Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are

Ah, those blessed cases when the poster answers his or her own question correctly . You're exactly right.


In this case, "supposed," an adjective, modifies the noun "predecessors." This makes perfect sense. "Supposed" implies that the noun in question is not what it appears to be. If I refer to my friend's "supposed" wife, I'm implying that they're not really married. (And maybe guaranteeing that my friend will soon be an ex-friend.) In this case, if the monuments in Brittany are 2000 years older than their "supposed" predecessors, I'm pointing out that the younger monuments are, by definition, not predecessors, contrary to prior belief.


Now, "supposedly" is an adverb and so should modify something other than a noun. It seems to modify the adjective "Mediterranean." But there's no reason to doubt that the other artifacts are Mediterranean! We're doubting that they're predecessors. Note that it's the logic and context of the sentence - younger monuments can't be predecessors to older ones - that dictates which option is better here.

I hope that helps!
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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to getting this question correct; the intended meaning of this sentence is that carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years older than the Mediterranean monuments that were once thought to be older than them.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison

. The comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction incorrectly conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage.

B: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the comparative adjective “older” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages. Further, Option B correctly uses the adjective “supposed” to modify the noun “predecessors”, conveying the intended meaning - that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than the megalithic monuments in Brittany.

C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction incorrectly conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements that differ in quality; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage.

D: Trap. The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “their supposedly Mediterranean predecessors”; the use of the adverb “supposedly” to modify the adjective “Mediterranean” incorrectly implies that the megalithic monuments in Brittany were not actually from the Mediterranean; the intended meaning is that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than megalithic monuments in Brittany.

E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the construction “A are as old as B” to compare two nouns stated to be of different ages; this construction conveys that the two nouns are equal in age; please remember, the comparative form is used to compare two elements; hence, something on the lines of “older than” would be a preferred usage. Further, the sentence formed by Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “their supposedly Mediterranean predecessors”; the use of the adverb “supposedly” to modify the adjective “Mediterranean” incorrectly implies that the megalithic monuments in Brittany were not actually from the Mediterranean; the intended meaning is that the Mediterranean monuments are not actually older than megalithic monuments in Brittany.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Dear All,

Great discussion on the question at hand!

The OA is indeed (B).

Here's my personal take:

1. "supposed" correctly modifies the noun "predecessors", whilst "supposedly" is an adverb, and adverbs modifies nearly anything except nouns/pronouns. It follows that "supposedly" cannot modify the noun "predecessors"; therefore (D) and (E) can be eliminated.

2. "as old as" -vs- "older than"

It is my observation that "as old as" tends to be preceded by relation of quantities by multiplication - e.g. Jen is ten times as old as Ken [J = 10 x K]; whereas the usage of "older than" tends to be preceded by quantity specification - e.g. Sue is five years older than Ian [S = 5 + I] The answer choice fits the latter scenario; hence the choice is (B).


Regards,

skim

supposedly=adverb--> modifier to a verb, an adverb, a clause, a phrase, a sentence, an adjective
supposed=adjective--> modifier to a noun

As you can see, what comes after "supposed" is a noun and should thus be preceded by an adjective.

However, "supposed" could also be used as a past participle in which case you would have a sentence as follows:
You are supposed to eat what I tell you to eat.
As you can see, "supposed" here plays the role of a past participle (to be + participle). As such, you will have "supposed" in front of a verb (to eat)

B: “Supposed” functions as participle and can function as adjective. Therefore it can modify the “Mediterranean predecessors”

D: “supposedly” functions as adverb and cannot modify the noun/pronoun – in this case “Mediterranean predecessors”

You can find more information at: https://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/verbs.htm#participle

does not "older" change the meaning?
older means exactly older, while "as old as" means at least same age or older

confused between "as old as" & "older than". shoudnt "older than" change the meaning of the sentence ?

There are 2 Splits in the above question that you need to understand:

1> 'as old as' vs 'older than' :
For using 'as old as' you need to compare between 2 things, eg: The dinosaur is as old as the Mamoth.
'Older than' cannot be used for comparison, but is used to specify the difference between 2 things which is the case here.
Hence the remaining options are: B and D.

2>The other split is between 'supposed Meditteranean Predecessors' and 'supposedly Meditteranean Predecessors'.
This is basically of the form 'Adjective - Adjective - Noun' or 'Adverb -Adjective -Noun'. Since here the supposed should modify predecessors to maintain the meaning of the sentence.
So the Answer is B

Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.

A. as old as any of their supposed
B. older than any of their supposed
C. as old as their supposed
D. older than any of their supposedly
E. as old as their supposedly

I understand that since supposed modifies predecessors, the answer should contain supposed. However, how do I choose between "as old as" and 'older than'?

@closed271

you have already figured out the difficult part of this one.

we are comparing ages here and we always use comparative forms for comparisons.

A is as old as B is.
A is older than B is. (Do you see any difference??)

Moreover the word predecessors conveys that we are talking about old monuments "pre = before" and the monuments in Brittany.

the one is Brittany is older than its supposed predecessors.

Supposedly is incorrect as we are comparing ages not the locations here...

Hope this helps!

