Just beyond the entry to the Royal Museum of Art visitors are greeted

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



THE PROMPT

• Quick overview (see Notes, below, for more explanation)

→ each is always singular. No exceptions.

→ the which in each of which must be followed by a relative clause with a working verb.
A relative clause is a dependent clause that can be attached to an independent clause by nothing more than a comma.
Correct: I tasted five different pastries, all of which were delicious.

→ each of them is a noun. If each of them is followed by a working verb, an independent clause is created.
An independent clause cannot be joined to another independent clause by nothing more than a comma.
An improper "comma splice" results when two independent clauses are "stuck together" with only a comma.
Wrong (comma splice): I tasted five different pastries, all of them were delicious.
Correct: I tasted five different pastries, and all of them were delicious.

THE OPTIONS

• The words in option A are an independent clause.
→ The nonunderlined portion already contains an independent clause: Visitors are greeted by several swords.
Now the sentence contains two independent clauses improperly joined by nothing more than a comma.

→ We cannot join two independent clauses with nothing more than a comma.
Doing so creates a comma splice.
Wrong, and essentially what this option states: Visitors see swords, each of the swords bears an insignia.
We need a conjunction such as and after the comma.
ELIMINATE A

• which requires a working verb, but bearing is not a working verb
→ bearing should be bears
→ the sentence is nonsensical
ELIMINATE B


• singular each does not agree with plural are

• the verb tense are bearing is not idiomatic. Simple present, bears, would be better.
Are bearing, called "present progressive," would be used to describe a temporary event happening right now or a trend.

• like option A, option C is an independent clause that is joined by only a comma to the other independent clause, creating an improper comma splice
We need the word and to follow the comma that is in the underlined portion.
ELIMINATE C

• The plural pronoun them does not agree with the singular subject each
ELIMINATE D


• I do not see any glaring errors
• This sentence uses the participle bearing with each of them to create a modifier instead of an independent clause, eliminating the problem of comma splices.
• The singular pronoun it agrees with the singular subject each [sword] or insignia.
Logically, as an antecedent for it, each [sword] makes more sense than insignia does.
You don't really "wear" an insignia. You wear something onto which the insignia is sewn, inscribed, or printed.
Each tribe had its own sword, which bore the tribe's insignia.

I'm not going to worry about this issue for more than five seconds.
I review quickly and tick off clear errors in the other four options.
Pronoun ambiguity is my last resort to eliminate an option, and not one that I would employ here because the other four options are flat wrong.

The best answer is E.

NOTES

• Clauses
This prompt already contains one independent clause (a sentence with a subject and verb that can stand on its own):
Visitors are greeted by several swords.

If a second independent clause is created, it cannot be joined to the first with a comma alone.
We need a [COMMA + conjunction] to avoid an improper comma splice.
In the nonunderlined portion, a comma follows the first independent clause.
No option begins with a conjunction, so no option can contain an independent clause.

An independent clause and a dependent clause can be and usually are joined with just a comma.

• Subgroup modifiers

The group is swords. That group is followed by a subgroup modifier that tells us more about the swords.

The "subgroup" in this case is a detail about each individual member [each sword] of the group.

A subgroup modifier either gives detail or clarification about a part or all of that group.
→ each of them and each of which both have the ability to give us detail about every single [EACH] sword in the Royal Museum, but those italicized phrases must be constructed in certain ways.
→ each of those two phrases, if constructed properly, can tell us that every sword bears the insignia of the tribe that wore the sword.

• which, is a relative pronoun that begins a relative clause.
A clause that must contain a working verb.
→ Present participles (___ING verbING words) are not working verbs; they cannot be used as a main verb in a sentence.
So each of which must be followed by a working verb because which is part of a relative clause.

→ Each of which creates a dependent clause, which can be and usually is joined to an independent clause with just a comma.
In other words, each of which + verb does not create a comma splice.

• each of them is a noun and is not part of a relative clause.
As a noun, if each of them is followed by a working verb, an independent clause is created.

We cannot just "stick" together two independent clauses with a comma and nothing else.
→ Doing so creates an improper "comma splice."
→ To join two independent clauses, we need a comma + conjunction.

Resources
This type of SC almost always shows up in a hard question.
If you are short on time, confused, or frustrated, do not worry. These concepts are quite difficult.
I doubt that you would see more than one question like this on the GMAT.

For a dense but excellent overview of subgroup modifiers, see the post by Mike McGarry, here.

Another of his posts, also fantastic, discusses absolute phrases and subgroup modifiers.
See this post, here and pay attention to question #2, which is very similar to this question.

Finally, for a bit more about absolute phrases in the context of a really interesting SC, take a look at this question, here,

and at my explanation, here.

COMMENTS

Anyone who attempted to write an answer, especially before the OA was revealed, is brave.
Most of the time, the reasoning displays good critical thinking skills, even if a few assumptions are incorrect.

Kudos to all.