HOT Competition 26 Aug/8PM: In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translati

Option C,D, and E are wrong because of the presence of it. Also the presence of had taken in C and E is incorrect.

Between A and B,option A has parallelism issues. In option B a work that took eight years to complete is better than a work that, taking him eight years until completion.Also choice B avoids all parallelism and verb tense issues.

So, B is the correct choice.

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In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.


A. his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced --> incorrect: that and that ..

B. his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced --> correct

C. his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as --> incorrect: already "that" is there to refer the work, no need of "it"

D. translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as --> incorrect: same as C

E. translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it --> incorrect: "a work" & "James White pronounced it" is a clause --> can't be parallel

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A. a work that what? incomplete clause
B Correct
C had - incorrect tense
pronounced as is wrong
a work that JW pronounced it (work) no need to use it again
D pronounced as is wrong
a work that JW pronounced it (work) no need to use it again
E. had - wrong tense
a work that JW pronounced it (work) no need to use it again

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Let’s look at the sentence structure:

In 1713,
Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero,
a work
that, taking him seven years until completion,
and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.

In 1713, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero. The sentence then presents a Noun + Noun modifier modifying “translation”. The modifier first refers to “translation” using the Noun “work”. Then, the noun modifier consists of two parallel relative clauses. Essentially, the sentence wants to say that this translation took seven years to complete and that James White pronounced this translation the greatest translation in any language.

The sentence has the following errors:

First “that” clause doesn’t have a verb. “Taking” is acting as a verb-ing modifier, in the absence of a helping verb.
When we want to express the time an activity took to complete, we should use “time to complete” rather than “time until completion”.



(A) Incorrect. For the reasons mentioned above.

(B) Correct. Both the errors of the original sentence have been corrected without introducing any new errors.

(C) Incorrect. For the following reasons:

-- The use of past perfect “had taken” is incorrect. Since this action took place after the action of “beginning”, which is expressed in simple past (began), it cannot be expressed using past perfect.
--The use of “it” is incorrect. “that” acts as the object in the second “that” clause. “it” creates redundancy.
--The structure “pronounced X Y” is preferred over “pronounced X as Y”.

(D) Incorrect. For the following reasons:

--> “until completion” is not recommended in the given context, as explained in the sentence analysis.
--> The use of “it” is incorrect. “that” acts as the object in the second “that” clause. “it” creates redundancy.
--> In this option, “a work” refers to the activity of translation (translating) and not the final product (translation). While we can say that the activity took seven years to complete, we cannot say that the activity was pronounced the greatest translation. Therefore, the given structure leads to illogical meaning.
--> The structure “pronounced X Y” is preferred over “pronounced X as Y”.


(E) Incorrect. For the following reasons:

--> The use of past perfect “had taken” is incorrect. Since this action took place after the action of “beginning”, which is expressed in simple past (began), it cannot be expressed using past perfect.
-->“literary critic…” begins another independent clause, which is not joined properly with the previous independent clause. There needs to be a comma before “and” for correct punctuation.
--> Since “translation” doesn’t exist as a noun in the sentence, there is no logical antecedent for “it”.


(B) Correct

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A: clause before "and" has verb missing. taking by itself isn't a verb (-ing verbs always need supporting verbs like is/was to function as verb)
B: right answer (corrects the errors in choice A)
C: verb tense error. began is written in simple past tense, but complete is written as past perfect (had taken 8 years). The earlier of the 2 events is usually written as past perfect. Here, that would imply the completion happened before he began the work, which is nonsensical
D and E: they have the same error. The word translation has been converted to "translating" which is now being used as a verb. So, "a work" has no logical noun antecedents. Hence, D and E are wrong

The modifier issue is being tested:

A. Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

1. “a work that, taking him eight years until completion” – when we want “verb+ing” to acts as a noun modifier, we actually place it right after that noun or noun phrase, but NOT after another noun modifier “that”.
2. “a work that, taking him eight years until completion” – when “that clause” acts as an adjective, it must have a verb, as does “that literary critic James White pronounced…”.
3. we also can see that two parallel elements such as “that” are actually structurally non-parallel.


B. Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

Bingo, the correct answer. Correct modification and parallel elements.


C. Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

1. The sentence says that Alexander Pope had completed the work before starting the translation. The past perfect tense is illogical.
2. “pronounced it as” – here the pronoun “it” doesn’t work. It shouldn’t be there.
We usually say “that’s the job you should complete”
But we don’t say “that’s the job you should complete IT”


D. Roger Simpson began translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

1. as is written, now a noun modifier “a work” refers to the only preceding logical noun “the Prospero”. That’s not the intended meaning.
2. “pronounced it as” – here the pronoun “it” doesn’t work. It shouldn’t be there.
We usually say “that’s the job you should complete”
But we don’t say “that’s the job you should complete IT”
3. ”a work that took eight years until completion” is ambiguous as opposed to “to complete”. “until completion” of what?

E. Roger Simpson began translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it

1. as is written, now a noun modifier “a work” refers to the only preceding logical noun “the Prospero”. That’s not the intended meaning.
2. “pronounced it as” – here the pronoun “it” doesn’t work. It shouldn’t be there.
We usually say “that’s the job you should complete”
But we don’t say “that’s the job you should complete IT”

Hence B

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In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.

