Based on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and

Question

Based on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore , many “Roswellians” are convinced that some type of extra-terrestrial crash-landing occurred in the New Mexico desert in 1947.

(A) Based on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore

(B) Swayed by eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore

(C) Basing it on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore

(D) With eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore used for a basis

(E) By eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore

chetan2u · Accepted Answer

hi SG,
the sentence ,when fitted with choice A would read....

Based on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore,  many “Roswellians” are convinced that some type of extra-terrestrial crash-landing occurred in the New Mexico desert in 1947.

we have to look at choices satisfying the nonunderlined portion. in the non underlined portion the modified noun is "many “Roswellians”", so we look at the modifying clause...
it is.. Based on eye-witness accounts ..... if we put these two things together the question we can ask is.. Can some person be based on eye witness accounts.... no...  based on eye....  has to modify some work, book, documentary etc 
Since it will be some book, work,fact etc which can be based on eye witness accounts

chetan2u · Answer

Hi  lucky1829 ,
 the question checks us on the use of modifier....
as in non underlined portion, the modifier is "many “Roswellians”", the dependent clause cannot start with "based on"... so A out .. as you are asking about D lets look at the correct answer and D..

B)Swayed by eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore
many “Roswellians” are swayed by.. so correct usage...

D)With eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore used for a basis...
firstly the usage of "with" is not correct here... with... is an adverbial modifier..
here if i take the modifier , the first part to be correct..... then it should be modifying some facts,books account ie the recipient and not the subject .... 
correct eg... using eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore as a basis, many....

another way is just place the two parts next to modifier and see if it makes sense

1)B)Swayed by eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore..
  many “Roswellians”,Swayed by eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore, are convinced that some type of extra-terrestrial crash-landing occurred in the New Mexico desert in 1947. ... sounds correct..

2)D)With eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore used for a basis...
  many “Roswellians”,With eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore used for a basis, are convinced that some type of extra-terrestrial crash-landing occurred in the New Mexico desert in 1947. ... does not fit in properly

ravibhai · Answer

I narrowed it down to B and C as these two try to qualify "many “Roswellians” ". 
C-> the construction "many “Roswellians” are convinced " does not goes with "Basing it". 
B-> "Swayed by..." correctly qualifies "many “Roswellians” . Hence Correct.

Marcab · Answer

IMO B as explained by ravi.
The "it" in C has no referrent.
A implies that many Rosellians are based on eye-witness accounts.
In D, the usage of "with" is incorrect because the two clauses are not reinforcing into each other. The usage of "with" should have been like:
With two children at home, Rachel has no time for her hobbies.
E implies that many Rosellians are convinced by many eye-witness accounts.

+1B
Hope that helps.

shanmugamgsn · Answer

Why not A? 
Also how come B..
Can any one explain,.... 
I went with A actually

Marcab · Answer

In A, there is modifier issue.
It implies that many Rosellians are based on the fact.
Hope that helps.

umeshpatil · Answer

Hi Marcab, Can you explain what is wrong with D and E?

Marcab · Answer

Hi Umeshpatil.
Please refer the earlier posts. I have already explained the reasons, which are correct as per my knowledge.

lucky1829 · Answer

Hi Marcab,

could you explain D a little bit more? I do not understand why "with" could not be used here.

Thanks

sukanyar · Answer

That is because “Roswellians” are not "with" eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore! "With" is used in the sense of "together with" (for example, you get 1 item free "with" one item that you buy).

However, I find it slightly surprising that B uses "swayed", which is not used in the original sentence at all.

smartyguy · Answer

chetan2u

Can you please help me in understanding why 'A' is wrong ?

Regards
SG

smartyguy · Answer

chetan2u Ahh my bad i am not able to relate thanks

Regards SG

sriramkrishnan · Answer

Swayed means Influence. People were influenced.

Joc456 · Answer

A) Based on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore --What is based? 
 B)Swayed by eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore--yes roswellians are swayed
 C)Basing it on eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore --What is it?
 D)With eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore used for a basis--doesn't make sense
E) By eye-witness accounts, claims of alien autopsy footage, and local folklore--doesn't make sense

XavierAlexander · Answer

As per Veritas official explanation::

With answer choice (A), the sentence begins with an opening modifier, but “many ‘Roswellians’” cannot be described as “based on….accounts” since people cannot logically be based on accounts. We must adjust the first-half of the sentence to correctly describe human beings.

(B) is the correct response to this Modifier-based question. The verb “swayed” correctly modifies “Roswellians” since the opening modifying clause now describes something human beings could do.

GMATYoda · Answer

Veritas Prep Official Explanation:

With answer choice (A), the sentence begins with an opening modifier, but “many ‘Roswellians’” cannot be described as “based on….accounts” since people cannot logically be based on accounts. We must adjust the first-half of the sentence to correctly describe human beings.

(B) is the correct response to this Modifier-based question. The verb “swayed” correctly modifies “Roswellians” since the opening modifying clause now describes something human beings could do.

In answer choice (C), the pronoun “it” does not have a specified noun, and since “Roswellians” is plural the pronoun “it,” and thus the entire opening modifying phrase, cannot possibly modify the subject of the sentence, “many ‘Roswellians’.”

For answer choice (D), this construction is awkward with a confused meaning. Starting a modifying clause with the phrase “with...” it would seem we should be describing the “Roswellians”, however this is confused by the addition of “used for a basis” at the end of the clause. We need the opening clause to clearly modify the people, the “Roswellians.”

In answer choice (E), the opening phrase here is an adverbial phrase; it would properly describe a verb, not the “Roswellians” it modifies in this construction.

breatheanddoit · Answer

I just came across this question on the veritas prep test.
There explanation for e being incorrect was that uses an adverbial modifier.
 I had a query, how is e using an adverbial modifier?

@VeritasprepKarishma  GMATNinja

ShankSouljaBoi · Answer

How do we know that with in option C and by in option E are adverbial modifier  VeritasKarishma  ???

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