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

Redeem

Agatha Christie's travels

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 am
Thanked: 77 times
Followed by:49 members

Agatha Christie's travels

by atulmangal » Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:33 am
Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband inspired her to write several mystery novels; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books.
A) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband inspired her to write several mystery novels
B) Agatha Christie used her travels with her archaeologist husband to inspire several mystery novels
C) Because her husband was an archaeologist, Agatha Christie was able to use their travels as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
D) Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels
E) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:01 pm
By first reading this sentence, we encounter pronoun two 'her's which do not have any clear reference in the preceding part of the sentence, whereas two 'her's must have clear referent(s) - so A is out.
C) 'their travels' does not have clear precedent for "their" and "travel" - there can be many implied meaning here, so C is out
D) 'their travel' has the same issue as in C but in different variation, so D is out.
B) and E) are contenders --> finally E is out, as 'her' does not have clear referent again here - possessive Christie's cannot serve for 'her' as referent.

IOM B

I know OA is not B, but I don't change my answer - please correct me in explanation above. The possessive form of subject can serve only as the possessive form of subject. Unless I know that 'her' here is implied as 'Agata Christie' herself I may not answer this question within its OA - 'her' can be Jane, Anna etc. :( I found this SC in MGMAT CAT before my actual exam - and felt really sorry for all my time which I spent practicing MGMAT SC entries... such as this one
atulmangal wrote:Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband inspired her to write several mystery novels; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books.
A) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband inspired her to write several mystery novels
B) Agatha Christie used her travels with her archaeologist husband to inspire several mystery novels
C) Because her husband was an archaeologist, Agatha Christie was able to use their travels as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
D) Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels
E) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
example E) Agatha Christie's travels with Ann's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Jane's mystery novels; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books.

Am I supposed to know who is Agatha Christie on GMAT? Am I supposed to know Agatha Christie was novel writer for GMAT purposes? Such kind of questions make me to doubt the learning points presented by this SC entry
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 am
Thanked: 77 times
Followed by:49 members

by atulmangal » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:56 pm
Hi Nightreader,

OA is E

This sentence has a pronoun agreement error. Subject and object pronouns cannot refer back to possessive nouns; they must refer only to subject and object nouns. The subject in this sentence is "Agatha Christie's travels," not Agatha Christie herself. The
first instance of "her" is correct because this pronoun is used as a possessive: "her[Agatha Christie's] archaeologist husband." However, the second instance of "her," an object pronoun, is incorrect: "inspired her [Agatha Christie, who is not an object in
this sentence] to write..."
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice illogically states that the travels inspired the novels themselves, rather
than inspiring Christie to write the novels.
(C) This choice introduces a false cause-effect statement. The original meaning
indicates that Christie traveled because her husband was an archaeologist.
According to this choice, however, Christie used their travels as inspiration because
her husband was an archaeologist, which is clearly illogical.
(D) This choice seems to indicate that Christie and her husband were inspired to write
the novels together. This cannot be the case because this choice also clearly states
that they are "her mystery novels," not both of theirs.
(E) CORRECT. This choice corrects the original pronoun agreement error by moving
the second instance of "her" in front of "mystery novels," which changes it from an
object pronoun to a possessive pronoun: "Agatha Christie's travels...her [Agatha
Christie's] mystery novels..."

Hope this help
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:13 pm
can you read and understand English?
* possessive form of subject and NOT subject itself
* her refers NOT to novels to person

we are supposed to know only English grammar rules and have to choose sentence without grammatically unclear referents like her'-'Agatha Chirstie' if you scroll up and read entire post not just fragment you should bear in mind what I am implying

some Arab language test would not seek test-taker's knowledge of Ibn-sheykhs or Abd-sulfi's (sorry) - this is the point 'her' refers back to 'Agath Christie' only if you know who is Agatha Christie ...

please walk around OA if that enjoys you :(
atulmangal wrote:Hi Nightreader,

OA is E

This sentence has a pronoun agreement error. Subject and object pronouns cannot refer back to possessive nouns; they must refer only to subject and object nouns. The subject in this sentence is "Agatha Christie's travels," not Agatha Christie herself. The
first instance of "her" is correct because this pronoun is used as a possessive: "her[Agatha Christie's] archaeologist husband." However, the second instance of "her," an object pronoun, is incorrect: "inspired her [Agatha Christie, who is not an object in
this sentence] to write..."
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice illogically states that the travels inspired the novels themselves, rather
than inspiring Christie to write the novels.
(C) This choice introduces a false cause-effect statement. The original meaning
indicates that Christie traveled because her husband was an archaeologist.
According to this choice, however, Christie used their travels as inspiration because
her husband was an archaeologist, which is clearly illogical.
(D) This choice seems to indicate that Christie and her husband were inspired to write
the novels together. This cannot be the case because this choice also clearly states
that they are "her mystery novels," not both of theirs.
(E) CORRECT. This choice corrects the original pronoun agreement error by moving
the second instance of "her" in front of "mystery novels," which changes it from an
object pronoun to a possessive pronoun: "Agatha Christie's travels...her [Agatha
Christie's] mystery novels..."

