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Old Prep question

by ankit1383 » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:02 am
A study of children of divorced parents found that 10 years after the parents' divorce, children who had been under six years of age at the time of the settlement were not preoccupied, nor even very curious, about the reasons that led to their parents' divorce.
(a)
(b) Not preoccupied with, or even very curious about, the reasons for their parents' divorce
(c)Neither preoccupied, nor even curious, with the reasons that led to their parents divorce
(d)Neither preoccupied with the reasons that led to their parents' divorces or even very curious about them
(e) Neither preoccupied with the reasons that their parents divorced nor even curious about it

How can you select between B and C
Not...or usage
Neither...nor usage....
Please explain.....
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Re: Old Prep question

by vittalgmat » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:17 am
ankit1383 wrote:A study of children of divorced parents found that 10 years after the parents' divorce, children who had been under six years of age at the time of the settlement were not preoccupied, nor even very curious, about the reasons that led to their parents' divorce.
(a)
(b) Not preoccupied with, or even very curious about, the reasons for their parents' divorce
(c)Neither preoccupied, nor even curious, with the reasons that led to their parents divorce
(d)Neither preoccupied with the reasons that led to their parents' divorces or even very curious about them
(e) Neither preoccupied with the reasons that their parents divorced nor even curious about it

How can you select between B and C
Not...or usage
Neither...nor usage....
Please explain.....
I am not sure. but I prefer B over C.
B uses "curious about" which I think is correct usage.
In C the two phrases are parallel but the ending is not correct. To explain better
Neither preoccupied with the reasons
nor even curious with the reasons. <---- here curious with sounds ackward.


What do u guys think ??
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by tanviet » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:17 am
in the same clause

not st....or st

neither st...nor st

in the different clauses

neither clause.... nor clause

B is wrong because we need "preoccupied with"
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by sakurle » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:21 am
Neither preoccupied nor curious sounds correct. I am neither sad nor angry. vs I am neither sad nor even angry.

IMO B
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by sonu_thekool » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:51 am
I would go with B.

C sounds awkward 'Neither preoccupied, nor even curious, with...'

What is the OA ?
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Re: Old Prep question

by pbanavara » Fri Jan 09, 2009 3:30 pm
ankit1383 wrote:A study of children of divorced parents found that 10 years after the parents' divorce, children who had been under six years of age at the time of the settlement were not preoccupied, nor even very curious, about the reasons that led to their parents' divorce.
(a)
(b) Not preoccupied with, or even very curious about, the reasons for their parents' divorce
(c)Neither preoccupied, nor even curious, with the reasons that led to their parents divorce
(d)Neither preoccupied with the reasons that led to their parents' divorces or even very curious about them
(e) Neither preoccupied with the reasons that their parents divorced nor even curious about it

How can you select between B and C
Not...or usage
Neither...nor usage....
Please explain.....
C - "Neither preoccupied, nor even curious' with - is unidiomatic or even just plain wrong.

preoccupied with - is correct however
curious with - is wrong ... curious about is more apt.

I don't think 'nor even' is the right usage either... many issues with option C.

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by nervesofsteel » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:30 pm
IMO B

(b) Not preoccupied with, or even very curious about, the reasons for their parents' divorce

Correct as preoccupied with and curious about are correct idioms

(c)Neither preoccupied, nor even curious, with the reasons that led to their parents divorce

preoccupied with is correct but curious, with sounds awkward
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