Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
vivektripathi wrote:
Thomas Eakins’ powerful style and his choices of subject—the advances in modern surgery, the discipline of sport, the strains of individuals in tension with society or even with themselves—was as disturbing to his own time as it is compelling for ours.
(A) was as disturbing to his own time as it is
(B) were as disturbing to his own time as they are
(C) has been as disturbing in his own time as they are
(D) had been as disturbing in his own time as it was
(E) have been as disturbing in his own time as
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Pronouns + Tenses + Comparison• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• A comparison must always be made between similar elements.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "powerful style and his choices of subject" with the singular verbs "was" and "is" and the singular pronoun "it".
B: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun phrase "powerful style and his choices of subject" with the plural verbs "were" and "are" and the plural pronoun "they". Further, Option B correctly uses the simple past tense "were" to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option B correctly uses the simple present tense verb "are" to refer to an action that takes place in the current time frame. Additionally, Option B correctly compares the verb phrase "were...disturbing to his own time" with the verb phrase "they are compelling for ours".
C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "powerful style and his choices of subject" with the singular verb "has been". Further, Option C incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "has been" to refer to an event that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "powerful style and his choices of subject" with the singular verb "was" and the singular pronoun "it". Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "was" to refer to an action that takes place in the current time frame; please remember, the simple present tense is used to refer to actions that take place in the current time frame, and the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "have been" to refer to an event that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Further, Option E incorrectly compares the verb phrase "have been...disturbing in his own" to the adjective phrase "compelling for ours"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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