Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
walker wrote:
A professor at the university has taken a sabbatical to research on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there.
(A) on James Baldwin's books that Baldwin wrote in France while he was living there
(B) about the books James Baldwin wrote in France
(C) into James Baldwin's books written while in France
(D) on the books of James Baldwin, written while he lived in France
(E) the books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• When “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “James Baldwin's books...was living there”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote in France”; the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly implies that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote
while located in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time
in which he lived in France. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + about”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “James Baldwin's books written while in France”; the construction of this phrase and the omission of the word “lived” incorrectly imply that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research James Baldwin's books that were written
while the books were in France; the intended meaning is that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books
James Baldwin wrote during the period of time
in which he lived in France. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + into”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “research (verb) + on”; please remember, when “research” is used as a verb, it requires no helping word and is followed directly by a noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction “books of James Baldwin”, rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “books James Baldwin wrote while he lived in France”, conveying the intended meaning – that the professor has taken a sabbatical to research the books James Baldwin wrote during the period of time in which he lived in France. Further, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction “research (verb) + noun”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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