Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
souvik101990 wrote:
In the seventh century B.C., the Roman alphabet was adapted from the Etruscan alphabet, which in turn had been adapted in the previous century from a western Greek alphabet, which itself had been adapted earlier in the same century from the Phoenician alphabet.
(A) which itself had been adapted earlier
(B) adapting itself earlier
(C) itself being adapted earlier
(D) having been earlier adapted itself
(E) earlier itself having been adapted
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 Roman alphabet was adapted from the Etruscan alphabet; the Etruscan alphabet had been adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet, and this western Greek alphabet had been adapted earlier in the 6th century from the Phoenician alphabet.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy. The introduction of present participle ("verb+ing") after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
. “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
. If a sentence contains multiple past actions, the past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “had”) is used to refer to all but the most recent action; the simple past tense is used to refer to the most recent action.
A: Correct. This answer choice modifies the noun phrase "a western Greek alphabet" with the phrase "which itself had been adapted"; thus, Option A avoids the meaning error seen in Options B and D, conveying the intended meaning - that the Etruscan alphabet was adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet, and
in a separate action, this
western Greek alphabet had been adapted earlier from the Phoenician alphabet. Further, Option A correctly uses the past perfect tense verb "had been adapted" to refer to the earliest of three actions that concluded in the past - the Roman alphabet being adapted from the Etruscan alphabet, the Etruscan alphabet being adapted from a western Greek alphabet, and this western Greek Alphabet being adapted from the Phonecian alphabet. Additionally, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "adapting itself earlier"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "adapting" in this sentence) illogically implies that the Etruscan alphabet was adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet
because the
Etruscan alphabet had adapted
itself from the Phonecian alphabet; the intended meaning is that the Etruscan alphabet was adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet, and
in a separate action, this
western Greek alphabet had been adapted earlier from the Phoenician alphabet; remember, the introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “adapting” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the word "being", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "having been earlier adapted itself"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "having" in this sentence) illogically implies that the Etruscan alphabet was adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet
because the
Etruscan alphabet had been adapted the Phonecian alphabet; the intended meaning is that the Etruscan alphabet was adapted in the 6th century from a western Greek alphabet, and
in a separate action, this
western Greek alphabet had been adapted earlier from the Phoenician alphabet; remember, the introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “adapting” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the participle construction "having been...adapted" to refer to the earliest of three actions that concluded in the past - the Roman alphabet being adapted from the Etruscan alphabet, the Etruscan alphabet being adapted from a western Greek alphabet, and this western Greek Alphabet being adapted from the Phonecian alphabet; remember, if a sentence contains multiple past actions, the past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “had”) is used to refer to all but the most recent action; the simple past tense is used to refer to the most recent action. Additionally, Option D uses the passive voice construction "having been earlier adapted", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the participle construction "having been adapted" to refer to the earliest of three actions that concluded in the past - the Roman alphabet being adapted from the Etruscan alphabet, the Etruscan alphabet being adapted from a western Greek alphabet, and this western Greek Alphabet being adapted from the Phonecian alphabet; remember, if a sentence contains multiple past actions, the past perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “had”) is used to refer to all but the most recent action; the simple past tense is used to refer to the most recent action. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "having been adapted", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the use of "Being" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Comma + Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationships" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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09 Sep 2015, 13:36
11%
(01:18)
wrong 
