Here we need to focus on 4 Concepts:1. Difference between the single dash and double dash
2. Dash that inscribes description/ additional information of a noun just before the first dash.
3. Finding Parallelism
4. Whether 'that thus' is correct?
1. Difference between the single dash and double dashSingle Dash works as a tool to add extra information of a noun preceding the dash.
There are two types of single dashes - en dash(smaller in length) and em dash(longer in length)
en dash (smaller in length) is used as a connector eg. connecting two numbers (year 1969-70)
em dash (longer in lenght) is often used to quote example. eg. I am worried about two things -- wild animals and dark weather.
Double Dash works like a comma. Words between two dashes modify a noun preceding the first dash. (see below)
2. Dashes that inscribes description/ additional information of a noun just before the first dash.Archaeologists have excavated a “built” boat
, a boat constructed out of planks fitted together, and have observed something.....
above sentence can be rewritten as
Archaeologists have excavated a “built” boat
- a boat constructed out of planks fitted together- and have observed something.....
3. Finding ParallelismIn a given sentence:
Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted together—and that thus represents a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.we need to identify parallelism.
Let's follow the process:i) I observed conjunction
'and'ii) after the conjunction, I have
that thusiii) I am trying to identify the first part to which (ii) can be parallel
iv) I observed
that isv) I need to understand the meaning and correct application of parallelism-
Archaeologists have excavated old wooden hull that is .... and that thus .....
Re-reading:
5000 year old Wooden Hull
that is
(the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat) and
that thus
(represents a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology)4. Whether 'that thus' is correct?It is not wrong!
Let's look into other options!Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted
together—and that thus represents a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.
(A) together—and that thus representsCorrect!(B) together—and this has represented Revised Sentence -
Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted
together—and this has represented a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.
Explanation-
('and this' is wrong. Meaning wise 'this' refers back to wooden hull that represented a major advance? 5000 year old itself is not a major advance. Rather, excavating such boat represents a major advance. Additionally, using past tense is wrong. Had there been a noun 'excavation', we could have used 'this' to refer back that noun. Hence, eliminated)(C) together, and it represents Revised Sentence -
Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted
together, and it represents a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.
Explanation-
('it' refers back to wooden hull. Thus, meaning wise distorted as quoted in B above, hence, eliminated)(D) together that was representingRevised Sentence -
Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted
together that was representing a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.
Explanation-
Here that refers to what? planks? and 'was representing' means something was true in past not in present. Hence, distorts meaning! Eliminated!(E) together to representRevised Sentence -
Archaeologists in Egypt have excavated a 5,000-year-old wooden hull that is the earliest surviving example of a “built” boat—in other words, a boat constructed out of planks fitted
together to represent a major advance, in terms of boat-building technology, over the dugout logs and reed vessels of more ancient vintage.
Explanation-
'to represent' suggests planks fitted together with a purpose to represent a major advance. Distorted meaning. Eliminated~GMAT Experts can please correct me -
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