The first Trenches

rockeyb wrote:The first trenches that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but independently of the more celebrated city - states of southern Mesopotamia , in what is now southern Iraq.

A. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but

B. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , yields strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but also

C. having been cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously but

D. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , yields strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arising simultaneously but also

E. cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but


I can arrive at the 3-2 split that is A and E . But I can not understand why option A is wrong . Can any one please help me ?

mmslf75 wrote:

rockeyb wrote:The first trenches that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but independently of the more celebrated city - states of southern Mesopotamia , in what is now southern Iraq.

A. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but

B. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , yields strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but also

C. having been cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence that centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously but

D. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , yields strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arising simultaneously but also

E. cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but


I can arrive at the 3-2 split that is A and E . But I can not understand why option A is wrong . Can any one please help me ?

Rock!

A is wrong as it hinges on "that were cut" E is " cut" -- brevity !!

AIM_IIM wrote:Hi Rockeyb,

The usage of "that" is not wrong in (A). However, (E) scores over (A) due to its brevity. If you remember, GMAT favors grammatically correct, concise sentences.

E. cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but

harshavardhanc wrote:conciseness and brevity are fine, but I still can't digest this :

E. cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but

I have emboldened the parts which I feel are awkward and I think, they don't go well together.

I'm no master of grammar, but something here doesn't feel right.

Is OA : E?

E cannot not be right. It is awkword for the reason mentioned above. harshavardhanc, You are right. The right answer must be A.

A. that were cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East that were arising simultaneously with but

E. cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but

A.Kiran wrote:I have 2 qns:


The first trenches cut into a 500-acre site at Tell Hamoukar , Syria , have yielded strong evidence for centrally administered complex societies in northern regions of the Middle East arose simultaneously with but independently of the more celebrated city - states of southern Mesopotamia , in what is now southern Iraq.



There are 2 main verbs here.

1. Cut
2. have yielded


1. What is the main verb here ?

I think have yielded is the main verb.

2. Then what is cut ?? is not a verb ?? is it a modifier ??