PaterD wrote:
Mr @mikemcgarry I'm looking for help on this question, I hope you can give me your opinion and perspective regarding the official answer and is explanation.
Allegedly the meaning of the sentence is the most important factor after: Grammar and stylistic and redundancy, but in this case, the phrase is shocking, I've never seen a phrase like this where the meaning seams flawed...
My choice was E, as changes the meaning (for the better in my opinion) and is grammatically correct.
Hello
PaterD,
I will be glad to help you out with this one.
There is no doubt that this official sentence is pretty mind-boggling, literally.
We do not come across such sentences very often. But yes, the original sentence is absolutely grammatical.
For all his managerial and executive ability, President Hoover was often awkward and uncomfortable in his dealings with people.
Meaning Analysis]: First thing first. Let's understand the intended meaning of the sentence. The first part of the sentence says that President Hoover had managerial and executive ability. The second part of the sentence says that often, he was awkward and uncomfortable when it came to dealing with people.
So apparently, the sentence presents contrasting characteristics of President Hoover.
Error Analysis: The sentence does not use any contrasting word although it presents a contrast.
However, the phrase
for all his managerial and executive ability is an expression that suggests that inherent contrast in the sentence. The phrase for all his xyz is generally followed by the information pretty contrasting in nature to what has been presented through the
for phrase.
So we will hold on to this answer choice, unless we find a better choice that expresses the contrast in a better way.
Process of Elimination: So let's begin this step to see if option A really is the correct answer choice.
B) For all that he was an able manager and executive:
Incorrect The phrase
for all that... does not mean anything.
C) Despite him being an able manager and executive:
Incorrect Use of the word
despite is definitely more precise and direct to present the intended contrast. But the word
being has been used incorrectly in this option.
D) Able as he was in being a manager and executive:
Incorrect Same error as we saw in Choice B.
E) Even having managerial and executive abilities:
Incorrect If there were
Despite in place of
Even, this choice would have been a contender for correct answer. The word
even fails to present the contrast effectively.
Hence. Choice A indeed is the
correct answer.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
As you highlight there is a contrast in the the sentence but is not directly mentioned.
A - For all his managerial and executive ability, President Hoover was often awkward and uncomfortable in his dealings with people.
Because/Despite/For A then B. Awkward... but still grammatically correct. We agree.
E - Even having managerial and executive abilities, President Hoover was often awkward and uncomfortable in his dealings with people.
However/Despite/In Spite of/ Even A then B. Would not neglect the contrast but highlight it in a direct way.
In this sense, the only explanation I find, is that the idea is a paradox... So Even changes the intented meaning and so the answer is flawed.