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With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several [#permalink]
 03 Mar 2011, 23:39
Question Stats:
69% (01:55) correct
30% (00:49) wrong based on 2 sessions
With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books. With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie Agatha Christie used her travels with her archaeologist husband to inspire several mystery novels Because her husband was an archaeologist, Agatha Christie was able to use their travels as inspiration for several of her mystery novels Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels Is there a mistake in this question ? In terms of the correct answer having a pronoun without an antecedent? Thanks
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 00:02
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This is called "possessive poisoning". MGMAT has very good explanation. You can look for Ron's explanation on their forum.
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 00:11
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 02:47
E) None of the other options are correct since they have other huge mistakes like modifier errors and incomplete sentences. I would look over the issue of pronouns in E) since it is sometimes correct.
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 05:17
A: 1st: the preposition phrase "With her archaeologist husband" does not correctly modify travels after the comma. 2nd: "...by Agatha Christie." has used a not preferred passive voice. B: the sentence structure X (Agatha Christie) used Y (travels + husband) to inspire Z (novels). This construction sounds awkward. C: Although there is no error in this construction, the sentence itself distorts the meaning the author intended. D: To me this sentence is correct in terms of its grammar and the meaning. E: The sentence sounds awkward to me, however if it is grammatically correct. we can simplify it - "travels served inspiration" all the rest are modifiers. I would prefer the answer D, although the OA is E. Please advise.
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 05:20
A: 1st: the preposition phrase "With her archaeologist husband" does not correctly modify travels after the comma. 2nd: "...by Agatha Christie." has used a not preferred passive voice. B: the sentence structure X (Agatha Christie) used Y (travels + husband) to inspire Z (novels). This construction sounds awkward. C: Although there is no error in this construction, the sentence itself distorts the meaning the author intended. D: To me this sentence is correct in terms of its grammar and the meaning. E: The sentence sounds awkward to me, however if it is grammatically correct. we can simplify it - "travels served inspiration" all the rest are modifiers. I would prefer the answer D, although the OA is E. Please advise. 
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 08:48
There are two points that should stand out from this topic. First, possessive poison is not an issue in GMAT any more, as explained by MGMAT thoroughly. Logic rather than structure is the crux. For more info, you can follow the link below http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pro ... t9533.htmlSecond, the text is testing distortion of meaning; it is trying to say that travels inspired Agatha Christie and to confuse that with either her novels or her husband leads to distortion of meaning. The intended right word order for the underlined portion is Her travels (incidentally) with her archeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels. I think E only brings out this fact more clearly than do others. In A, the novels rather than Agatha seem to be inspired: distorted meaning B states Agatha used her travels to inspire novels - distorted The distortion is too obvious to mention in C and D. E singles out her travels which served as an inspiration for her novels. E therefore
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
04 Mar 2011, 09:42
Sorry daagh. I dont know why I said poisoning. Yes poisoning is not an issue here.
"her" is possessive pronoun and can refer to Christie's. dégagé !
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
08 Mar 2011, 00:56
tradinggenius wrote: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie; travelers to Egypt can still stay at the Old Cataract Hotel, the model for the hotel in one of Christie's most famous books.
With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several mystery novels by Agatha Christie ( misplaced modifier, with her archaeologist husband)
Agatha Christie used her travels with her archaeologist husband to inspire several mystery novels ( did travels inspire christie or did christie inspire novels)
Because her husband was an archaeologist, Agatha Christie was able to use their travels as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
( too wordy + 'their' refers to ?)
Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels ( was her husband also inspired to write novels ? i never heard about any of his books :d )
Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
Is there a mistake in this question ? In terms of the correct answer having a pronoun without an antecedent?
Thanks you asked a good question in the end, but can a pronoun serve as an antecedent for another pronoun ? aren't the two 'her' making the sentence very clear ?
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Last edited by garimavyas on 08 Mar 2011, 01:08, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: 700-800 Modifiers MGMAT , AGTHA CHRISTIE [#permalink]
08 Mar 2011, 01:02
@daagh , thanks for the link, i never could digest the section on possessive poison in mgmat sc guide. good riddance. http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/pro ... t9533.html
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Re: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several [#permalink]
05 Feb 2012, 20:49
I read the MGMAT link posted above, but I still have a doubt.
What's the noun for 'her' in E. Possessive 'hers' can refer back to Agatha Christie's, but how could her.
Am I missing something?
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Re: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several [#permalink]
06 Feb 2012, 05:47
schandok wrote: I read the MGMAT link posted above, but I still have a doubt.
What's the noun for 'her' in E. Possessive 'hers' can refer back to Agatha Christie's, but how could her.
Am I missing something? A possesive pronoun can refer to a possesive ('s). For example: Steve Jobs's ipod is as awesome as HIS other inventions. "his" refers to Steve Jobs. It is the only exception in which a pronoun can refer to a noun that is not acting as a noun. Hope it helps.
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Re: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several [#permalink]
06 Feb 2012, 19:40
E) Clarifies that Agatha Christoe's travel WITH her archaeologist husband WAS inspirational for the mystery novels written by herAgatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels
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Re: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several [#permalink]
07 Feb 2012, 04:42
D )Together with her archaeologist husband, Agatha Christie was inspired to incorporate their travel into several of her mystery novels E )Agatha Christie's travels with her archaeologist husband served as inspiration for several of her mystery novels I choose D .Although it is gramatically correct ,it seems to change the meaning of the sentence .Only E remains. But analysing E also closely i get a doubt .Can her travel be an inspiration for her novels ? It has to be an inspiration to her only right ?
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Re: With her archaeologist husband, travels inspired several
[#permalink]
07 Feb 2012, 04:42
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