Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subse

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 151 Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin  but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against  or a return to his style.

A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against

B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century were said to be either a reaction against

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction against

D) but European languages up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION • HIGHLIGHTS Let's strip this sentence a bit and find the subject. Cicero's influence ... was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages . . . was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style. Main verb : WAS (so) INTENSE What was so immense? Subject : Ciceros influence That-clause subject : history That-clause verb : was said to be • Split #1: VERB TENSE History is singular. We need a singular verb, was (so intense). Correct: . . . Options B and D incorrectly use were. Eliminate B and D • Split #2 - PARALLELISM in the idiom EITHER X OR Y This kind of parallelism can be really daunting. We are working with the idiom EITHER X OR Y, in which X and Y must be parallel. The rule for "extra words" (such as verbs or prepositions, and in this question, TO BE) is "once outside, twice inside." Once outside, correct : . . . was said TO BE || either a reaction against or a return to . Twice inside, correct : . . . was said || EITHER to be a reaction against or TO BE a return to Once outside, once inside, WRONG : . . . was said TO BE || either a reaction against or TO BE a return to

Once inside, WRONG : . . . was said || EITHER to be a reaction against or a return to

In this question, we can construct only "once outside" because return to is in the non-underlined portion. If TO BE comes after EITHER, we have no way to create "twice inside" because we cannot add TO BE after "or." Options C and E incorrectly place TO BE only once inside. -- If to be follows either , then to be is inside the structure because either starts the structure. AND if TO BE follows either , TO BE must also follow or . (TO BE cannot follow or because or is in the non-underlined portion.) C and E both say: . . . was said || EITHER to be a reaction against or a return to . What comes after either ? TO BE a reaction against What comes after or ? a return to X and Y are not parallel. In C and E X = TO BE a reaction against Y = return to Not parallel. Eliminate C and E • By POE, the answer is A A) . . . until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to • TO BE is once outside the idiomatic structure EITHER X OR Y - correct • the singular verb phrase was said to be agrees with history the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be • Other issues -- in the idiom NOT ONLY X BUT ALSO Y, we do not have to use but also as long as we do not use but at all. -- we can split up the BUT ALSO part. Option D effectively lacks an also . The word also is in the wrong place. -- Option E is missing the preposition against This construction is weird: ". . . was said to be either a reaction or a return to The construction is not exactly wrong, because we can use TO in reaction to in order to convey "against." Still, compared to (A)? Option A is better. The answer is A COMMENTS Verbal33 , manjeshsp , TheNightKing , and ankaua , welcome to SC Butler

I am glad to have you all. And to the veterans (and semi-veterans), good to see your posts, too. I like the banter and the discussion. Of course the question writer tries to trick us!

Actually, I have to take some of the blame. As often as I can find them, I pick the questions that I think are tricky. GMAC members are trying to trick us. I say, do not give 'em the satisfaction.

I often give kudos for helping (though don't do so if someone is tagged)—I like generosity of spirit. If you get an answer wrong, don't worry too much. You can edit it if you want to . . . but as long as we are not completely out of the ballpark (idiom -- google it), I often give kudos for well-reasoned but incorrect answers. You're sharpening your critical thinking skills. Many of these explanations are very good. Kudos to all.

Annet1524 · Answer

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.

A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  was  said to be either a reaction against -  correct answer

B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  were  said to be either a reaction against - SVA mistake

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either  to be  a reaction against - not parallel structure of either

D)  but European languages    up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction - wrong ideom not only .... but also...

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either  to be  a reaction - not parallel structure of either

Ashokshiva · Answer

IMO A

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.

A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  was  said to be either  a reaction  against
 Both tense and parallelism are correct

B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  were  said to be either a reaction against
 Wrong tense, subject is "subsequent history" hence the verb should "was" and not "were"

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either  to be  a reaction against
 Wrong parallelism

D) but European languages up until the nineteenth century  were  also said to be either a reaction
 Wrong verb

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either  to be  a reaction 
 Wrong parallelism

ankaua · Answer

Sentence Structure Subject - Verb : Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style. Analysis 1. All S-V pairs are properly accounted. 2. X and Y in the idiom either X or Y are parallel What is jumped at me is the idiom not only X but also Y : if it is used to make a compound subject, the verb (plural/singular) depend on Y . But it is not the case in this question. It seems to me that question writer tries to trick here test takers. A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against - S-V agreement is fine here; "either a reaction against" is very parallel

to "or a return to his style". (A) is correct choice. B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century were said to be either a reaction against - S-V agreement is broken; according to this answer choice the subsequent history of prose were C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction against - parallelism issue: "either to be a reaction against or a return to his style " D) but European languages up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction - S-V error, same as in choice (B ) E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction - parallelism error, same as in (C)

ChuHoaiNam · Answer

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin  but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against  or a return to his style.

