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555-605 (Medium)|   Modifiers|   Pronouns|                        
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 18 Jul 2019, 20:29
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GMATNinja : Upcoming is a strange problem you may have never heard of :-D . I disregarded E for an assumed meaning error. This is a problem i face with many questions wherein I see strange meaning in few correct answer choices. For instance, here I striked off E thinking that it says, "Using bank accounts of various ancient writers, Scholars have painted a sketchy picture. There existed an obvious meaning error in this option until I realized (only after marking the wrong answer) that bank was my own hypothetical addition.

How do I get rid of such wishful thinking which makes me assume such strange elements(like bank accounts in this case) to answer choices? I know it sounds funny, dumb and out of context, but I have seen myself striking off right answers just for this reason many times. And this happens mostly when I am left with just 2 answer choices(in this case i had D and E). And because E seemed to have this presumed meaning error, I marked D.

Quote:
Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century BC, worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea, "the good goddess".

(E)Using accounts of various ancient writers
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Thank you for sharing! That problem isn't as strange as you might think... okay, maybe it's a little funny, but it's not that unusual.

This reminds me of a very common CR issue. As discussed in this blog post, in our non-GMAT lives, we are frequently skimming for key takeaways and bringing in useful, outside knowledge. Those skills are essential at work and in the real world. In the GMAT world, you have to stick with exactly what's on the page because the word choice is vital to the meaning (for more on that, check out the "It’s all about the modifiers" section of this CR Guide for Beginners).

Meaning is obviously important on SC too, so if you start filling in the blanks and putting your own words in the passage's mouth, you'll end up analyzing something totally different than what's on the page.

Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes for this common issue. You simply have to get used to paying attention to the author's EXACT word choice -- and fight really hard not to add (or subtract!) random stuff to sentences or paragraphs, whether it's on CR or SC or RC.

I hope that helps a bit!
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 25 Apr 2020, 13:10
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Isn't verb-ed modifier, Subject + Verb + Object a correct structure for Verb-ed modifiers modifying actions, making A correct?
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 25 Apr 2020, 16:04
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Isn't verb-ed modifier, Subject + Verb + Object a correct structure for Verb-ed modifiers modifying actions, making A correct?
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Hello, Viren16. The problem is not with the grammatical structure necessarily, but with the meaning conveyed. If we just look at the first part of (A), we can see that the modifier is not modifying the correct subject:

Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars...

It is not scholars who are based on accounts. That is, I take it that the scholars actually exist in the present. Rather, it is the scholars who, by using accounts of various ancient writers, are painting pictures. Choice (E) conveys the correct meaning.

I hope that helps. If not, feel free to read back through the dialogue to this question. I am sure you will find at least one previous response helpful in addressing your concern. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 20 Jun 2021, 06:43
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted. ==> "Based" is a verb modifier modifying "painted..."

Using the accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted ==> "Using" is a noun modifier modifying "Scholars" so this is correct.
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Hi GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep - Quick question on B

Can (B) be eliminated because of the word "Basing" specifically ?

Does the Verb'ing [Basing] make sense with the core of the sentence - Scholars have painted a sketch ?

i initially thought Basing does not make sense with the Core but on second thought, I think "Basing" is okay.

Analogy : Basing it on the sitcom Friends, Jamie wrote Two and Half Men

Technically adverbs provide more information about verbs by gving additional information such as HOW/ WHERE / WHY / WHEN /TO WHAT DEGREE - Jamie wrote

The modifier {Basing it on the sitcom Friends} does give additional information on "HOW" Jamie wrote [Jamie wrote Two and Half Men, how ? By basing it on another sitcom Friends]

Just curious on the Verb'ing aspect of option B .
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 10 Nov 2021, 14:45
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Hi GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep - Quick question on B

Can (B) be eliminated because of the word "Basing" specifically ?

Does the Verb'ing [Basing] make sense with the core of the sentence - Scholars have painted a sketch ?

i initially thought Basing does not make sense with the Core but on second thought, I think "Basing" is okay.

Analogy : Basing it on the sitcom Friends, Jamie wrote Two and Half Men

Technically adverbs provide more information about verbs by gving additional information such as HOW/ WHERE / WHY / WHEN /TO WHAT DEGREE - Jamie wrote

The modifier {Basing it on the sitcom Friends} does give additional information on "HOW" Jamie wrote [Jamie wrote Two and Half Men, how ? By basing it on another sitcom Friends]

Just curious on the Verb'ing aspect of option B .
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Your analysis is correct.

