priyanshu14 wrote:
daagh wrote:
In History, 'at that time' can refer to an era, and in this context an era that ran for nearly 300 years. It may be noted that the text talks about a prolonged peace and can it be logically expected that such an extended peace was obtained at a specific point of time?
Since the topic is from GMAT Prep, I hope you are not having any doubts about its veracity. Similarly, how we can take that D is superior when after all, D is also using "at that time", "during the shogunate" and "prolonged peace?
I can see your anxiety when you were confused about an official answer from GMATPrep. Normally people take them in their stride. Wish you good luck.
Dear
daagh GMATNinja VeritasKarishma, Kindly explain " at the time" in detail. I am still not getting clarity, why A is correct?
(A) is definitely superior to all other options.
What is the core of the sentence?
Prolonged peace during the Tokugawa shogunate produced an almost explosive expansion of commerce.
So the prolonged peace experienced during the TS period (1603-1867 as per Britannica) produced explosive growth.
This growth was experienced despite isolation from world trade (normally, if a country is isolated, there are no imports and exports and hence explosive growth is surprising).
So this is what the sentence is telling you:
Despite isolation at the time, peace during TS period produced explosive growth.
Peace was experienced during TS period. That produced growth. At that time, Japan was isolated. Isolation could have continued later too or could have been earlier too. But the point is that at that time, there was isolation and still the prolonged peace produced explosive growth.
Let's look at the other options:
(B) the relative isolation of Japan from world trade at the time and the Tokugawa shogunate’s prolonged peace, it
Incorrect. Despite isolation, peace produced growth. Not despite isolation and peace, it produced growth. (What is "it" anyway??)
(C) being relatively isolated from world trade at the time, the prolonged peace during Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate
No contrast. Isolation from world trade is expected to hurt growth, not help in growth. So a contrast word (such as despite) is needed.
(D) Japan’s relative isolation from world trade at the time during the Tokugawa shogunate, prolonged peace
First of all, use of "at the time" as well as "during" is awkward here.
When I say "at the time", it is referring to a time specified elsewhere. Then I should not clarify with "during TS period" immediately afterwards.
e.g. Many years ago, I took 3 months of karate classes. I was 10 at the time.
("at the time" refers to the time when I took karate classes)
In option (A), "during TS period" appears in the main clause so I understand that "at the time" is referring to the TS period.
Also, this option does not specify when prolonged peace led to explosive growth. It says -
Despite isolation during the TS period, prolonged peace produced explosive growth.
The link is established between isolation and TS period but not between prolonged peace and TS period. So the logic of the sentence goes for a toss. We don't know when peace produced growth. It could imply that
isolation happened during TS period and despite that, 10 years later, peace produced explosive growth.
I would need to write something like this:
Despite isolation during the TS period, prolonged peace at the time produced explosive growth.
Certainly, (A) is much clearer and true to the actual meaning.
(E) its relative isolation from world trade then, prolonged peace in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate
"its" seems to refer to prolonged peace. I need Japan after comma.
Despite its isolation, Japan witnessed growth ...
Answer (A)
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