Not only...but also

Therefore eliminate D

Either X or Y: X and Y must be parallel

-> Eliminate C and E

Between A and B

Not only   but also   + were/was : the verb must agree with the nearest noun that is plural

--> B is correct one

ankaua · Answer

ChuHoaiNam I believe the question writer enjoys that his trick tricks us

You are absolutely right that whenever not only X but also Y construction is used to introduce compound subject, the verb should depend on "Y" (whether Y is singular or plural). But it is not the case in this question. Let's check it again: .. that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style . The subject is the subsequent history of prose while in not only Latin but also European languages is a prepositional phrase.

ChuHoaiNam · Answer

Thanks a lot. Now i see my error. Can i change the answer

?

ccheryn · Answer

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin  but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against  or a return to his style.

A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against  ( correct with idiom and parallel, either a reaction is parallel with or a return)
 
B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  were  said to be either a reaction against  ( For Subject history of prose - was is right verb . so wrong)

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction against  ( either to be is not parallel with or a return, then we need or to be a return)

D)  but  European languages up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction ( not only but also is the the correct idiom, so wrong)

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said either to be a reaction  ( either to be is not parallel with or a return, then we need or to be a return . hence wrong )

J2S2019 · Answer

IMO correct answer is A

Testing - SVA error with parallelism between Not Only X But also Y; also either X or Y parallelism at the end.

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin  but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against  or a return to his style.

A) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against -  Correct; Parallelism maintained & "the subsequent history" is a singular noun, taking the singular verb "Was"

B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century were said to be either a reaction against - SVA error.

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said  either to be a reaction against  - this portion is not parallel with the non-underlined ending part.

D) but European languages up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction - Missing But "also" - Were wrongly used. SVA error

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said  either to be a reaction  - this portion is not parallel with the non-underlined ending part.

Xin Cho · Answer

Correct

The history of prose is singular and thus the verb tense is wrong.  Wrong

The correct structure is either X or Y.  Wrong

We need the structure "not only...but also". The verb tense is also wrong here.  Wrong

Same problem as in C.  Wrong

Verbal33 · Answer

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in  not only  Latin  but also  European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be  either  a reaction against  or  a return to his style.

A)  but also  European languages up until the nineteenth century  was  said t o be either  a reaction against
 Correct answer .

B) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century  were  said to be either a reaction against
Subject of the second part of the sentence is subsequent history which is singular so were is incorrect.

C) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said  either to be  a reaction against
Parallelism error: either..or must be parallel.

D)  but  European languages up until the nineteenth century were also said to be either a reaction
Correct idiom is: not only...but also. Also is missing.

E) but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said  either to be  a reaction 
Parallelism error: either..or must be parallel.

manjeshsp · Answer

NOT ONLY.... requires... BUT ALSO

So, eliminate option D

Remaining options - A, B, C, E

HISTORY - as a Noun requires WAS not WERE

This leaves us with 3 options - A, C, E

Next, OR has taken a NOUN - “A RETURN” . So, EITHER should also take a NOUN - “A REACTION”

This eliminates options- C & E

Thus, the answer is option A

Posted from my mobile device

TheNightKing · Answer

I will mention my approach and then conclude my answer. So first, apply the 5 second rule and look at the first and last underlined (and if possible non-underline word) and take a quick guess at what you are in for. You notice but also and against/reaction. Read the sentence. The non underlined part has not only so we should have a but also in the correct option. Eliminate D. I initially thought since the non underlined part says "in Italy" I was looking for may be some option says "In Europe" but that is not the case. So you just move on. Since influence is Singular you need the verb to be singular which in this case is "was". So that eliminates B. We are down to three options. Now compare them vertically (MGMAT suggests so). You realise something is going on with Either Or and you need to boil down to the correct usage of it. You should realise that "to be" is the common part and should apply to both "a reaction" and "a return". You notice C and E both are making the same mistake. So you just read A again and go for it. You can invest your time in figuring out why A is right but you can also invest your time in finding 4 wrong answers

Time Taken: 1.5 minutes. Thank you!

amitanshumaity · Answer

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subsequent history of prose in not only Latin but also European languages up until the nineteenth century was said to be either a reaction against or a return to his style.

Meaning: Cicero's influence ( Cicero --> Probably an author) on X was so immense that Y was said to be either a reaction or a return to Z.

The subsequent history (Subject) Agrees with Was( Verb).
The sentence maintains proper diction and conveys the intended meaning.

So, it is correct as it is.

IMHO A.

generis · Answer

I have posted the official explanation  HERE

VerbalBot · Answer

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Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subse

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Cicero's influence on the Latin language was so immense that the subse

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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