Re: Agatha Christie wrote some of her best works between 1920 and 1940
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19 Jul 2019, 11:14
The most important part of the sentence is its non-underlined part:
Agatha Christie wrote some of her best works between 1920 and 1940...
Next we are going to describe a two-decade period between 1920 and 1940. If we describe this period with a period when, then we will mean that Agatha Christie wrote her best works at some point between 1920 and 1940, let’s say in 1925. A period when will refer to this exact year 1925, and mean that some of her best works were written not periodically during two decades, but exactly in 1925 (or at any other certain time point). Not the intended meaning.
If we describe a two-decade period between 1920 and 1940 with a period during which, then we mean that some of her best works were written during this two decades, let’s say one of them in 1924, the second one in 1932, the third one in 1937, etc. That’s the reason why the author points out to the time period between 1920 and 1940. In order to deliver the correct meaning we prefer a period during which to a period when.
With that in mind let’s analyze answer choices.
A. between 1920 and 1940, a period when many successful light-hearted whodunits were written
We have already thoroughly analyzed why this answer choice doesn’t deliver the intended meaning.
B. between 1920 and 1940, in which many successful light-hearted whodunits were written
Which must refer to a noun, but between 1920 and 1940 is an adverb modifying a verb wrote. Thus which doesn’t correctly modify a time period.
C. between 1920 and 1940, during which many successful light-hearted whodunits were written
Which must refer to a noun, but between 1920 and 1940 is an adverb modifying a verb wrote. Thus which doesn’t correctly modify a time period.
D. between 1920 and 1940, when many successful light-hearted whodunits were written
As in A, when doesn’t correctly emphasize a two-decade time period, but it refers to a certain point in that period. Not-intended meaning.
E. between 1920 and 1940, a period during which many successful light-hearted whodunits were written
As we have already discussed above a period during which conveys the intended meaning.
Hence E.