Modifiers: Children often pick up on gender norms

Question

Children often pick up on gender norms very early in life, as many parents discover when  their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex.

(A) their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex
(B) only their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex
(C) their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex only
(D) toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil
(E) only toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil

AnishG · Answer

In everyday English, I'm sure we can all agree not much sounds wrong with the original sentence.
But this is GMAT. You've got to nitpick at times, and logic is crucial.

Here, the key error is the location of the word "only". It needs to properly modify the phrase "toddlers of the opposite sex", not "designed to appeal to...". Toys are designed with lots of functions in consideration - entertainment, safety, etc. and the word "only" severely restricts it!

(A) --> Incorrect
(B) --> "Only their toddlers"? This is even worse. Next!
(C) --> Correctly modifies "toddlers of the opposite sex". Contender!
(D) --> Again.. "Only been designed to appeal to" is wrong for the same reason as explained above, so, eliminate.
(E) --> The use of "only" is incorrect here as well - eliminate.

anurag7mukharya · Answer

Children often pick up on gender norms very early in life, as many parents discover when  their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex.

1. their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex

2. only their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex

3. their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex only

4. toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil

5. only toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil

msk0657 · Answer

This is actually true scenario..When my nephew (2 years) was given a Barbie toy, he thrown it away..

. Meaning : Children often pick up on gender norms very early in life and parents discovered that when their toddlers were given toys of the opposite sex they rejected them. A) ONLY been designed - the toddlers recoil - This is limiting the toys choice but as per meaning wise they consider recoiling all toys of opposite sex. B) ONLY their toddlers means their own babies throw them away but not others..meaning error. C) This is correct as per meaning wise. D) Toys which are designed cause the toddlers - meaning error. E) Same as D...I see that D and E are same.

daagh · Answer

Children often pick up on gender norms very early in life, as many parents discover when  their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex.

This thread is attempting the elucidate how limiting adverbs such as only, almost, now, rarely, seldom etc can mean differently when placed at different places in a clause. As a thumb rule, the limiting modifier modifies what comes next to it, except when they end the clauses. If they end the clause obviously, they have to modify what is in front.

1. their toddlers recoil at toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex--   only been designed means that the toys have only been designed but not released.

2. only their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex ---Only their toddlers means that only their toddlers but no other toddlers.

3. their toddlers recoil at toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex only— Here only modifies correctly the toddlers of the opposes sex

4. toys that have only been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil – the same error as in A makes it out of sync with the intended meaning.

5. only toys that have been designed to appeal to toddlers of the opposite sex cause their toddlers to recoil— here only refers to toys and not toddlers of the opposite sex.

chesstitans · Answer

the word "only" in this question is quite tricky for international students. 
C is correct b/c "only" modifies "sex"; the meaning is that toys are for one sex will not appeal to the opposite sex.

sallysea · Answer

Merged topics. Please, search before posting questions!

prateekchugh · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors 
As written, this sentence is illogical. No toy would be designed “only . . . to appeal to toddlers of
the opposite sex.” Toys are designed with lots of functions in mind—entertainment, safety, etc. The
modifier “only” is in the wrong place. It should be modifying “toddlers of the opposite sex.” The
correct answer will place it properly.

Step 2: Scan and Group the Answer Choices 
The choices place the word “only” in a variety of different places. Because this is the only error
we’ve spotted, and “only” should go toward the end of the sentence, we expect that the correct
answer will still start the same way as the underlined part of the original sentence, so let’s split
the choices along these lines. (A) and (C) retain “their toddlers” at the beginning of the underlined
segment; choices (B), (D), and (E) do not.

Step 3: Eliminate Choices Until Only One Remains 
We know that (A) is incorrect, and chances are that (B), (D), and (E) make erroneous changes, so
let’s start by checking choice (C). Here, “only” falls at the very end of the sentence and correctly
modifies “toddlers of the opposite sex.” This is the correct answer. For the record: (B) uses “only” to
modify “their toddlers,” so that the sentence now excludes any other toddlers. That’s not the intended
meaning of the original sentence, so (B) is incorrect. (D) rephrases the underlined segment, but the
word “only” still modifies the verb “designed,” so the original error is preserved. (E) uses “only”
to modify “toys,” so that the sentence now indicates that nothing besides toys can cause toddlers
to recoil. This is again not the intended meaning of the original sentence, so it is also incorrect.
Choice (C) is the correct answer.

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Modifiers: Children often pick up on gender norms

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Modifiers: Children often pick up on gender norms

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