Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
vivektripathi wrote:
For protection from the summer sun, the Mojave lived in open-sided, flat-topped dwellings known as shades, each a roof of poles and arrowweed supported by posts set in a rectangle.
(A) each a roof of poles and arrowweed
(B) each a roof of poles and arrowweed that are being
(C) with each being a roof of poles and arrowweed
(D) with roofs of poles and arrowweed to be
(E) with roofs of poles and arrowweed that are
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the Mojave lived in open-sided, flat-topped dwellings known as shades, and each shade a roof of poles and arrowweed supported by posts set in a rectangle.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• The simple past tense is the correct tense used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
• The simple present tense is used only to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, and state universal truths.
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.
A: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies “shades” with “each a roof of poles and arrowweed”, conveying the intended meaning- each shade
is itself a roof of poles and arrowweed. Further, Option A correctly uses the past participle "supported" to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present continuous tense verb “are being supported” to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature.
C: This answer choice is needlessly wordy due to the use of the phrase “with each being”; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.
D: This answer choice incorrectly modifies “shades” with “with roofs of poles and arrowweed”, incorrectly implying that each shade
possessed roofs of poles and arrowweed; the intended meaning is that each shade
is itself a roof of poles and arrowweed; in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the infinitive verb form construction “to be supported” to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
E: This answer choice incorrectly modifies “shades” with “with roofs of poles and arrowweed”, incorrectly implying that each shade
possessed roofs of poles and arrowweed; the intended meaning is that each shade
is itself a roof of poles and arrowweed; in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “are supported” to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is used only to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, and state universal truths.
Hence, A 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 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