Last visit was: 14 Jul 2025, 17:15 It is currently 14 Jul 2025, 17:15
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Abhi077
User avatar
SC Moderator
Joined: 25 Sep 2018
Last visit: 18 Apr 2025
Posts: 1,084
Own Kudos:
2,363
 [11]
Given Kudos: 1,665
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.97
WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)
Products:
Posts: 1,084
Kudos: 2,363
 [11]
Kudos
Add Kudos
11
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
TarPhi
Joined: 24 Sep 2019
Last visit: 18 Mar 2021
Posts: 125
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 171
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Products:
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Posts: 125
Kudos: 102
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Abhi077
User avatar
SC Moderator
Joined: 25 Sep 2018
Last visit: 18 Apr 2025
Posts: 1,084
Own Kudos:
2,363
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,665
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.97
WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)
Products:
Posts: 1,084
Kudos: 2,363
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Sakshi516B
Joined: 05 May 2021
Last visit: 07 Jul 2025
Posts: 13
Own Kudos:
6
 [3]
Given Kudos: 112
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
Posts: 13
Kudos: 6
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Abhi077
TarPhi
A. After a slave obtains his freedom from his master, he has his head shaved, and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus.

The He in 'he has his head shaved' can refer to both the master or the slave right? That's why A is incorrect? Abhi077 generis, hazelnut

Yes, that's accurate.

It is not clear “he” and “his” are referring to the slave or the master.

We can interpret two possible scenarios here :

1: After a slave obtains his freedom from his master, the slave has his head shaved, and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus

2: After a slave obtains his freedom from his master, the master has his head shaved, and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus


If there is an independent clause + dependent clause, then the pronoun in the dependent clause refers to the first noun in the independent clause.
so by this logic, he has his head shaved is referring to the slave

Also in Option C, meaning is coming to be -
A slave has his head shaved after he does X and Y.

Kindly clarify my doubt.
Thanks
User avatar
Palpable
Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Last visit: 28 Feb 2024
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 107
Posts: 27
Kudos: 12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would ignore this question entirely

C can be interpreted as

A slave has his head shaved after he obtains his freedom from his master and (after he) wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus.

This would be change of meaning. By all means, C is incorrect

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Raman109
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Last visit: 16 Jun 2025
Posts: 811
Own Kudos:
143
 [1]
Given Kudos: 33
Products:
Posts: 811
Kudos: 143
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
After a slave obtains his freedom from his master, he has his head shaved, and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus.

Option Elimination -

A. After a slave obtains his freedom from his master, he has his head shaved, and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus. - "he" and "his" can refer to "slave" or "master." Ambiguous. Wrong.

B. After obtaining his freedom from his master and shaving his head, an undyed pileus has to be worn by the slave instead of his hair. - as if "undyed pileus" obtained the freedom. Wrong.

C. A slave has his head shaved after he obtains his freedom from his master and wears instead of his hair an undyed pileus. - ok.

D. A slave obtains his freedom from his master, shaving his head and wearing instead of his hair an undyed pileus. - Comma + ING modifies the verb in the preceding clause. So, "shaving" here modifies "obtains," meaning the "obtaining" and "shaving" are happening simultaneously, as against the intended meaning he is first he gets the freedom and then does the rest. Wrong.

E. A slave, when shaving his head and instead of his hair wearing an undyed pileus, obtains his freedom from his master. - meaning as if "when he shaves his head..." he gets freedom. Wrong.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7353 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts