OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



THE PROMPT


• MEANING?
A judge ruled that victims of a Ponzi scheme be paid a sum of $6.2 million.

Did you catch what I just did to the verb? I used the command subjunctive construction. (See below.)

The word ruled is a "bossy" verb.
When a judge rules, she issues orders.

An order is a command: most of the time, you will be tested on the command subjunctive in a "bossy" verb situation.
Another possibility is that you will be tested on a "bossy" verb that is followed by an infinitive.
→ That is, some "bossy" verbs can take the command subjunctive structure OR be followed by an infinitive. (ask, beg, intend, order, prefer, urge)
→ Here is one example with the verb require:
Correct: The judge required that the defendant pay a fine.
Correct: The judge required the defendant to pay a fine.

• Structure of command subjunctive?

bossy verb + THAT + noun/object + bare infinitive

→ Bare infinitive
These versions are the "regular" infinitives: to laugh, to listen, to be paid
Simply remove the word "to" and you have the "bare infinitive": laugh, listen, be paid

I don't fool around with the explanations that instructs us to use the third person singular. (I think. It's something weird.)
This way is a lot easier:
Drop the word TO from the infinitive. The end. The result is the verb you need for the command subjunctive.

• finding the splits
Not every split is important.
The first split you find is not necessarily the one on which you should focus.
On the other hand, if the first split you find involves subject/verb agreement, verb tense, noun/pronoun agreement, or obvious noun modifier mistakes, I would focus on that first split.

And so I did.
→ In long sentences with long underlined portions, I immediately look for the main subject (judge) and main verb (ruled).
→ The only words that change much before the first comma are the verbs.

THE OPTIONS

• In formal U.S. English and on the GMAT, do not use the modal verb should with commands
→ Speakers of British English, be a bit careful. In B.E., the use of should in commands is acceptable. Not so on the GMAT.
→ Should is used to describe a moral obligation, not a judge's command.

• in total and sum are redundant

• style: back-to-back that-clauses make this sentence verbose and labored.
ELIMINATE A

• I see no error.
• This option is straightforward; its prose is more concise and direct than that of all the other options
• command subjunctive is used properly: ruled that . . . the victims . . . be paid
KEEP

• as we see in option B, ruled requires the command subjunctive. The word must is not part of that construction.
→ Correction: A judge . . . ruled that the state pay out $6.2 million . . . .

• illogical: why is the state paying the money for a Ponzi scheme?
Watch the meaning: A judge . . . ruled that the state . . . pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims . . .
Maybe the state will be the distributor of money seized by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS, but that fact is not clear.

• with the money having come from is poorly phrased and clunky compared to the language in option B (
ELIMINATE C

• just as is the case with the word should in option A, the phrase ought to is not used in the command subjunctive

• the plural verb were does not agree with the singular subject $6.2 million. A sum is a collective, singular noun.
• even if the verb were corrected to the singular was, that verb is incomplete; we need a something'ed (the money was collected or was seized, for example)
ELIMINATE D

• as in C, we do not use must in the command subjunctive structure

• Like C, illogical: why would the state have to pay money to Ponzi scheme victims?

• poor diction (not a big decision point)
. . . the state pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million
→ the direct object of the verb pay out is $6.2 million. (What was paid out? $6.2 million.)
→ the indirect object of the verb pay out is 613 victims (To whom was the money paid?)
Option E uses VERB + INDIRECT object + DIRECT object
-- often this order does not matter
-- in this case, the order matters because we must read a lot of words about to whom something was given before we even know what that something was.
Correction: . . . the state pay out a total of $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes
→ We can switch that order—we just typically have a much shorter indirect object, this way:
Correct: Pierre gave the chocolates to Lise.
Correct: Pierre gave Lise the chocolates.

Do not worry if you did not notice the strange phrasing.
But do start reading.
ELIMINATE E

The answer is B.

COMMENTS

Phdstanford73 , welcome to SC Butler.

I am always glad to see new and newish people posting.
(I am always glad to see you all.)

All of the answers are correct. A few do a good job of explaining the concepts that underlie why an option is wrong.
Smiley faces go to correct answers with little to no explanation.
Kudos go to correct answers that contain explanations. Nice work.

A judge in New York recently ruled that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, coming from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS.

Explanation:

A) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, com-ing from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS
Incorrect.Redundant usage of 'Total' and 'Sum'


B) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which was seized in personal and business assets following an undercover investiga¬tion by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS
Correct.Subjunctive form(verb-"RULED" +THAT+victims +BE....) used correctly. Grammatically and logically valid.

