Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an achievement, the army of terra-cotta warriors created to protect Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, in his afterlife is more than 2,000 years old and took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete them. `
A. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete them
B. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete it
C. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete
D. 700,000 artisans took more than 36 years to complete
E. to complete them took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years
In A and E,
them (plural) does not agree with
army (singular). Eliminate A and E.
In D,
and 700,000 artisans took more than 36 years to complete has its own subject (
artisans) and verb (
took) and thus is an independent clause, which must be preceded by a comma.
More importantly, D does not convey the intended meaning.
The bridge took 5 years to build means that the BRIDGE was built.
Similarly:
The artisans took more than 36 years to complete implies the ARTISANS were completed.
Not the intended meaning. Eliminate D.
In B,
it is not necessary.
The army of terra-cotta warriors took more than 36 years to complete is sufficient. (Just as it is sufficient to say that
the bridge took 5 years to build). Eliminate B.
The correct answer is
C.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sat May 12, 2012 5:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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