Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
huntgmat wrote:
Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.
(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,
(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations
(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and
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 Beatrix Potter capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world in her book illustrations, and she carefully coordinated these illustrations with her narratives.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Grammatical Construction• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• Information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence must not be placed between commas.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "coordinating" in this case) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past. Further, Option A incorrectly places information important to the core meaning - the fact that Beatrix Potter capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world, specifically
in her book illustrations - between commas; remember, information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence must not be placed between commas.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "coordinating" in this case) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
C: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies the noun phrase "book illustrations" with the phrase "which she carefully coordinated with her narratives", conveying the intended meaning - that Beatrix Potter carefully coordinated
her book illustrations with her narratives. Further, Option C correctly uses the simple past tense verb "coordinated" to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option C correctly places only extra information - the fact that Beatrix Potter carefully coordinated her illustrations with her narratives - between commas.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses "Carefully coordinated with her narratives" to modify "Beatrix Potter", illogically implying that
Beatrix Potter was carefully coordinated with her narratives; the intended meaning is that Beatrix Potter carefully coordinated
her book illustrations with her narratives; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
E: This answer choice incorrectly places information important to the core meaning - the fact that Beatrix Potter capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world, specifically
in her book illustrations - between commas; remember, information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence must not be placed between commas.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the use of a pair of commas on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~4 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team