Bro,

When you mention 'twice/thrice' or some multiplication between two quantities as

A * x times = B , then you use 'as Adjective/adverb/OLD/ as'

However, when the sentence mentions a figure 2000 years ,it has to be a addition/subtraction between quantities.

A+2000=B

So the correct idiom is OLDER THAN.

My query pertains to below possible two constructions:

Adjective + Adjective + Noun.
Adverb + Adjective + Noun.

The above sentence has two issues

(1). Construction as shown above
(2). Comparison

My doubt is how we could zero on whether we have to use "SUPPOSED" or "SUPPOSEDLY".

Per the sentence we don't know whether the predecessors are MEDITERRANEAN or not.

And as have been said in above posts that MEDITERRANEAN is a noun , I don't agree as it is an Adjective.

So how we decide whether "SUPPOSED" modifies "PREDECESSORS"
OR "SUPPOSEDLY" modifies "MEDITERRANEAN".

Plz clarify

A. as old as any of their supposed---- Unidiomatic. We can't say that something is nearly 2000 yrs as old as ; rather 2000 yrs older is more correct form.

B. older than any of their supposed --- Correct Answer.

C. as old as their supposed. You cannot linke 2000 years and "as old as

D. older than any of their supposedly -- Adj&Adv error. "Supposedly" is an adverb so as Adverb can modify verb, adjective and adverb. In this question, "supposedly"(Adverb) is modifying "Mediterranean"(Adjective). That results in the change of the meaning i.e. It is saying Mediterranean is supposed, though original sentence is saying that "Mediterranean Predecessor" is supposed.

E. as old as their supposedly -- "Supposedly" is an adverb so as Adverb can modify verb, adjective and adverb. In this question, "supposedly"(Adverb) is modifying "Mediterranean"(Adjective). That results in the change of the meaning i.e. It is saying Mediterranean is supposed, though original sentence is saying that "Mediterranean Predecessor" is supposed.

[*]"I am as old as you" means I am the same age as you
[*]"I am at least as old as you" means I am the same age as you or older (now the addition of "at least" allows it to also mean older)
[*]"I am older than you" means that I am older

Basically, whenever we do a comparison with the "as ... as" construction, we are saying that they are the same. We can modify this with "at least" or something else as seen above, but the base of the comparison is similarity. If we want a difference, we use "... than".

Here, we give the number 2,000. We would never use "as old as" with a set number, because "as old as" means that two things are being compared as the same, whereas the number implies difference (unless we said that one is 2,000 years old and the other is as old as it or something, but we didn't here). Additionally, we are talking about their "predecessors", so we definitely know there is a difference, and no answer includes something like "at least", so we should use "older than" to make a comparison that implies difference.

Choice B is correct.

Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.

A. as old as any of their supposed
correctly compare "monuments in Brittany" with "monuments of Mediterranean predecessors"
fail to express the intended meaning of the comparison, "monuments in Brittany" older than "monuments of Mediterranean predecessors"

B. older than any of their supposed
Correct. correct the errors in choice A

C. as old as their supposed
wrongly compare "monuments in Brittany" and "Mediterranean predecessors"

D. older than any of their supposedly
adverb "supposedly" wrongly modify "predecessors"

E. as old as their supposedly
incorrect for reasons mentioned in choice A and choice D

The monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years older than those that had previously been dated. Thus, the issue in not whether these monuments are Mediterranean. They are. Rather, the issue is whether the previously dated monuments are actually predecessors. Therefore, the adjective supposed in answer choice B correctly describes the noun predecessors, whereas in choice D the the adverb supposedly incorrectly describes Mediterranean.
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Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years older than any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.

X older than Y - Correct idiomatic usage...

Supposed (Adjective ) correctly modifies Mediterranean predecessors

Hence (B) is good to be a correct answer....
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Answer is Undoubtedly B

Solution1:-
RULE 1-We can not use absolute value before as x as y. Now 2000yrs is absolute value ,hence all options which have as old as would considerably be WRONG..

So we are left with option B and option D.
The only difference lies is between Supposed and Supposedly..Supposed is an Adjective and Supposedly is an Adverb.
Adjective modifies the Noun where as Adverb modifies the Adjective..
In supposed Mediterranean Predecessors -Supposed (Adjective) is modifying predecessors(Noun)
In supposedly Mediterranean Predecessors-Supposedly(Adverb) is modifying (adjective) Mediterranean(This option changes the meaning of the sentence)
Logically in the sentence the doubt is on the predecessors not on their being Mediterranean..
Hence option B is the right Choice...!!

Answer is Undoubtedly B

Solution1:-
RULE 1-We can not use absolute value before as x as y. Now 2000yrs is absolute value ,hence all options which have as old as would considerably be WRONG..

So we are left with option B and option D.
The only difference lies is between Supposed and Supposedly..Supposed is an Adjective and Supposedly is an Adverb.
Adjective modifies the Noun where as Adverb modifies the Adjective..
In supposed Mediterranean Predecessors -Supposed (Adjective) is modifying predecessors(Noun)
In supposedly Mediterranean Predecessors-Supposedly(Adverb) is modifying (adjective) Mediterranean(This option changes the meaning of the sentence)
Logically in the sentence the doubt is on the predecessors not on their being Mediterranean..
Hence option B is the right Choice...!!