Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel wrote:
Because it regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, the city council voted that they are denied permission for participating in the parade.
(A) that they are denied permission for participating
(B) that they be denied permission for participating
(C) denying them permission for participation
(D) the denial of permission that they participate
(E) to deny them permission to participate
(SC00970)
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning is that because the city council regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, it voted to deny them permission to participate in the parade.
Concepts tested here: Subjunctive Mood + Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness• The use of the verb “voted” indicates that the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.
• “bossy verb (“voted”) + infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”- “deny” in this sentence)” and “bossy verb + that + something be done” are correct, subjunctive usages.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "denied permission for participating"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the city council voted to deny the environmentalists
some unspecified permission
because they participated in the parade; the intended meaning is that the city council voted to deny the environmentalists the permission needed
to participate in the parade. Further, this answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood usage because of the usage “they are denied” rather than “they be denied”; remember, the use of the verb “voted” indicates that the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context, and “bossy verb + that + something be done” is the correct, subjunctive usage.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "denied permission for participating"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the city council voted to deny the environmentalists
some unspecified permission
because they participated in the parade; the intended meaning is that the city council voted to deny the environmentalists the permission
to participate in the parade.
C: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "voted denying them permission for participation", leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that because the city council regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, it voted to deny them permission to participate in the parade.
D: The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "voted the denial of permission", leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that because the city council regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, it voted to deny them permission to participate in the parade.
E: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "voted to deny them permission to participate", conveying the intended meaning - that because the city council regarded the environmentalists as members of an out-of-state organization, it voted to deny them the permission needed
to participate in the parade. Further, Option E uses the correct, subjunctive mood construction “bossy verb (“voted”) + infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”- “deny” in this sentence)”. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Subjunctive Mood Structures" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~x minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team