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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
KC wrote:
Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.
(A) Even though Clovis points, spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces, have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932.
(B) Although named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, Clovis points are spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces and have been found all over North America.
(C) Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932, Clovis points, spear points of longitudinal grooves chipped onto the faces, have been found all over North America.
(D) Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces, Clovis points, even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932, but were found all over North America.
(E) While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, they have been found all over North America, and named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932.
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 though Clovis points have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, and as extra information, they are spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Grammatical Construction• 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.
• “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast.
• "while" is used to refer to actions taking place simultaneously.
A: Correct. This answer choice uses the dependent clause "Even though Clovis points...have been found all over North America" to modify the independent clause "they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932", wherein the independent pronoun "they" is acted upon by the active verb phrase "are named" to form a complete thought; thus, Option A forms a complete sentence. Further, Option A uses the clause "Even though Clovis points...have been found all over North America" and places information about the Clovis points -- that they are "spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces" -- between two commas, conveying the intended meaning - that though Clovis points have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, and as extra information, they are spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces; remember, presenting a modifying phrase between two commas is a correct way to insert extra information into an independent clause. Additionally, Option A correctly uses the simple past tense verb phrase "were first discovered" to refer to an event that concluded in the past. Besides, Option A correctly uses "though" to show contrast.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause " Clovis points are spear points...and have been found all over North America"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that though Clovis points have been found all over North America, they are spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces; the intended meaning is that though Clovis points have been found all over North America, they are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, and as extra information, they are spear points with longitudinal grooves chipped onto their faces.
C: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Named for the New Mexico site where they have been first discovered in 1932"; the omission of the word "although" removes a needed sense of contrast, incorrectly implying that Clovis points are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932,
and they have been found all over North America; the intended meaning is that Clovis points are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932,
but they have been found all over North America. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "have been found" 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 fails to form a complete sentence; as "Spear points with longitudinal grooves that are chipped onto the faces", "Clovis Points", "even though named for the New Mexico site where first discovered in 1932", and "but were found all over North America" are all dependent clauses, there is no independent clause for them to modify and no active verb to act upon the subject "Spear points".
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "While Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that although Clovis points are spear points whose faces have longitudinal grooves chipped into them, Clovis points have been found all over North America; the intended meaning is that although Clovis points are named for the New Mexico site where they were first discovered in 1932, Clovis points have been found all over North America. Further, Option E incorrectly uses "While" to convey a sense of contrast; please remember, “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast, and "while" is used to refer to actions taking place simultaneously.
Hence, A 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 (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Although", "Though", "Despite", and "While", you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team