sher676 wrote:
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition, 2003Practice QuestionQuestion No.: SC 220
Page: 668
For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.
(A) For almost a hundred years after having its beginning in 1788
(B) Beginning in 1788 for a period of a hundred years
(C) Beginning a period of almost a hundred years, in 1788
(D) During a hundred years, a period beginning in 1788
(E) Over a period of a hundred years beginning in 1788
A student asked me to explain why D is incorrect.
Since my explanation involves the proper use of appositive phrases (like
"a period beginning in 1788"), here's a quick example of an appositive phrase:
George Clooney,
star of the movie Oceans 11, does not like broccoli.
Notice that the appositive phrase
star of the movie Oceans 11 provides some extra information.
We already know who George Clooney is, so the appositive phrase is non-essential.
As such, we can eliminate the appositive phrase without affecting the sentence:
George Clooney does not like broccoli.
Now let's examine D:
(D) During a hundred years,
a period beginning in 1788, England exiled some 160,000 criminals to Australia.
The red part is an appositive phrase, which means it's non essential. If it's not essential, then eliminating it should have no effect on the sentence.
If we eliminate it we get
During a hundred years, England exiled.
Since we no longer know WHICH 100 years we're talking about, it turns out that the information was actually needed
Eliminate D.
Cheers,
Brent