"Basing" itself is not incorrect, as we can see by replacing what comes after "basing."

Basing their research on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century BC, worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea, "the good goddess."
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Thanks MartyTargetTestPrep - Just curious then - how would you eliminate B ?

I understand the "it" cannot stand for the sketchy picture obviously because the sentence then becomes

Basing a [sketchy picture] on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture...

Which makes no sense

I personally thought however the "it" in option B could be a dummy pronoun.

If "it" in option B was a dummy pronoun, i did not find anything gramatically wrong in option B.

I just thought option E was superior because option E did not have a pronoun (and i know the GMAT prefers sentences with no pronouns)

However i could not see anything gramtically or meaning wise wrong in option B

Just curious on your thoughts on option B
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a 10 Nov 2021, 16:29
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Thanks MartyTargetTestPrep - Just curious then - how would you eliminate B ?

I understand the "it" cannot stand for the sketchy picture obviously because the sentence then becomes

Basing a [sketchy picture] on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture...

Which makes no sense

I personally thought however the "it" in option B could be a dummy pronoun.

If "it" in option B was a dummy pronoun, i did not find anything gramatically wrong in option B.

I just thought option E was superior because option E did not have a pronoun (and i know the GMAT prefers sentences with no pronouns)

However i could not see anything gramtically or meaning wise wrong in option B

Just curious on your thoughts on option B
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Here's the (B) version:

Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century BC, worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea, "the good goddess."

The "it" in that version is not a dummy pronoun. There are only a few specific accepted uses of a dummy "it," and using a dummy "it" as the object of a participle is not one of them. In fact, in GMAT SC, we have to be careful not to mistake an "it" without a referent for a dummy "it," because question writers use "it" without a referent knowing that many people are likely to mistakenly decide that such an "it" is a dummy "it."

Thus, "it" in "basing it on ..." refers to, if anything, "sketchy picture," with the result that the (B) version conveys the illogical meaning "Basing a sketchy picture on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture ...."
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Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century BC, worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea, "the good goddess".


(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers

(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts

(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis

(D) By the account of various ancient writers they used

(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers
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A isn't an expected modifier we're seeing before the comma

B uses "it" without knowing what "it" is referencing. "it" could reference "sketchy picture" or "cult", who knows!

C uses the passive tone

D is very awkward and "used" is the incorrect verb tense

E is correct because it's a proper modifier "Scholars using accounts of various ancient writers have painted..."
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so my query here is if the option A had "basing" then would it be correct? I think this tense related question. A and C use "have" but based on is in past tense therefore it is incorrect.
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so my query here is if the option A had "basing" then would it be correct? I think this tense related question. A and C use "have" but based on is in past tense therefore it is incorrect.
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Actually, "based" is an "-ed" modifier in (A) and doesn't have a tense.

And we attempted to answer your question about "basing" earlier in the thread: https://gmatclub.com/forum/based-on-acc ... l#p1897338. Check it out, and let us know if you still have questions!
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MartyTargetTestPrep

Can you please help to eliminate C?
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
Meaning - Accounts of writers were used as a basis by scholars to paint a sketchy picture.
What's the difference in meaning in C and E?

Thanks in advance!
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Sneha2021
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MartyTargetTestPrep

Can you please help to eliminate C?
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
Meaning - Accounts of writers were used as a basis by scholars to paint a sketchy picture.
What's the difference in meaning in C and E?

Thanks in advance!
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Hello Sneha2021,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, Option C is not incorrect, as such; its use of the needlessly indirect and wordy phrase "With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis" simply makes it awkward and redundant, meaning Option E is the superior choice.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Hi zhanbo ReedArnoldMPREP RonTargetTestPrep HaileyCusimano - in (B) - i thought IT = sketchy picture

so (B) then becomes

Quote:

option b)

Basing it (it = a sketchy picture) on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea.
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Not sure what is illogical about (b) in that case ?
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Hi zhanbo ReedArnoldMPREP RonTargetTestPrep HaileyCusimano - in (B) - i thought IT = sketchy picture

so (B) then becomes

Quote:

option b)

Basing it (it = a sketchy picture) on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that worshipped a goddess known as Bona Dea.


