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A - Nothing seems wrong in this option. sense of writing as a sacrament refers to a personal ritual. them refers to the authors.

B, E - lays is idiomatically incorrect.

C- This one is pretty tempting. I was confused between A and C. The only difference is here, a personal ritual refers to the act of self exploration. Sacrament literally means some kind of ritual, so that is probably the personal ritual the author is referring to.

D- self exploration's act does not make sense. The act is of the authors.

Hence, IMO A.
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Sentence structure
For many authors,
beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

Splits - lies vs lays
Here lays in this context is incorrect. - Eliminate B and E

a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them - must refer to a sense of writing as a sacrament - Eliminate C and D

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
Correct. The meaning is clear and the sentence structure is correct

(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
Incorrect. "lays" is incorrect here in this context

(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
Incorrect. a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them - must refer to a sense of writing as a sacrament and not self exploration

(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
Incorrect. a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them - must refer to a sense of writing as a sacrament and not self exploration's act

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
Incorrect. "lays" is incorrect here in this context

A is the correct answer
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.


(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament Correct

(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament Incorrect as lays means put down which is not the intended meaning.

(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration Incorrect as the act of self-exploration cannot be modified using 'a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to authors'

(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act Incorrect same as C

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing Incorrect as lays means put down which is not the intended meaning.
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
-concise . a personal ritual correctly modifies sacrament
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
-lays is not correct
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
-incorrect: a personal ritual incorrectly modifies act of self-exploration
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
-a personal ritual incorrectly modifies act of self-exploration’s act
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
-a personal ritual incorrectly modifies a sacramental sense of writing
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we have 2/3 split
lies vs lays
usage of lays is correct
eliminate A,C,D

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing usage of sacramental is wrong ; adverbial and meaning


(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament

OPTION B is correct

Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing


 


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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
a personal ritual incorrectly modifies the sacrament...'lies' as a verb is inappropriate here...

(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
a personal ritual incorrectly modifies the sacrament...'lays' as a verb (meaning locate) is appropriate here...

(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
incorrect modifier reference..referring to self-exploration

(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
again, and incorrect modifier reference..referring to self-exploration's act

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
'lays' is the correct verb form...a personal ritual correctly modifies the sacramental sense of writing...CORRECT option

Hence, (E) is the correct option
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

Quote:
(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.
Is grammatically correct

Quote:
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
lays changes the meaning of the sentence since it means to put something down.
Incorrect

Quote:
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
A sacrament is better placed in A since it is a personal ritual.
Incorrect

Quote:
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
a sacramental sense of writing changes the meaning of original sentence.
The act of self-exploration is correct while self-exploration’s act is incorrect.
Incorrect


Quote:
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
The act of self-exploration is correct while self-exploration’s acts is incorrect.
a sacramental sense of writing changes the meaning of original sentence.
lays changes the meaning of the sentence since it means to put something down.
Incorrect

IMO A
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lie-used as consist, dwell, live

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament-- correct
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament-- lays conveys a different meaning and is also not used as a past of 'lie'
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration--- self exploration is not a ritual
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act--act of exploration is not same as exploration's act
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing-- lays conveys a different meaning and is also not used as a past of 'lie'

Ans A
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In this context, "lays" is incorrect. Hence, B and E are out.
the non-underlined portion- what does "a personal ritual" modify? Ans. a sacrament. Hence, C and D are out and the answer is A.
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Answer is A
For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament Correct
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament lay beyond is wrong
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration a personal ritual should modify sacrament
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act same as C
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing lay beyond is wrong
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing


 


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Explanation:
The noun modifier, "a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them" modifies the entire preceding phrase, "a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration" wherein the subject, "a sense of writing as a sacrament" is the heart of the phrase and needs to be expressed in active voice to concisely convey the meaning of the sentence.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
Expressed in passive voice. OUT.

(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
Expressed in passive voice. OUT.

(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
The thought is concisely expressed in active voice. KEEP IT.

(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
Alters the meaning by describing sense of writing as sacramental rather than stating sense of writing as a sacrament. Also, self-exploration's act is nonsensical. OUT.

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
Here again self-exploration's act is nonsensical. OUT.

ANSWER C.
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First easy eliminations: lies or lays? Clearly lies is the correct choice here.
B, E out.

D can be eliminated for the usage of the possessive "self-exploration's act". Clear nonsense.

C has a modifier error - it implies that "the act of self-exploration" is the ritual, when really it is meant to refer to writing. Out.

That leaves us with A as our final answer.
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing

--------------------------------------------------------

IMO A.

A. Correct.
B. 'lays' is incorrect.
C. 'a personal ritual' incorrectly modifies self-exploration
D. 'a personal ritual' incorrectly modifies self-exploration's act
E. 'lays' is incorrect. 'self-exploration’s acts' is incorrect
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
Correct option
(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
Wrong tense.
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
A personal ritual explains a sense of writing as a sacrament. So that clause should be closer to a personal ritual.
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
Meaning has been changed.
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
Tense Error.
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For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.

(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
'sacrament' is not the personal ritual; incorrect modifier usage

(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
same as in option (A) --'sacrament' is not the personal ritual; incorrect modifier usage

(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
'the act of self-exploration' is not the personal ritual ; wrong meaning

(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
same as in option (C) ---'self-exploration's act' is not the personal ritual ; wrong meaning

(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing
correct meaning since the sense of writing is correctly referred to by the modifier 'the personal ritual'

IMO, (E) is the answer
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Bunuel
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.
 


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Lie vs Lay

Lay is used to point direct objects. Hence lie is better in this context.


(B) beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament
(E) beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing

<a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people.> This clause is modifying sacrament
(A) beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament
(C) a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration
(D) a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act
Both have modifier errr as mentioned above


iMO A
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(A) For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people. - Incorrect modifier placement, Eliminate
(B) For many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lays a sense of writing as a sacrament, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people. - Incorrect modifier placement, Eliminate
(C) For many authors, a sense of writing as a sacrament lies beyond the act of self-exploration, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people. - Correct modifier reference, Correct
(D) For many authors, a sacramental sense of writing lies beyond self-exploration’s act, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people. - Incorrect modifier placement, Eliminate
(E) For many authors, beyond self-exploration’s acts lays a sacramental sense of writing, a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace to them, as religion does for other people. - Incorrect modifier placement, Eliminate

Ans : C
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