Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
schak2rhyme wrote:
A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as artifacts, such as glass-oil lamp fragments, found at the site.
(A) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church as indicated in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan, as well as
(B) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, once probably being a church, was indicated by its eastward orientation, overall plan, and
(C) Indicating that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church were its eastward orientation and overall plan, but also the
(D) A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church, as indicates its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as the
(E) That a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the
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 the fact that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the artifacts found there.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Grammatical Construction• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
• Any information needed to maintain the core meaning of the sentence cannot be included between two commas.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past participle "indicated" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense. Further, Option A fails to maintain parallelism between A ("in its eastward orientation and by its overall plan") and B ("artifacts") in the idiomatic construction "A as well as B"; please remember, "A as well as B" is a correct, idiomatic structure; A and B must be comparable and parallel.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "A ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan...was indicated...the site", incorrectly implying that the location of the structure was indicated by its eastward orientation, overall plan, and artifacts found there; the intended meaning is that the fact that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan,
was probably a church is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the artifacts found there. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "being" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option B uses the passive voice construction "A ruined structure...was indicated", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
C: This answer fails to maintain the correct, idiomatic construction "not only A ("eastward orientation and overall plan") but also B ("artifacts...found at the site")", as it omits the phrase "not only"; please remember, “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the singular verb "indicates" to refer to the plural noun phrase "its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as the artifacts".
E: This answer choice correctly refers to the singular pronoun "That" with the singular verb "is indicated". Moreover, Option E uses the clause "That a ruined structure...was probably a church is indicated by...at the site", conveying the intended meaning - that the fact that a ruined structure found at Aqaba, Jordan, was probably a church is indicated by its eastward orientation and overall plan, as well as by the artifacts found there. Further, Option E correctly uses the simple past tense verb "was" to refer to an event that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option E maintains parallelism between A ("by its eastward orientation and by its overall plan") and B ("by the artifacts") in the idiomatic construction "A as well as B". Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.Additional Note: Please keep in mind that the incorrect clause in Option B is partly formed due to the placement of the phrase "once probably being a church" between two commas; this phrase conveys information - that the ruined structure was probably a church - necessary to maintain the core meaning of the sentence; please remember, any information needed to maintain the core meaning of the sentence cannot be included between two commas.
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Extra Information Between Commas" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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