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(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
C I think.
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
 


This question was provided by Manhattan Prep
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

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(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history [color=#ed1c24]Academic can't evolve [/color]
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history History won't evolve, It's the study which evolves
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it, Hmm fine
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history Same error as A
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic No need to use when

IMO C
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Structure of the sentence-
An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in,
typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher,
but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

Eliminate A, D and E - an academic doesn't evolve into an examination of other less familiar times and places. An academic study does
Between B and C

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
Incorrect. An academic doesn't evolve into an examination of other - meaning doesn't make sense

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
Incorrect. history doesn't focus and frequently evolve - meaning doesn't make sense

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
Correct.

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
Incorrect. An academic doesn't evolve into an examination of other - meaning doesn't make sense

(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
Incorrect. When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic doesn't evolve into an examination of other - meaning doesn't make sense
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An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history

In this choice the phrase << but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.>> modifies the subject ACADEMIC which is Incorrect.

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
<< serious study of it>> is an awkward construction. Moreover, the pronoun <<it>> has no clear referent. INCORRECT!!

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
This looks like a valid choice as it has no errors. The phrase << but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.>> correctly modifies the subject << A serious study of history>>. CONTENDER !!

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
In this choice the phrase << but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.>> modifies the subject ACADEMIC which is Incorrect.

(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
In this choice the phrase << but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.>> modifies the subject ACADEMIC which is Incorrect.

IMO OPTION C
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(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places. - Incorrect reference of modifier, Eliminate
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places. - 'it' has no reference, Incorrect, Eliminate
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it, often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places. - correct modifier, Correct
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places. - Incorrect reference of modifier, Eliminate
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places. - Incorrect reference of modifier, Eliminate

Ans : C
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic

 


This question was provided by Manhattan Prep
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

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Explanation:
The intended meaning of the sentence is that a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
Here, there is an incoherent meaning. An academic can focus (at first) on a well known period...... but an academic cannot evolve into an examination..... It is the study of something that can evolve. OUT.

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
Here, again there is an incoherent meaning. History cannot focus or evolve rather a study of history can focus and evolve. OUT.

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it, often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
Absolutely conveys the intended meaning. A (serious) study of history (often) focuses.........(but) evolves..........places. KEEP IT.
Modifiers: "for academics who undertake it" modifies "a serious study of history" and "typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher" modifies "often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in".

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
An academic undertaking a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
Same error as (A). OUT.

(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.
Same error as (A). OUT.

ANSWER C.
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An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history--- Wrong use of who
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history--- Ambiguity... Don't know the antecedent of "It"
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,---Awkward
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history--- Better and concise one
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic---Wrong use of when
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(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
An academic focuses but cannot evolve.
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
History cannot focus.
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
Correct Option.
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
Same as A
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
Same as A
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(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
This choice actually looks good and conveys the meaning.
But E is better than A.

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
what does it refers to? eliminate

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
This makes study as subject which doesn't makes sense with verb focuses

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history


(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
This looks good. The first relative modifier before the comma modifies the event/situation
Ans E
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(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history - Incorrect - Incorrectly modifying only academic, it would be better if it modifies the action.
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history - Incorrect History doesnt Focusses
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it, - Serious Study of Hoistrory Doesnt focusses
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history - Incorrect - Incorrectly modifying only academic, it would be better if it modifies the action.
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic - Correct

Correct Option - E
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic

 


This question was provided by Manhattan Prep
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

Win $40,000 in prizes: Courses, Tests & more

 


(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
This nonsensically suggests that the academic frequently evolves. Incorrect meaning

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
Pronoun ambiguity for "it"

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
Looks ok!

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
Same as A

(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic
Same as A

IMHO Option C
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An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.

Note : - It's ' a serious study of history' which 'focusses', and 'evolves'

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history

(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history

(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,

(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history

(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic

IMO, (C) is the correct answer
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An academic who undertakes a serious study of history often focuses at first on a well known period that even laypeople take great interest in, typically one closely tied to the culture or heritage of the researcher, but frequently evolves into an examination of other less familiar times and places.


Here, reference is to the study of history as the subject.

(A) An academic who undertakes a serious study of history
(B) For an academic who undertakes a serious study of it, history
(C) A serious study of history, for academics who undertake it,
(D) An academic undertaking a serious study of history
(E) When undertaking a serious study of history, an academic

Only (C) refers to the study f history as the subject for the sentence

(C) is the correct option
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