As rainfall began to decrease in the Southwest about the middle of the twelfth century, most of the Monument Valley Anasazi abandoned their homes to join other clans whose access to water was less limited.

(A) whose access to water was less limited

(B) where there was access to water that was less limited

(C) where they had less limited water access

(D) with less limitations on water access

(E) having less limitations to water access

A.

B and C are out because they talk about location (where), not clans.
E is out for several reasons, one of which "limitations to" is unidiomatic.
D is out because, in addition to sounding awkward, limitations is countable, so fewer must be used.

Wow thanks!

I'm struggling with the fact that the term limitations is countable.

EG.

There are more limitations on spending
There are many limitations on spending

my ear can't hear the correctness
also, is this different with limit and restriction?

a. Correct
b. where modifies clan. this is wrong
c. where modifies clan. this is wrong
d. less to be used with countable noun limitations
e. less to be used with countable noun limitations

Pls find below the explanation to each answers;-

B. Passive cosntruction...its wordy.
C. Past perfect is wrong
D. This optyion has got two major issues:-
1. "with less limitations....." is a phrase of the dependent clause "their homes to join........"The clause mentioned does not has any verb.....
2. Meaning change "With less limitations" does not conveys the intended meaning...the intended meaning is the clan's water access was less limited" Not that it had lesser limitations...."I may be wrong here"
E. Again the same issue no verb for the clause starting with "their......" having is not a verb. Moreover having should used in a construction where you want to present an implied form....ie"having done this action, poor result is not expected"

Consider kudos if my post helps!!

Archit

The main problem with option D is that "limitations" is a countable quantity and so it must be modified by "fewer". "Less" can be used for uncountable nouns only.
Additionally, option D changes the meaning slightly. Original sentence says that "clans whose access to water was less limited" -- this access is supposed to be associated with nature as decrease of rainfall is the cause of migration. Option D mentions "limitations on water access" which means restrictions (imposed by human beings) on water access.

1) It is "clan" with less limitation on water access.
2) The following link has a very good demonstration on when modifiers can modify slightly far away noun and when far away modification is not possible.
noun-modifiers-can-modify-slightly-far-away-noun-135868.html
3) Is it a question or a statement?

As rainfall began to decrease in the Southwest about the middle of the twelfth century, most of the Monument Valley Anasazi abandoned their homes to join other clans whose access to water was less limited.

A. whose access to water was less limited
Correct

B. where there was access to water that was less limited
Usage of "where" is wrong here

C. where they had less limited water access
Same as B

D. with less limitations on water access
Fragmented sentence auxiliary verb is missing

E. having less limitations to water access
Usage of "having" is wrong


Hence A
Ans

Regards
SG

I thought 'whose' would be the subject, 'whose' referring to 'clans'

Or,

The rain, which (which refers to rain - singular) is . . .

As rainfall began to decrease in the Southwest about the middle of the twelfth century, most of the Monument Valley Anasazi abandoned their homes to join other clans whose access to water was less limited.

A) whose access to water was less limited
D) with less limitations on water access
E) having less limitations to water access

These are the candidates.

E) I discarded this option because I found its beginning ("having") more complicated and less straightforward than those of options A and D.
D) I discarded this option because I thought that, in this context, "limitations on" was incorrect and should rather be "limitations to". However, I am not that sure as to whether this is correct.

Could you please give me your insights on the aspects commented above and point out the reasons for discarding these two options other than the fact that "less limitations" should be "fewer limitations"?

@e-gmat: Don't we need to use here "Than" to complete to comparison "less ... than"? In your lectures you state that it's mandatory.

Can someone please explain, why "than" is not required here? MGMAT SC guide also gives the following sentence as incorrect: "With winter coming, I will have HIGHER energy bills", which also has an ellipse (than now), and it's considered as incorrect.