Not sure what is illogical about (b) in that case ?
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I'm curious if this is an official question. But there's something about the 'basing' a 'painting of a sketchy picture' that seems strange. The 'painting a picture' here is metaphorical--scholars aren't literally painting a literal picture. But somehow using a pronoun 'it' feels, to me, as if the 'it' is a tangible *thing.*

Like,

"Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts, scholars have developed a theory about the activities of an all female cult..."

seems... okay-ish to me? Certainly, "Scholars have developed a theory about the activities of an all female cult, basing it on various ancient writers' accounts" seems fine, so why not put the modifier up front? Other experts, feel free to chime in here.

Mostly, this seems like a super rare, possibly not official question that I wouldn't fret much about.
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But there's something about the 'basing' a 'painting of a sketchy picture' that seems strange. The 'painting a picture' here is metaphorical--scholars aren't literally painting a literal picture. But somehow using a pronoun 'it' feels, to me, as if the 'it' is a tangible *thing.*

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Hi ReedArnoldMPREP - this is OG 9 and OG 10. This question was not included in OG 11 nor OG 12 nor OG 13 ...

I think what you mean is :

-- there is no actual picture / there is no actual painting
-- "sketchy picture" is metaphorical (Example - Documentary X painted a sketchy picture regarding the origins of coronavirus)
-- In the analogy -- Documentary X obviously did not paint anything nor did Documentary X paint an actual picture

Hence the use of "IT" = sketchy picture IS wrong because IT always needs an tangible antecedent ?

But antecedents can be intangible, can they not ?

Simple example -

Example - John exudes confidence. Sam appreciates it.
it = confidence.
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ReedArnoldMPREP
But there's something about the 'basing' a 'painting of a sketchy picture' that seems strange. The 'painting a picture' here is metaphorical--scholars aren't literally painting a literal picture. But somehow using a pronoun 'it' feels, to me, as if the 'it' is a tangible *thing.*


Hi ReedArnoldMPREP - this is OG 9 and OG 10. This question was not included in OG 11 nor OG 12 nor OG 13 ...

I think what you mean is :

-- there is no actual picture / there is no actual painting
-- "sketchy picture" is metaphorical (Example - Documentary X painted a sketchy picture regarding the origins of coronavirus)
-- In the analogy -- Documentary X obviously did not paint anything nor did Documentary X paint an actual picture

Hence the use of "IT" = sketchy picture IS wrong because IT always needs an tangible antecedent ?

But antecedents can be intangible, can they not ?

Simple example -

Example - John exudes confidence. Sam appreciates it.
it = confidence.
Show more

That is what I mean but truth be told I don't feel great about it. It just seems somehow strange to say a 'sketchy picture' was 'based' on something when the picture itself is metaphorical. I also don't like "Scholars have painted a sketchy picture that is based on the accounts of various writers."

But that's not... really... a rule or anything.
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KarishmaB

(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts

Apart from "it", why B is incorrect?
I think the meaning is logical. Please help to reject B meaning-wise.

Thanks for your help!
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KarishmaB

(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts

Apart from "it", why B is incorrect?
I think the meaning is logical. Please help to reject B meaning-wise.

Thanks for your help!
Show more


Hello Sneha2021,

Hope you are doing well. I will be glad to help you with this one. :)


It is not logical to use "Basing on..." in the context of this sentence. Why? Because scholars studied the accounts of many ancient writers to talk about this all-female cult. In the context of this sentence, the use of "Using..." conveys the intended meaning nicely and clearly.

Hope this helps. :)
Thanks.
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KarishmaB

(B) Basing it on various ancient writers' accounts

Apart from "it", why B is incorrect?
I think the meaning is logical. Please help to reject B meaning-wise.

Thanks for your help!
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"Basing it on ..." doesn't make a lot of sense.
Scholars did not decide that they need to base their picture of the accounts of writers. The idea was not a create a picture based on the accounts i.e. it was not done to say, illustrate the accounts. The point was that they created a picture and used the information given in the accounts to do so. Hence, to signify the actual action performed by the scholars, 'using' makes more sense.
Also, 'accounts of writers' is better than 'writers' accounts' and hence (E) is better in all aspects.
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