In 1840, Roger Simpson (Subject) began(verb) his translation of the Prospero: Till now everything is good.
“…a work that, taking him seven years until completion and that”....."that and that": wrong parallelism

A. his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

B. his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

“a work that took him seven years to complete and that literary critic Samuel Johnson… pronounced….” correct parallelism....Hence Correct Answer

C. his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

Problems:

1) had taken: used only in past perfect---> this is telling us that first "eight years to complete " action done, then began "his translation of the Prospero"...Absolutely incorrect.

2) improper use of ‘it’ here: it is referring to work...replace it with work....a work that literary critic James White pronounced the work as the greatest translation in any language.----> illogical.

D. translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

Problems:

1) it---same as option C
2) "work" here now refers to Illiad instead of the "Translation". The correct answer should have the noun "translation".

E. translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it

Problems:
1) "translating" -- it should be "translation".
2) "Had taken" is a wrong use of past perfect tense.
3) Pronoun "it" - improper usage

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IMO B

In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.

A. his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced Incorrect
# Modifier & Meaning Error: Modifier “…a work that, taking him seven years until completion…" doesn't makes less sense. Striking out the portion between comma sentence will convey - a work that and that ......which doesn’t make sense

B. his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced Correct
# Correct: Parallelism is perfect in this choice -" A work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White....... pronounced"

C. his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as Incorrect
# Tense & Pronoun Error: Past perfect is used for sequencing of two action in past- earlier action in "past perfect" & latter in "simple past". But here work “had taken seven years to complete” BEFORE "Pope began translating it".
Pronoun “it” refer to “a work.” but doesn't make sense in saying -" A work James pronounced a work as .

D. translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as Incorrect
# Pronoun Meeting Error: Pronoun “it” refer to “a work.” but doesn't make sense in saying -" A work James pronounced a work as

E. translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it Incorrect
# Tense & Pronoun Error: The use of the past perfect “had taken” & the use of “it” is for same reasons as (C),

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In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.


A. his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced
incorrect - taking him - wrong tense used

B. his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced
correct

C. his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as
Incorrect - that and it together does not make sense to me

D. translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as
Incorrect - same error as mentioned in C

E. translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it
Incorrect - had taken seems unnecessary

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This question is very much copy of OG question https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1713-alex ... tml#p86088.

I did attempt this OG question yesterday so I remember it. If whosoever is attempting this question has any doubt, please go to main OG question. GMATNinja and few other experts have spent lot of time on that OG question and helped many test takers. I will be honest ->I don't feel like writing explanation for this question because GMATNinja has posted wonderful explanation here https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1713-alexander-pope-began-his-translation-of-the-illiad-a-work-th-65410.html#p1975173

For sake of my Avengers team, here I go

Quote:

In 1840, Roger Simpson began his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced the greatest translation in any language.

Quote:

A. his translation of the Prospero, a work that, taking him eight years until completion, and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

Option a has modifier issue...a work that, taking him eight years... why don't we just say "a work that took him".
It has parallelism issue- that taking him ...and that pronounced are not parallel.

Eight years until completion vs Eight years to complete-- Which is better ? I think "Eight years to complete" is crisp and elegant.

Quote:

B. his translation of the Prospero, a work that took him eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced

I chose option B.
a work that->Noun +Noun modifier is very well used.
"work that took him eight years to complete" is parallel to "that literary critic James White pronounced"

No issue issue with B.

Quote:

C. his translation of the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

Here, Past perfect “had taken” doesn’t make any sense at all.
Other issue is with idiom pronounced. Pronounced as is wrong
Correct usage of Pronounced is Pronounced X, Y
The other problem is with the pronoun “it.” The referent is clear enough: “it” must refer to “a work.” But there’s no reason to include “it” in the middle of a phrase that modifies the word “work” to begin with:

Eliminate option C.

Quote:

D. translating the Prospero, a work that took eight years until completion and that literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it as

This option also has "it" and "Pronounced as" issues. Please see above explanation for details.
This option also has meaning change. Original sentence says, Simpson began his translation but this option says Simpson translating. In other words, did only Simpson translated Prospero ? Woah, No.

Also, there another huge problem, Prospero, a work--> Prospero was not a work that took eight years to completion

Eliminate option D.

Quote:

E. translating the Prospero, a work that had taken eight years to complete and literary critic James White, Simpson’s contemporary, pronounced it

Option E repeats Past perfect error & meaning issue

Option B is BEST. IMO Answer: B

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Experts! Can you help me with a little problem?

I still think the sentence should end like this: ".. Simpson's contemporary, pronounced as the greates translation of .."

I actually answer option D) because I though the "as" was necessary for clarity, as this example: "A question that Matias declared as the thoughest question in GMAT Club"

Can you help me understand where is the problem?

Hi. You can say "Charles was declared King of England" or "The victim was pronounced dead at 1 PM"
You technically do not need "AS" after declared or pronounced.

Hi matiasvale

“pronounce A as B” is unidiomatic.
You should simply say “pronounce A B”.

The same is true for “declare”.
“declare A as B” is unidiomatic.
You should simply say “declare A B”.

Here are some example sentences from Cambridge dictionary:

- The jury pronounced him guilty. (not “as gulty”)
- She surveyed the building and pronounced herself pleased with their work. (not “as pleased”)
- The dessert was tried and pronounced delicious. (not “as delicious”)
- She declared the spaghetti wonderful.

The following official problem tests the correct usage of the idiom: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1923-the- ... 24528.html

This HOT question is a slightly changed version of the following official problem: https://gmatclub.com/forum/in-1713-alex ... 65410.html


Also note that “it” in D is wrongly used. RonPurewal explains with simple examples here: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... tml#p89989

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