Hope this help
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 am
Thanked: 77 times
Followed by:49 members

by atulmangal » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:35 pm
Night reader wrote:can you read and understand English?
* possessive form of subject and NOT subject itself
* her refers NOT to novels to person

please walk around OA if that enjoys you :(
atulmangal wrote:Hi Nightreader,

OA is E

This sentence has a pronoun agreement error. Subject and object pronouns cannot refer back to possessive nouns; they must refer only to subject and object nouns. The subject in this sentence is "Agatha Christie's travels," not Agatha Christie herself. The
first instance of "her" is correct because this pronoun is used as a possessive: "her[Agatha Christie's] archaeologist husband." However, the second instance of "her," an object pronoun, is incorrect: "inspired her [Agatha Christie, who is not an object in
this sentence] to write..."
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice illogically states that the travels inspired the novels themselves, rather
than inspiring Christie to write the novels.
(C) This choice introduces a false cause-effect statement. The original meaning
indicates that Christie traveled because her husband was an archaeologist.
According to this choice, however, Christie used their travels as inspiration because
her husband was an archaeologist, which is clearly illogical.
(D) This choice seems to indicate that Christie and her husband were inspired to write
the novels together. This cannot be the case because this choice also clearly states
that they are "her mystery novels," not both of theirs.
(E) CORRECT. This choice corrects the original pronoun agreement error by moving
the second instance of "her" in front of "mystery novels," which changes it from an
object pronoun to a possessive pronoun: "Agatha Christie's travels...her [Agatha
Christie's] mystery novels..."

Hope this help
Yes, i can read and understand english okay...
and one more thing i know that "Possessive" is a form or a case

This bicycle belongs to her------"Her in objective case"
This is her bicycle-----------"Her in possessive case"

Option E
Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels[her is in possessive case]

you can also rewrite it if confused by replacing her to Agatha Christie's, and the sentence still make sense, see below

Agatha Christie's travels with Agatha Christie's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Agatha Christie's mystery novels..

"Travels" is the subject which served as an inspiration for several of her mystery novels

I believe that the OA is correct, not just walking around.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:48 pm
the question for you: "Can I imply and write, if I don't know who'c Agatha Christie, the following - Agatha Christie's travels with Anna's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Jane's mystery novels..." Suppose I know only one novelist who has name Jane (don't know her last name ...) - and I don't know who's Agatha Christie...

can I write this ?

Plus, in the second part, after comma-dot we have: "travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books." Here the most famous book by Christie doesn't imply that she's novelist - the book can be edition/publication of many articles, tales, and novels too - very vague completion for arriving to the the point that Christie's book is novel book only and Christie is supposed to be novelist and describe travels with her husband (not Anna's husband) ...
atulmangal wrote:Agatha Christie's travels with Agatha Christie's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Agatha Christie's mystery novels..

"Travels" is the subject which served as an inspiration for several of her mystery novels

I believe that the OA is correct, not just walking around.
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 582
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:48 am
Thanked: 61 times
Followed by:6 members
GMAT Score:740

by force5 » Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:04 pm
my answer- E

(in B - she is inspiring "several mystery novels"...... :lol:
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Sun Mar 13, 2011 3:13 pm
now let's turn this MGMAT query into fun?
E) Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
besides, context-wise it's not clear who is Agatha Christie, so she can inspire well and be inspired, - she could be in any sort of performance
force5 wrote:my answer- E

(in B - she is inspiring "several mystery novels"...... :lol:
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 574
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:47 pm
Location: USA
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:5 members

by Target2009 » Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:36 pm
Grt discussion.
But B is completely out of scope... :)
Regards
Abhishek
------------------------------
MasterGmat Student
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:44 pm
We are concentrating on E now and how it's correct or incorrect answer grammatically - please contribute. Also look after the name of forum - Sentence Correction, not Critical Reasoning, asking "What's out of scope" should mean for the sentence correction - grammatically and/or stylistically?
Target2009 wrote:Grt discussion.
But B is completely out of scope... :)
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 574
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:47 pm
Location: USA
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:5 members

by Target2009 » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:54 pm
Night reader wrote: Also look after the name of forum - Sentence Correction, not Critical Reasoning, asking "What's out of scope" should mean for the sentence correction - grammatically and/or stylistically?
@Night Reader : Every one has right to use his/ her own way of writing. So you should respect it and in this post you are obviously not doing it. You may be good in your own area but at least don't think every one else is worthless.

Also who told you the "OUT of scope" phrase can be used only in CR.

Regarding E, @Atul explained it well and I don't think any further information require. You unnecessary arguing that "how will you know she is write or not.. n all other blah blah.." There is something call logical interpertation.

