Bunuel wrote:
12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of FunFor 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
Experts' Global Official ExplanationMeaning + Modifiers + Redundancy/Awkwardness
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that for many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, which is a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace for them, as religion does for other people.
Note: This question features a highly subtle difference in the use of the verbs “lays” and “lies”; “lay” means to put something down, either literally or metaphorically, and requires an object to act upon; by contrast, “lies” means to reside in or to be found in and does not require an object to act upon.
A. Correct. This answer choice correctly uses “lies” in a context wherein there is no object for the verb to act upon. Further, Option A correctly uses “a personal ritual that provides…” to modify “writing as a sacrament”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that for many authors, beyond the act of self-exploration lies a sense of writing as a sacrament, which is a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace for them, as religion does for other people.
B. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the verb “lays” rather than the verb “lies” in a context wherein there is no object for it to act upon; please remember, “lay” requires an object to act upon, and “lies” does not.
C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses “ a personal ritual that provides…” to modify “the act of self-exploration”, incorrectly implying that the act of self-exploration is a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace for many authors, as religion does for other people; the intended meaning of the sentence is that for many authors, beyond the act of self-expression there is a sense of writing as a sacrament, which is a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace for many authors, as religion does for other people.
D. This answer choice incorrectly uses “a personal ritual that provides…” to modify “self-exploration’s act”, leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning of the sentence is that for many authors, beyond the act of self-expression there is a sense of writing as a sacrament, which is a personal ritual that provides a sense of solace for many authors, as religion does for other people.
E. This answer choice incorrectly uses the verb “lays” rather than “lies” in a context wherein there is no object for it to act upon; please remember, “lay” requires an object to act upon, and “lies” does not.
A is the best answer choice.