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dave13
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Far from being a modern dietary invention, salad has a long and distin 18 Sep 2019, 12:54
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mykrasovski
Hi generis, as always, thank you very much for the excellent explanation. Few things

1. Do you mind providing a few OG questions in which a similar structure is tested? On top of my head I do not remember seeing it before. Well, at the very least I will pay more attention from now on :)

2. This statement might be a bit offensive to some, but I reckon that the most important piece of information in this question and its analysis is not the Passive Reporting Structure... It is the part that highlights the "fragment trap" in the analysis of option E :)

3. If one of the answer choices was "Babylonians were known to douse", would it be correct?


Thank you.

P.S. Seems like the author is from Hungary :blushing
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Hi mykrasovski,

I will be glad to help you. :) Please see my answers to your questions below in blue.

1. Do you mind providing a few OG questions in which a similar structure is tested? On top of my head I do not remember seeing it before. Well, at the very least I will pay more attention from now on

"On Top of my head" is a prepositional phrase meaning without a careful thought. As for similar questions, you can refer to your question #3, which I gladly answered. :)

2. This statement might be a bit offensive to some,

Some people say something on top of their heads like turkeys , without considering the effects of their actions, or even worse in your case, considering the effects i.e. (by saying " might be a bit offensive to some"). So, you just show your thoughtless behavior :)

but I reckon that the most important piece of information in this question and its analysis is not the Passive Reporting Structure... It is the part that highlights the "fragment trap" in the analysis of option E

If you read the post by generis from bottom to top and the same time from right to left , I cant help, but if you read carefully the analysis of an option E, you will see that generis in details explains why an option E is not correct. Alternatively, you can see a relevant extract from the post by generis below:


generis


Quote:
E) Far from being a modern dietary invention, salad has a long and distinguished history: food historians claim that the Romans ate mixed greens with dressing, and the Babylonians who were known to douse lettuce with oil and vinegar more than 2,000 years ago.
• WHO creates a fragment. The second part of the sentence lacks a verb
-- [T]he Babylonians [who were known to douse lettuce with oil and vinegar more than 2,000 years ago] _____ (WHAT)?
-- These Babylonians (who were known to do XYZ) did WHAT?
• Take note: GMAC frequently sets this particular "fragment trap." What is "this fragment trap"?
In short, the trap consists of a relative clause that follows a subject and "eats up" the only available verb.
That is:
A subject [Babylonians] will be followed by a relative clause with a pronoun (who, that, or which) and a verb.
There will be a subject. (The Babylonians)
That subject will be followed by a relative clause, usually essential or restrictive (i.e., who or that and not usually comma + which).
-- the relative pronoun will be WHO, THAT, or which. In this case, WHO refers to and restrictively defines Babylonians.
-- the relative clause will contain a verb. [were known to douse].
-- But no second verb exists for the subject itself [the Babylonians] to take.
The subject needs its own verb because the relative clause merely describes the Babylonians and "eats up" the one verb that exists.
Eliminate E

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3. If one of the answer choices was "Babylonians were known to douse", would it be correct?

If you reckon that the question tests "fragment trap" why don`t you answer your question yourself. Since, you dont know and/or not sure if it would it be correct or not, this means you can`t see a bigger picture. Maybe by typing "Passive Reporting Structure" in a search box will open your eyes wider. :)

Thank you.

You are more than welcome :)
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Far from being a modern dietary invention, salad has a long and distin 28 May 2023, 07:19
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