Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
sondenso wrote:
The Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities, both dating back at least a thousand years.
(A) both dating
(B) both of which have dated
(C) and each has dated
(D) and each one dating
(E) each one of which date
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 Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities because they both date back at least a thousand years.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms• Statements of universal fact are best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• 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.
• The introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “dating” in this case) after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
A: Correct. This answer choice avoids the subject-verb disagreement seen in Option E, as it uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "dating" in this sentence) rather than an active verb. Further, Option A uses the phrase "both dating"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "dating" in this sentence)" construction conveys the intended meaning - that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities
because they both date back at least a thousand years; remember, the introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “dating” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Additionally, Option A avoids the tense error seen in Options B and C, as it uses the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "dating" in this sentence)" construction rather than an active verb. Besides, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "both of which have dated"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities, and
as a separate action they both date back at least a thousand years; the intended meaning is that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities
because they both date back at least a thousand years. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "have dated" to refer to a statement of universal fact; remember, statements of universal fact are best conveyed through the simple present tense, 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.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and each has dated"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities, and
as a separate action they both date back at least a thousand years; the intended meaning is that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities
because they both date back at least a thousand years. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb "has dated" to refer to a statement of universal fact; remember, statements of universal fact are best conveyed through the simple present tense, 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 alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and each one dating"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities, and
as a separate action they both date back at least a thousand years; the intended meaning is that the Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities
because they both date back at least a thousand years.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular pronoun phrase "each one" with the plural verb "date". Further, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase "each one of which", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
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 "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Comma Plus Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
_________________