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(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world --> not ver clear what "making .." is modifying. It should be closer to "weaponry of the highest quality".
As well as, "including.." should modify "weaponry". INCORRECT


(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world --> it says "former Hinterlands" i.e. it does not exist anymore. So "have been creating" is wrong, they are not actively creating in the present. INCORRECT

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world --> "it" clearly refers to the subject of the main clause "Forge".
"making.." clearly provides the result of the perception in the main clause, that this perception makes it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
"including.." clearly modifies "weaponry". CORRECT


(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world --> it says "former Hinterlands" i.e. it does not exist anymore. So "has been creating" is wrong, it is not actively creating in the present. INCORRECT

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years --> the linkage between Kruijswijk Forge and smiths is lost. It seems to talk about smiths, in general not of any particular region. INCORRECT
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For 800 years
the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created
what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells,
making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
.


(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
It is not very clear what it refers to. The subject of the sentence "the smiths of the Krujiswjk Forge" does not allow "the Krujiswjk Forge" to be referred separately. Incorrect

(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
It is not very clear what it refers to. The subject of the sentence "the smiths of the Krujiswjk Forge" does not allow "the Krujiswjk Forge" to be referred separately. Incorrect

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
Correct

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
C is concise and better. Incorrect

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years
The option changes the meaning of the original sentence in which the reason is provided why The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world;
Incorrect

IMO C
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(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“what are often perceived” is used if the perceived thing is a plural noun, as in here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-single-f ... fl=similar)

“what is often perceived” is used if the perceived thing is a singular noun, as in here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/his-studies- ... -1363.html)

“weaponry” is an uncountable noun. So we need “is”.


(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Correct. If we remove inessential modifier in between “, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells,”, then we have:
“…the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge have been creating weaponry often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it (the Forge) one of the oldest…”
“comma + making” makes sense with the subject of the sentence “the smiths”, and thus correctly implies that the actions of these smiths made the Forge one of the oldest businesses.

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“making it” needs to make sense with the subject “the Kruijswijk Forge”. Hence we need “making ITSELF”.
Probably “swords and axes, hammers, and bells” is not ideal because “swords and axes” are not the name of one weapon, so they doesn’t need to be written this way.

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“which includes” is wrong because it implies that “weaponry” includes “axes, swords…” as its part, or accessory. In other words, it doesn’t mean “axels, swords…” themselves are weapons. This issue was tested here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-new-imag ... 75120.html)

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years

“smiths” are talked about in general. Do these smiths work for the Kruijswijk Forge? there is nothing that links “smiths” to “The Kruijswijk Forge”. Two sentences seem unrelated.

So B
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For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world.


(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
Pronoun IT does not have a clear reference

(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
Same as A: pronoun error. More error introduced in style and structure.

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
The smiths is removed and now IT refers clearly to the Forge. Correct

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
Prepositional modifier not correctly placed. Which wrongly used.

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years
Awkward construction


C
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Correct Option : C

Full sentence underline: things to check
1. Modifier
2. Tense
3. SV agreement

The sentence structure is divided in 3 parts:
A.}

[For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry,]

- The Kruijswijh Forge - Singular
- Has created - Singular
- the weaponry - Singular
- Tense - has + Past Participle (+ed Verb)
- usage of "WHAT" - connecting Subject (the Kruijswijh) and Object (weaponry)

B.}

[including
swords and axes,
hammers, and
bells,]

- list Parallelism


C.}
[making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world]

- Pronoun "IT" - (the Kruijswijk Forge)
- Making - Noun
- operating - Verb

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IMO C


For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world.


(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world IS is correcy instead of are

(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world.

what often perceived to be of the highest quality modifies is not clear


(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world. correct

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world in the former Hinterlands wrongly modifies

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years very awkward
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(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Incorrect S/V agreement - "have created" vs. "making it one"

(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Same issues as A

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Correct - correct tense usage, correct S/V agreement throughout

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Too wordy, improper use of semicolon.

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years

Too wordy, incorrect placement of last clause.

