12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 7: The short lived Corsica

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant --out
(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant --out
(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant --out
(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of--out
(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant--correct


oa E

To me, the key to this task lies within understanding its focal message. What did the author intend to convey?
It seems that the message goes as follows: The republic was progressive, because it granted full voting rights when it was founded - and it happened in 1755.
Which answer options illustrate exactly that?

Both A and C focus on the date more than the message, so I eliminate them.

Then, D sends the right message, but the preposition is wrong - it doesn't sound right, when you are progressive 'by doing sth'. So, we eliminate D as well.

We have a choice between B and E then - and although we can sometimes express a reason with 'for', in this case 'in deciding' sound best stylistically. It's just a very idiomatic figure of speech: 'to be <adj> IN doing sth', which is used exactly to highlight how an action brings out a certain characteristic in the actor.

So, idiomatically, the right answer is E.

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant - Incorrect - its 1755 Founding is a error
(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant - Incorrect - its 1755 Founding is a error
(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant - - Incorrect - here no time line is given in main clause to which "When" refers
(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of - Incorrect - On the granting of is incorrect
(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant - Correct

Option E- Correct

(A) The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens. - Incorrect modifier, Eliminate
(B) The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.- Incorrect modifier, Eliminate
(C) The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens. - Incorrect meaning, Eliminate
(D) The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of full voting rights to all adult citizens. - Incorrect modifier, Eliminate
(E) The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens. - Correct modifier placement, Correct

Ans : E

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant - Incorrect meaning issue, this version implied that corsica was a progressive nation at its 1755 founding and not at any other time
(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant - Correct
(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant - Incorrect meaning issue, this version implied that at its founding in 1755, corsica became the progressive nation
(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of - Incorrect meaning issue, this version implied that corsica became progressive nation by deciding , rather the correct meaning should be that it became progressive because of the decision
(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant - incorrect meaning issue, same as option D

The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant
This choice incorrectly says that the country was uniquely progressive <<at its 1755 founding>> which is absurd in meaning.

(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant
This choice has no evident errors. Hence, this choice is likely the CORRECT answer.

(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant
This choice incorrectly implies that the country was founded in order to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.

(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of
<<at its founding in 1755>> is an awkward and wordy construction that is not typically seen in a correct GMAT SC choice.

(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant

In this choice<< in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant>> is wordy and such a choice is not typically seen in a correct GMAT SC answer.

Answer: Option B

The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant - correct answer
(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant - wrong
(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant - wrong
(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of- wrong
(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant - wrong

OA) B
The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant
--> here is deciding(verb-ing) acts as an object to preposition 'for', noun decision is better than verb-ing

(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant

(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant
--> illogical meaning: the country was founded for its decision

(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of
--> action can be better conveyed by infinitives rather than preposition phrase

(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant
--> here is deciding(verb-ing) acts as an object to preposition 'in', a noun decision is better than verb-ing

The short lived Corsican Republic was a uniquely progressive nation at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant full voting rights to all adult citizens.

(A) at its 1755 founding for deciding to grant
deciding to grant is incorrect

(B) for the decision at its 1755 founding to grant
decision to grant is correct...meaning is evident

(C) when it was founded in 1755 for its decision to grant
wrong meaning vis-a-vis intended meaning

(D) by deciding at its founding in 1755 on the granting of
deciding...on the granting of... is incorrect usage

(E) in deciding at its founding in 1755 to grant
as in (A)...deciding to grant is incorrect

(B) will be the correct option