In 1925 she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas

Question

In 1925 she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard, and  Zora Neale Hurston was the only Black student in the entire college.

A. In 1925 she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard, and
B. For studying anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard she won a scholarship in 1925, and
C. Winning, in 1925, a scholarship for studying anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard,
D. When she had won a scholarship in 1925 for studying anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard
E. In 1925 when she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard

milanrajb · Answer

I think its C

The name of the person is mentioned later in the sentence. Hence, the first part should be a modifier generally.

I would request an expert to validate.

Thanks

KingOfTheCheckers · Answer

I understand why the OA should be E, but shouldn't there be a comma at the end of the response? Otherwise, it becomes a run-on.

ap2201 · Answer

Dear experts,

Could you pls guide as to how to choose b/w Cand E? 
To me, they both seem logically and grammatically correct, with only ever so slight diff. in meaning.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  KingOfTheCheckers ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, although Option E should ideally have a comma at the end, it does not form a run-on sentence because "when she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard" is not an independent clause; remember, a run-on sentence is one wherein two independent clauses are joined with a comma.

To understand the concept of "Comma Splices and Run-Ons" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~5 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWMk9y2eiYI

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  ap2201 ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the use of the present participle ("verb+ing" - "winning" in this case) implies that  because  Zora Neale Hurston won a scholarship for studying anthropology under Franz Boas at Barnard, she was the only Black student in the entire college; this meaning is illogical, as there is no causative link between Zora winning the scholarship and her being the only black student.

The intended, and far more logical, meaning is that at the time when Zora won the scholarship, she was the only Black student in the entire college.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

KarishmaB · Answer

We often use the present participle at the beginning of the sentence to show two actions at the same time or to explain a reason (as if we have started with 'because').

Whistling a tune, he crossed the road absentmindedly. (He has whistling and crossing the road)
Knowing his sister was en route, he tidied up. (Because he knew his sister was en route, he tidied up)

(C) Winning, in 1925, a scholarship, Zora was the only Black student in the entire college.

Neither do we have two simultaneous actions nor a reason. In fact this sentence doesn't tell us when Zora was the only Black student in the college. Of course, there should to be a point of time in the sentence because she was the only Black student at that time. But this sentence just tells us that she won the scholarship in 1925.

(E) In 1925 when she won a scholarship, Zora was the only Black student in the entire college.

Now we know that in 1925 she won the scholarship and at that time she was the only Black woman in college.

In 1925 she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

In 1925 she won a scholarship to study anthropology under Franz Boas

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