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Hello, JonShukhrat. I appreciate the thorough treatment of (A), and the cross-references are wonderful. Thank you for putting so much effort into your response. Kudos from me.

- Andrew



JonShukhrat
(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“what are often perceived” is used if the perceived thing is a plural noun, as in here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-single-f ... fl=similar)

“what is often perceived” is used if the perceived thing is a singular noun, as in here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/his-studies- ... -1363.html)

“weaponry” is an uncountable noun. So we need “is”.


(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

Correct. If we remove inessential modifier in between “, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells,”, then we have:
“…the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge have been creating weaponry often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it (the Forge) one of the oldest…”
“comma + making” makes sense with the subject of the sentence “the smiths”, and thus correctly implies that the actions of these smiths made the Forge one of the oldest businesses.

(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“making it” needs to make sense with the subject “the Kruijswijk Forge”. Hence we need “making ITSELF”.
Probably “swords and axes, hammers, and bells” is not ideal because “swords and axes” are not the name of one weapon, so they doesn’t need to be written this way.

(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

“which includes” is wrong because it implies that “weaponry” includes “axes, swords…” as its part, or accessory. In other words, it doesn’t mean “axels, swords…” themselves are weapons. This issue was tested here (https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-new-imag ... 75120.html)

(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years

“smiths” are talked about in general. Do these smiths work for the Kruijswijk Forge? there is nothing that links “smiths” to “The Kruijswijk Forge”. Two sentences seem unrelated.

So B
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(A) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have created what are often perceived to be weaponry of the highest quality, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

(smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands) have blah blah blah, making it blah blah blah.
It is a pronoun that refers back to the noun phrase and not to a specific noun. In this case "smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands" is the noun phrase and this noun phrase is plural because it takes on a plural verb "have".
Out


(B) For 800 years the smiths of the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands have been creating weaponry, including swords, axes, hammers, and bells, often perceived to be of the highest quality, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

This makes the same mistake as option A.
Out


(C) For 800 years the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands has created what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, making it one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

(the Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands) has blah blah blah, making it blah blah blah.
The problem in option A and B is not there in this one. Even though I would've preferred to have a noun here in place of the pronoun "it", I'll still keep this one.
Not Out, yet.


(D) For 800 years in the former Hinterlands, the Kruijswijk Forge has been creating weaponry, which includes swords, axes, hammers, and bells that are often perceived to be of the highest quality; as a result, the forge is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world

This one has the noun "the forge" and that is definitely better than it. At least that's the preference on the GMAT. Regardless, let's delve deeper.
(the Kruijswijk Forge) has blah blah blah weaponry, which includes blah blah blah that
", which" signals a 'not important' modifier that begins with a comma and ends with one. Though the GMAT doesn't test on punctuation only, this could be a signal that something might be wrong.
Now, "that" signals a relative clause and usually refers back to the nearest noun but, in some cases, "that" can refer back to a noun that may not be the closest one to "that". This is one of those cases. "That" here refers back to "weaponry" and "weaponry" is singular and cannot take a plural verb "are".
Unfortunately, Out.


(E) The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world; smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years

This one is good. There is no glaring grammar rule being violated if you ask me but there is a glaring meaning problem with it. The two independent clauses connected by a semicolon are not coherent. Here is why.
The Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world
Wow, the oldest continuously operating businesses in the world, huh? What do they make? Maybe laptops? Chairs? Maybe.

smiths have been creating what is often perceived to be the highest quality weaponry, including swords and axes, hammers, and bells, for 800 years
Oh wow, smiths have been in the doing this for a long time man! I wish I knew more about these smiths and where they come from. Maybe Winterlands or Hinterwaters. I so wish I knew.

Now, you see, the two sentences could be talking about two different things - the greatest carpenters - Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands and the smiths who have been working their butts off making weapons from I don't know where.
I don't know whether smiths were from Kruijswijk Forge in the former Hinterlands or from "We're the Smiths".
Out


Like it or not but we are stuck with option C.
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