Will2020 wrote:
DmitryFarber wrote:
ArindamLuckyYes, we can! None of the "that" phrases in A-D are parallel with the rest of the structure.
DmitryFarber GMATNinja is answer choice (D) a run-on sentence? If there was a comma before "
and had a reputation" would it be right? Or the meaning of the sentence would still be wrong?
Thank you!
If we put a comma before "and had a reputation," we would seemingly have a parallel list of verbs sharing the same subject ("newspaper story"):
"The newspaper story...
1) accurately recounted the history of the colonial mansion,
2) said that it contained thirteen rooms,
3) and had a reputation for being a haunted house."
Of course that doesn't make any sense: the newspaper story didn't have a reputation for being a haunted house! Even without the added comma, the lack of an "and" before "said" in choice (D) makes the reader think we are getting a parallel list of verbs that should be tied back to the same subject ("newspaper story").
The "and" before "said" in choice (E) makes the logical interpretation more clear:
"The newspaper story...
1) accurately recounted the history of the colonial mansion
2) and said that the mansion...
a) contained thirteen rooms
b) and had the reputation of being haunted."
Also, the "it" in choice (D) is a little ambiguous. That's not a deal-breaker, but (E) avoids that problem entirely. Also, the use of "for" in choice (D) isn't ideal. To help understand why, consider this example:
"Tim has a reputation for being a real jerk."
This implies that Tim
actively acts like a jerk when he interacts with people. Of course, Tim isn't ALWAYS
being a real jerk. Sometimes he's just eating or sleeping or watching the Knicks play mediocre basketball.
Being a real jerk is something that Tim actively does in certain situations, and presumably he could decide to STOP being a jerk, if he were so inclined. (Also, maybe he'd be nicer if the Knicks could actually win a playoff series?)
Similarly, the "for" in choice (D) seems to suggest that "being a haunted house" is something that the mansion does actively or consciously -- as if the mansion could decide to STOP being a haunted house. On the other hand, the "of" in choice (E) more accurately suggests that "being a haunted house" is a passive characteristic, not something the house can theoretically turn on and off.
That's probably not enough reason to say that the "for" is flat-out WRONG in choice (D), but it's one last small vote in favor of (E).
I hope that helps!