C) that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS
Incorrect.Awkward structure.Missing subjunctive usage...usage of having

D) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes ought to be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which were from selling the personal and business assets that were seized following an undercover investigation led by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS
Incorrect.Subject verb agreement error.Relative modifier 'Which' i.e 6.2 million (Singular entity) takes Singular verb-'WAS'

E) that the state must pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million, derived from the sale of personal and business assets that were seized follow-ing a joint U.S. Postal Service and IRS investigation
Incorrect.Changes the meaning"Undercover" is replaced by "Joint"

Hence B is the correct answer.

A) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, coming from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS

A judge in the New york Recently ruled The verb followed by the main subject here is a command subjunctive So, in this case, we use the command subjunctive of “to be”, which is “be,” rather than the conjugated form of “to be, Hence the verb must be 'be paid'

The subjunctive verb is always used with 'that' - Demand word + That + Subject + subjunctive

Moreover, The appositive/verb-ing modifier appears to modify the entire clause since it is separated by a comma, which does not make sense


B) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which was seized in personal and business assets following an undercover investiga¬tion by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS

This version correctly uses the subjunctive verb 'be paid. Also, the relative pronoun 'which' is correctly modifying the 6.2 million, Hence there aren't any errors whatsoever.

C) that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS

The error of command subjunctive still persists. This choice has some serious meaning issues. If you ignore the modifiers and the prepositional phrases, you get this :

that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS


The state must pay 6.2 million to the 613 million victims with the money? 6.2 million is money!


D) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes ought to be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which were from selling the personal and business assets that were seized following an undercover investigation led by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS

'Ought' and 'should' is incorrect while using the command subjunctive, we often use it in spoken English so it may sound correct, but be careful there. 'Were' is referring back to 6.2 million? Remember when the subject is a sum of money, a singular verb is be used


E) that the state must pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million, derived from the sale of personal and business assets that were seized following a joint U.S. Postal Service and IRS investigation

This choice contains the same errors as in choice A. The appositive seems to be modifying the entire clause. if it were to modify 6.2 million, it shouldn't have been separated by a comma.

Hence B is our answer.
_________________

A judge in New York recently ruled that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, coming from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS.

A) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, com-ing from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS [INCORRECT]

B) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which was seized in personal and business assets following an undercover investiga¬tion by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS [CORRECT CONSCISE]

C) that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS [INCORRECT ]

D) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes ought to be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which were from selling the personal and business assets that were seized following an undercover investigation led by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS [INCORRECT]

E) that the state must pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million, derived from the sale of personal and business assets that were seized follow-ing a joint U.S. Postal Service and IRS investigation [INCORRECT]

IMO-B

A) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, com-ing from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS ..ruled is futuristic form ...total and sum is redundant Ruled is subjunctive mood.so use of should be is incorrect ..incorrect

B) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which was seized in personal and business assets following an undercover investiga¬tion by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS ...use of be is correct


C) that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS...........use of must is incorrect. ..use of .with incorrect


D) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes ought to be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which were from selling the personal and business assets that were seized following an undercover investigation led by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS....wrong use of ought be

E) that the state must pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million, derived from the sale of personal and business assets that were seized follow-ing a joint U.S. Postal Service and IRS investigation ...use of must in subjunctive case is incorrect

Posted from my mobile device

A judge in New York recently ruled that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, coming from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS.

A) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes should be in total paid out a sum of $6.2 million, com-ing from personal and business assets that were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS Incorrect

subjunctive form - should be not required

B) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which was seized in personal and business assets following an undercover investiga¬tion by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS Correct

C) that the state must pay out $6.2 million to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes, with the money having come from the sale of personal and business assets, which were seized after an undercover investigation that was directed by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS Incorrect

subjunctive form - must not required,
meaning change

D) that the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes ought to be paid out a total of $6.2 million, which were from selling the personal and business assets that were seized following an undercover investigation led by the U.S. Postal Service and the IRS Incorrect

subjunctive form - ought to not required
modifier error - which modifies 'a total of $6.2 million', which is singular

E) that the state must pay out to the 613 victims of one of the most noteworthy Ponzi schemes a total of $6.2 million, derived from the sale of personal and business assets that were seized follow-ing a joint U.S. Postal Service and IRS investigation Incorrect

subjunctive form - must not required
meaning change

The official explanation is here.