12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 11: A number of party lead

Experts' Global Official Explanation

Subjunctive Mood + Pronouns + Meaning + Idioms + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

• The use of the verb “suggested” indicates that the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context, and “bossy verb (ordered) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood usage.
• “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

A. Correct. This answer choice avoids the pronoun error seen in Options C, D, and E by using the verb phrase “not accepting an applicant” rather than using a pronoun phrase, such as “that they not be accepted”. Further, Option A uses the phrase “a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application”, conveying the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant. Additionally, Option A maintains a correct subjunctive mood structure “bossy verb (suggested) + that + something be done (a conviction…be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Besides, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “accepting” in this sentence) to modify the noun “grounds”.

B. Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood structure, as it incorrectly uses the “something should be done” construction rather than “something be done (be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges…be grounds for not accepting…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested felony or misdemeanor charges themselves be grounds for not accepting an application- the intended meaning is that the party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting an application. Besides, the usage of “suggested” as well as “should” in this answer choice is redundant.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + to” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “are” to refer to the singular noun “conviction”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “they” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + that” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

E. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “for five years prior to applying for party membership” the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for rejecting the application, during the five years prior to the applicant applying; the intended meaning is that party leaders have suggested that any conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that occurred during the five years prior to the application be grounds for rejecting the application. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”.

A is the best answer choice.