BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Question Pack question

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 132
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2016 2:52 pm
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

Question Pack question

by aflaam » Thu Aug 11, 2016 11:57 am
Warning: QP question
Architects and stonemasons, huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya without benefit of the wheel or animal transport.


(A) huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya without benefit of the wheel or animal transport
(B) without the benefits of animal transport or the wheel, huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Maya
(C) the Maya built huge palace and temple clusters without the benefit of animal transport or the wheel
(D) there were built, without the benefit of the wheel or animal transport, huge palace and temple clusters by the Maya
(E) were the Maya who, without the benefit of the wheel or animal transport, built huge palace and temple clusters
OA A

why is E incorrect?
It is inverted subject sentence; i have noticed in most of such sentences that Sub Verb Agreement is tested.
No such issue here.
How to eliminate E ? stumped
Have a cheerful day everyone out there.
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
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 » Fri Aug 12, 2016 3:59 am
aflaam wrote:why is E incorrect?
E: the Maya who...built huge palace and temple clusters
Here, no comma precedes who, implying that the portion in red is a RESTRICTIVE MODIFIER serving to distinguish the Maya in the sentence from OTHER TYPES of Maya.
Conveyed meaning:
The Maya in the sentence built huge palace and temple clusters.
Other types of Maya did NOT build huge palace and temple clusters.
Not the intended meaning.
The Maya were a unique people.
There were not different types of Maya.
Eliminate E.
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
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 6:30 am

by noiceman » Fri Jun 02, 2017 1:58 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
aflaam wrote:why is E incorrect?
E: the Maya who...built huge palace and temple clusters
Here, no comma precedes who, implying that the portion in red is a RESTRICTIVE MODIFIER serving to distinguish the Maya in the sentence from OTHER TYPES of Maya.
Conveyed meaning:
The Maya in the sentence built huge palace and temple clusters.
Other types of Maya did NOT build huge palace and temple clusters.
Not the intended meaning.
The Maya were a unique people.
There were not different types of Maya.
Eliminate E.
Hi expert:
Thank you for the explanation of choice E.
I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 272
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2016 11:11 am
Location: Lahore, Pakistan
Thanked: 87 times
Followed by:204 members

by Ali Tariq » Fri Jun 02, 2017 2:12 am
noiceman wrote: Hi expert:
Thank you for the explanation of choice E.
I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
These noun modifiers are known as appositive modifiers.
In C (OA), "architects and stonemasons" modifies "the Maya", the noun with which this modifier is placed in apposition.
_________________
www.GMAT.pk

Contact for drastic improvement in just a few days.
Top
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 » Fri Jun 02, 2017 7:17 am
noiceman wrote: I have another question need your help:
In the official auswer explanation, "architects and stonemasons" are decribed as modifiers. I am confused, because architects and stonemasons are people and nouns. How can they describe the Maya?
Can you explain why C is correct?
Thank you in advance.
As Ali mentions above, the OA employs an APPOSITIVE.
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that serves to explain or define another noun or noun phrase.
OA: Architects and stonemasons, the Maya built huge palace and temple clusters without the benefit of animal transport or the wheel..
Here, the portion in blue is an appositive serving to explain the following noun (the Maya).
The conveyed meaning is that the Maya were ARCHITECTS AND STONEMASONS.
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
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1