The Scandinavian assault on Western Europe

[ilovemyself]

The Scandinavian assault on western Europe culminated in the early eleventh century with the Danish conquest of the English Kingdom,which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat,unsuccessfully,later in the same century.

(A)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat,unsuccessfully,later in the same century.
(B)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later that same century,but not successfully
(C)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted later in the century to repeat,but were not successful at it
(D)an achievement attempted later in the century by other Scandinavian kings that was not successful
(E)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later in the century,but without success.

In option e, shouldn't we have a independent clause after but? Also, why is d wrong?

[GMATGuruNY]

The Scandinavian assault on western Europe culminated in the early eleventh century with the Danish conquest of the English Kingdom, which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat,unsuccessfully, later in the same century.

(A)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat, unsuccessfully,later in the same century.
(B)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later that same century,but not successfully
(C)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted later in the century to repeat,but were not successful at it
(D)an achievement attempted later in the century by other Scandinavian kings that was not successful
(E)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later in the century,but without success.

A and B: the English Kingdom, which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat
Here, which seems to refer to the English kingdom, implying that other Scandanavian kings attempted to repeat THE ENGLISH KINGDOM -- a nonsensical meaning.
Eliminate A and B.

In C, that and it both refer to an achievement.
Two different pronouns cannot have the same referent.
Eliminate C.

D: an achievement...that was not successful
This meaning is nonsensical: an achievement can be neither successful nor unsuccessful.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

In option e, shouldn't we have a independent clause after but?

COMMA + but does NOT have to be followed by an independent clause.

[aji12]

Hi Mitch,
In C, just wanted to confirm the elimination criteria - can't we use different pronoun for same referent?

The Scandinavian assault on western Europe culminated in the early eleventh century with the Danish conquest of the English Kingdom, which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat,unsuccessfully, later in the same century.

(A)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat, unsuccessfully,later in the same century.
(B)which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later that same century,but not successfully
(C)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted later in the century to repeat,but were not successful at it
(D)an achievement attempted later in the century by other Scandinavian kings that was not successful
(E)an achievement that other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat later in the century,but without success.

A and B: the English Kingdom, which other Scandinavian kings attempted to repeat
Here, which seems to refer to the English kingdom, implying that other Scandanavian kings attempted to repeat THE ENGLISH KINGDOM -- a nonsensical meaning.
Eliminate A and B.

In C, that and it both refer to an achievement.
Two different pronouns cannot have the same referent.
Eliminate C.

D: an achievement...that was not successful
This meaning is nonsensical: an achievement can be neither successful nor unsuccessful.
Eliminate D.

The correct answer is E.

In option e, shouldn't we have a independent clause after but?

COMMA + but does NOT have to be followed by an independent clause.

[GMATGuruNY]

Hi Mitch,
In C, just wanted to confirm the elimination criteria - can't we use different pronoun for same referent?

Within the context of a single clause, different pronouns cannot have the same referent.
INCORRECT: a project that John started but never completed it.
Here, that and it have the same referent (a project).
CORRECT: a project that John started but never completed.

In C, that and it have the same referent (achievement).
Eliminate C.