representatives. Make sense?

check out our website www.prepvista.com ,which surely addresses the SC pain like a pro for test takers in our region of the world.

Do let me know if i can be of any help.

imskpwr wrote: Ryunosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China and that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as the content of his fiction.

c Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
d Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as

GMATGuruNY wrote: Ryonosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China, and that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as the content of his fiction.

(C) Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
(D) Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as

D: Ryonosuke Akutagawa's knowledge...was instrumental in his development, as it informed his literary style
Here, it is not crystal clear whether it serves to refer to knowledge or to development.
Since C avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate D and choose C.

The correct answer is C.

GMATGuruNY wrote:Generally, COMMA + as-clause implies that the clause after as LEADS to the preceding clause, with the result that the two clauses happen concurrently.
An OA in GMATPrep:
The steel industry has changed radically over the last two decades, as large, integrated companies such as Bethlehem Steel have greatly downsized.
Here, the as-clause in red (companies have downsized) LEADS to the preceding clause in blue (the steel industry has changed), with the result that the two clauses happen concurrently.

Mo2men wrote:Thanks a lot Mitch,

Another question question based on above explanation.

When do use work "LEADS" above, do you suggest that 'as' any cause-effect relationship but concurrently? If it is cause-effect relationship, does it play the role of 'because'? I think 'because' does not provide CONCURRENT relationship with preceding clause, right?

Thanks in advance

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Mo2men wrote:Thanks a lot Mitch,

Another question question based on above explanation.

When do use work "LEADS" above, do you suggest that 'as' any cause-effect relationship but concurrently? If it is cause-effect relationship, does it play the role of 'because'? I think 'because' does not provide CONCURRENT relationship with preceding clause, right?

Thanks in advance

X led to Y implies that X did not directly cause Y but that X was a factor that helped to yield Y.
SC755 in the OG17:
An inability to adapt led to their extinction.
Here, an inability to adapt did not directly cause the extinction but was a factor that helped to yield the extinction.

A cause and effect can be concurrent events.
John wins every match because he is fast.
Here, John is fast when he wins every match, so the two events are concurrent.

Mo2men wrote: Is valid to reject choice D based on the following analysis:
Ryunosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China and Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as the content of his fiction (informed his literary style)
or
Ryunosuke Akutagawa's knowledge of the literatures of Europe, China and Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as (it informed ) the content of his fiction .

So we have 2 interpretations which leads to reject D.

Is the reasoning above correct?