In ancient Thailand, much of the local artisans' creative energy was expended for the creation of Buddha images and when they constructed and decorated the temples that enshrined them.
A. much of the local artisans' creative energy was expended for the creation of Buddha images and when they constructed and decorated the temples that enshrined them
B. much of the local artisans' creative energy was expended on the creation of Buddha images and on construction and decoration of the temples in which they were enshrined
C. much of the local artisans' creative energy was expended on the creation of Buddha images as well as constructing and decoration of the temples in which they were enshrined
D. creating images of Buddha accounted for much of the local artisans' creative energy, and also constructing and decorating the temples enshrining them
E. the creating of Buddha images accounted for much of the local artisans' creative energy as well as construction and decoration of the temples that enshrined them
I read many explanation about this question, but they all explain how to get the right answer by parallelism. My question is about answer B, can you explain in which they were enshrined? Which does in which refer? Which does they refer? why use passivity?
Thanks in advance.
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2016 OG SC 64
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fabiocafarelli
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... the creation of Buddha images and on construction and decoration of the temples in which they were enshrined.
In regard to your questions:
1. IN WHICH refers to the temples. These were the temples THAT THE IMAGES WERE ENSHRINED IN. More formally speaking, these were the temples IN WHICH THE IMAGES WERE ENSHRINED.
2. Clearly, then, THEY refers to BUDDHA IMAGES. The sentence therefore speaks of CONSTRUCTION AND DECORATION OF THE TEMPLES IN WHICH IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA WERE ENSHRINED.
3. The passive voice is used here because there is no need for us to know precisely who enshrined the images, and if the active voice had been used, it would have been necessary to state this. The important thing is the images and their enshrinement, not the identity of the person who enshrined them. Therefore, the passive does the job perfectly well and says that the images WERE ENSHRINED - in other words, at a specific past time, and by somebody or other who did what was required and placed the images where they belonged: in the shrine.
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In regard to your questions:
1. IN WHICH refers to the temples. These were the temples THAT THE IMAGES WERE ENSHRINED IN. More formally speaking, these were the temples IN WHICH THE IMAGES WERE ENSHRINED.
2. Clearly, then, THEY refers to BUDDHA IMAGES. The sentence therefore speaks of CONSTRUCTION AND DECORATION OF THE TEMPLES IN WHICH IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA WERE ENSHRINED.
3. The passive voice is used here because there is no need for us to know precisely who enshrined the images, and if the active voice had been used, it would have been necessary to state this. The important thing is the images and their enshrinement, not the identity of the person who enshrined them. Therefore, the passive does the job perfectly well and says that the images WERE ENSHRINED - in other words, at a specific past time, and by somebody or other who did what was required and placed the images where they belonged: in the shrine.
If you like this post, please click on the THANK button.
You can also visit us at https://www.xgmat.com/