And lastly learn to respect others view, though you have every right to agree/ disagree with that.
Regards
Abhishek
------------------------------
MasterGmat Student
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 am
Thanked: 77 times
Followed by:49 members

by atulmangal » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:34 am
Night reader wrote:the question for you: "Can I imply and write, if I don't know who'c Agatha Christie, the following - Agatha Christie's travels with Anna's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Jane's mystery novels..." Suppose I know only one novelist who has name Jane (don't know her last name ...) - and I don't know who's Agatha Christie...

can I write this ?

Plus, in the second part, after comma-dot we have: "travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books." Here the most famous book by Christie doesn't imply that she's novelist - the book can be edition/publication of many articles, tales, and novels too - very vague completion for arriving to the the point that Christie's book is novel book only and Christie is supposed to be novelist and describe travels with her husband (not Anna's husband) ...
atulmangal wrote:Agatha Christie's travels with Agatha Christie's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Agatha Christie's mystery novels..

"Travels" is the subject which served as an inspiration for several of her mystery novels

I believe that the OA is correct, not just walking around.
@Night Reader...these are the answers of your questions you asked me....
Question1:-- "Can I imply and write, if I don't know who'c Agatha Christie,.....

well i believe yes, just try to think in this way...suppose i'm a writer "Jane" who writes novels...now consider Agatha Christie, a queen of France...and Anna a queen of England whose husband is a archaeologist....now lets look at your sentence
"Agatha Christie's travels with Anna's archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of Jane's mystery novels"
Don't u think now it make sense...Jane wrote a novel on the suspicious travels of queen of France with the husband of queen of England....
I know you are not going to agree with this idea...because your query is..the pronoun "her" used in the sentence can be anything....there can be "n" no of possibilities and "n" no of meanings possible and thats why you suggested that this question is crap...but there is something called logical interpretation...and on that basis i firmly believe that Op E is correct..

Question 2:-- I guess your doubt is the first and the second sentence are not logically attached to each other..well you know that NOVEL is a sub set of BOOK....or its a type of BOOK only...and the only type of book referred in the first part of the sentence is NOVEL....so thinking other wise that the second part should be
"travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous NOVELS (instead of books). "
is unnecessary...again a logical interpretation...and i think according to GMAT until unless the meaning of the sentence is clear and NOT confusing and the sentence is grammatically correct...the sentence is VALID...
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2326
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 am
Thanked: 173 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:46 am
Target2009 wrote:
Night reader wrote: Also look after the name of forum - Sentence Correction, not Critical Reasoning, asking "What's out of scope" should mean for the sentence correction - grammatically and/or stylistically?
@Night Reader : Every one has right to use his/ her own way of writing. So you should respect it and in this post you are obviously not doing it. You may be good in your own area but at least don't think every one else is worthless.

Also who told you the "OUT of scope" phrase can be used only in CR.

Regarding E, @Atul explained it well and I don't think any further information require. You unnecessary arguing that "how will you know she is write or not.. n all other blah blah.." There is something call logical interpertation.

And lastly learn to respect others view, though you have every right to agree/ disagree with that.
@NR,

I am sorry for insisting u this that ur posts( after ur debacle in ur GMAT) just creates loads of annoyance!!

Please show some courtesy to your fellow participants. After all we are here to "learn". Debating is constructive but that should not "harm" somebody's feelings right??

May be you should reread once before u r posting !

Moreover, while debating/discussing plz do acknowledge other's comments. Becox I am pretty sure BTG is a highly respectable forum and loads of people are following ur posts! Plz maintain decorum!

Wish u all the best!

On a small note can u plz change ur snap & post something new which is not SCARY!!
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1337
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 6:29 pm
Thanked: 127 times
Followed by:10 members

by Night reader » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:17 am
Before I start judging others I let the others judge me in advance.

@gmatmachoman: why don't you quit your meaningless thinking of GMAT score as some one's intelligence level indicator. There's tempting feeling to think that if one scores 300 or 400 that person is AN IDIOT or one crossing 700-level is A GENIUS. That's just not true. Responding on your naming my GMAT experience "debacle" I have registered for GMAT 28th March retake and should be sending my unofficial PDF report with the score of YOUR DREAM (I promise) to your mail if you like. Also if my pic scares you - that's not too macho! Let's have a deal. If you change your name in this forum - because macho and man are the same sort of things, man+man - I will post new pic. Are you having some problems because of masculinity, your name suggests for having ones - extra desire for man+man.

@Target: do we need to interpret logically what is not supposed to be known by a test-taker - personal names and places? These must be introduced by the examiner and not interpreted by us. Here, Agatha Christie is implied as the writer/novelist by you and MGMAT test writer.

@Atulmangal: you started explaining something then proceeded with that "I won't agree with your points". BUT there was no point made by yourself. You have just followed Target with the logical interpretation hint, which is not required at all.

All the best to you guys! I am out of this forum through March 28, my G Day. As you may observe I am leading our community WELL ENOUGH and should be doing so without EVEN participating here for the next two weeks.

Cheers
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2326
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 am
Thanked: 173 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:22 am
@NR,

bro, y r u so hasty in spilling out?? It was just a piece of suggestion.

No offense intended!!

All the best for your 3/28/11 attempt
Top
Post new topic Locked