Patriarchal in nature, with a strong emphasis on the role of the ances

Here, there is an important word, which is THEIR, in non-underlined part. THEIR is used for what? Is it used for ANCESTORS or THE TRIBES?
Actually, ‘THEIR’ is used instead of THE TRIBEs not ANCESTORs, because the location of ANCESTORS is INSIDE of preposition/ prepositional phrase (OF the…). When we have something INSIDE of preposition, then it can’t be subject for a single moment! So, we need a subject in the underlined part. But, in option C and D, the location of the subject (THE TRIBES) is also INSIDE of preposition/prepositional phrase (OF the…). But, we are NOT allowed to use subject THE TRIBES inside of preposition. So, we must cross out option C and D in case of above discussion.

In option A, ‘THEY’ is used for what? In this option, ‘THEY’ is trying to indicate “a well structured traditional society’’. But, is it possible to use THEY as a pronoun of “a well structured traditional society’’? ---Nope. We are not permitted to use ‘THEY’ instead of SOCIETY! So, option A is cross out as well.

In option E, “well structured” is the modifier of “traditional Society”. So, we should not separate it by THAT clause. Also, “a traditional society that is well structured” makes weird sound. The use of “a well structured traditional society” is perfectly fine. Because, the tribes of South Africa have a “well structured traditional society” NOT the tribes of South Africa have a “traditional society that is well structured”’ which is weird to hear! Most importantly, THAT clause did not complete the sentence; so, it is sentence fragment.

In option B, the intended meaning of the sentence and grammar structure have been used perfectly. So, the correct answer is choice B.
Thanks to all…
_________________

Between B and E, i will go with B

Patriarchal in nature, with a strong emphasis on the role of the ancestors in their day to day lives, the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that they strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas.

A. the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that they strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
Tense shift

B. the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
Tenses taken care of by converting the second element into passive.

C. the well structured traditional society of the tribes of South Africa is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
Modifier error. We are discussing about the Tribes here and not the society.

D. the traditional society of the tribes of South Africa is well structured and strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
Same error as in C

E. the tribes of South Africa have a traditional society that is well structured and is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
I think we have a logical error here (grammatically everything seems fine)
Two aspects of Traditional society are made parallel here-
1) well structured and
2) is strictly adhered to
In addition to the fact that one of them is passive and the other one active (this fact is accepted sometimes), the two elements are not logically parallel. One of them shows the inherent quality of the society and the other talk about the fact that the tribes adhere to it. On these grounds i reject this choice. Hope im correct

My answer: C

We see that the sentence starts with a modifier "patriarchal in nature", so we need to find out what that modifies. The two options are "tribes" and "society". The modifier continues by saying that "something has a strong emphasis on role of ...". Between the two subjects, "society" makes more sense - it has a nature of xyz and emphasizes on ... xyz.

This eliminates A, B, E.

A. Also has a tense issue - tribes "have" (simple tense) .... they "adhered to" (past tense).

D. Says two things about the society - it is well structured and strictly adhered to. I think that this creates an unnecessary list and deviates from the original sentence. I'm thinking that the society is adhered to because it is well structured and not that there is a society that is well structured and adhered to. Who knows...

JAMBOBREE OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

“Tribes” vs. “society” (“in their day to...” points to a plural subject)... “adhered” vs. “is adhered” (“have a society” points to present tense)...“well structured society” vs. “society that is well structured”....The subject after the comma has to be the ‘tribes’ and not the ‘society’.

1. ......society that they adhere to.... - the pronoun‘ they’ can be avoided to eliminate any kind of ambiguity or even to make the sentence concise. As shown in choice B.
2. CORRECT
3. Patriarchal in nature,with a strong......., the well-structured society..... - Incorrect modification.
4. Same as C
5. .....society that is well-structured.... - wordy construction.

Answer: B.
_________________

Hi,
(for jamboree staff)
I may sound naive but can the society be strictly adhered to or its rules...
would "the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that is strictly adhered to"
or " the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society with traditions that are strictly adhered to" sound correct?
Regards
_________________

Yes, the point raised is valid. We do not adhere to a society, we belong to a society. We adhere to the rules of a society.
Adherence is to the rules not to a group.
_________________

Hi,
I did not understand. Is the society patriarchal or the tribes. I chose D as i thought they are referring to the society, which is patriarchal in nature :S Please help.

Damn! A good one! Modifier, by mistake I took as society. However, the previous poster clearly points this out too. Ancestors in their daily lives... Their must refer back to a plural modifier, which in case can only be tribes. Thus, D is out. Without a doubt then, B stands out because A has they adhered, and that is incorrect because it makes it past tense. The sentence is present and is adhered correctly puts that.

first, since I do not understand the word "patriarchal", I get confused about the options.
Among those options, B is best b/c C,D are passive, E is awkward and A has "they" and hence is wrong.

A. the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that they strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
Seems like they adhered to => means they do not adhere anymore => Eliminated
B. the tribes of South Africa have a well structured traditional society that is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas

C& D are directly out
C. the well structured traditional society of the tribes of South Africa is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
D. the traditional society of the tribes of South Africa is well structured and strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas

E. the tribes of South Africa have a traditional society that is well structured and is strictly adhered to, especially in the rural areas
incorrect meaning=> well structured and strictly adhered to especially in rural areas => out side rural areas it is not well structured

the tribes have a traditional structure and they strictly adhere to the traditional structure.

Thus Option B perfectly fits the bet.

Patriarchal can modify both the society and tribe, but it is more inclined towards Society. Pls explain how option C & D is eliminated based on this modifier issue

this question is a spin-off of another version of a question from OG. This question should not be so hard if test takers pay attentions to the right detail
C,D,E are run-on sentences.
A is out b/c of ambiguous pronoun "they"

I have the same question. I thought the society was patriarchal in nature not the tribes. chetan2u please explain

The question is a flawed on two accounts..
1) As you have said, the societies are patriarchal and not tribes. You can say tribal societies are patriarchal.
2) One does not adhere to society but to the rules of the society.
_________________

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________