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
OG 13 Q79
C is correct, but Why is "d" incorrect.
Ryunosuke Akutagawa
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Could you share the complete question pls.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
OG 13 Q79
C is correct, but Why is "d" incorrect.
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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.
that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed his literary style as well as
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to
that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed his literary style as well as
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to
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jimmyjimmy 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.
that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed his literary style as well as
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to
From parallelism, we have already eliminated (A) & (B), as discussed above. The subject of the sentence, "knowledge", is singular, so the verb must be singular: "was", not "were." That eliminates (E). This leaves (C) and (D), which have many similarities. One difference is the ending. (C) ends simply with "and", correctly completing the "both ... and" structure. (D) avoids the word "both", and instead ends with "as much as." The phrase "as much as" is a comparative phrase -- "the teacher like me as much as she like you!" - but in this context, we are not performing a comparison. The two items in question are Akutagawa's literary style and the content of his fiction. These both were informed by his vast knowledge of literature, but there's nothing in the sentence that suggests a comparison is in order. (D) also has that awkward phrase "as it informed", instead of the shorter and more direct "informing" in (C). For these reasons, (D) is incorrect, and (C) is by far the best answer choice.-mike (courtesy)
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after a while, I found the real problem with D is that it unnecessarily causes Causation.
Result(Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer), Cause(as it informed his literary style as much as )........INCORRECT MEANING.
CAUSE(Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer), RESULT(informing both his literary style and )...............CORRECT MEANING.
Result(Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer), Cause(as it informed his literary style as much as )........INCORRECT MEANING.
CAUSE(Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer), RESULT(informing both his literary style and )...............CORRECT MEANING.
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D is changing meaning of the sentence. Yes causal relationship as imkspwr said.
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U can narrow it down to C and D.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.
that of Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing his literary style as much as
that of Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, and it informed his literary style as well as
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style and
Japan was instrumental in his development as a writer, as it informed his literary style as much as
Japan were instrumental in his development as a writer, informing both his literary style in addition to
Why C is correct?
This is one of the most known format on the GMAT [ Clause , +ing form]
In this form the ing form always modifies the clause preceding it. And this could be in any one of the below two formats
The ing form of the verb either describes or presents the results of the clause preceding it.
The company won the $$$ contract, making the company the largest software exporter. [result]
The company won the $$$ contract, using the CEO's contacts.[describes]
Why is D wrong?
This has pronoun error as well as comparison error. I have highlighted this in the option.
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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.
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.
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Hi @Marty Murray,
Do you think that THIS sentence is correct? I think THIS sentence doesn't make any sense! Can I've your attention here? Thank you so much for your kind and nice response in another threads.
Do you think that THIS sentence is correct? I think THIS sentence doesn't make any sense! Can I've your attention here? Thank you so much for your kind and nice response in another threads.
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.
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A
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Hi Expert,iMyself wrote:Hi @Marty Murray,
Do you think that THIS sentence is correct? I think THIS sentence doesn't make any sense! Can I've your attention here? Thank you so much for your kind and nice response in another threads.
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.
can i have a response in this question?
Thank you all...
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This is SC79 in the OG13.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.
In my edition of the OG13, a comma appears after China, as follows:
In A and E, were (plural) does not agree with knowledge (singular).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
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.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Wed Jan 25, 2017 8:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
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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
Major issue with D is not the pronoun ambiguity but the ambiguity in comparison.
in GMAT SC pronoun ambiguity is not an issue, If you can tell the referent of a pronoun from context.
Ambiguity in comparison is.
Because of ambiguity in comparison, two interpretations are possible.
As the comparison is not crystal clear in D, cross it out.