Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
metallicafan wrote:
Ancient hunter-gatherers developed instincts that stigmatized selfishness, and voluntary cooperation was encouraged as well, whether it be within the group or also with outsiders.
(A) selfishness, and voluntary cooperation was encouraged as well, whether it be within the group or
(B) selfishness, encouraging voluntary cooperation as well, both within the group but
(C) selfishness and also encouraging voluntary cooperation, within the group and
(D) selfishness and they encouraged voluntary cooperation, whether it be within the group or
(E) selfishness and encouraged voluntary cooperation, not only within the group but
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that ancient hunter-gatherers developed instincts that stigmatized selfishness and encouraged voluntary cooperation both within the group and with outsiders.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Verb Forms + Grammatical Construction + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy • Information that is vital to the core meaning of the sentence cannot be placed between commas.
• Semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; commas cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
• The introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “encouraging” in this case) after the comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
• “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
A: This answer choice incorrectly places information that is vital to the core meaning of the sentence – the fact that ancient hunter-gatherers' instincts encouraged voluntary cooperation as well – between commas; remember, information that is vital to the core meaning of the sentence cannot be placed between commas. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase “whether it be within the group or”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “encouraging voluntary cooperation as well”; the use of the “comma + present participle (“verb+ing” - “encouraging” in this sentence)” construction incorrectly implies that ancient hunter-gatherers' instincts stigmatized selfishness, and
as a result encouraged voluntary cooperation as well; the intended meaning is that ancient hunter-gatherers' instincts stigmatized selfishness, and
as a separate action encouraged voluntary cooperation as well; remember, the introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “encouraging” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “both A (“within the group”) but also B (“with outsiders”); remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing"- “encouraging” in this case) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses conjunction (“and” in this case) to join two independent clauses - “Ancient hunter-gatherers developed instincts that stigmatized selfishness” and “they encouraged voluntary cooperation”; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses. Further, Option D uses the needlessly indirect phrase “whether it be within the group”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “and encouraged voluntary cooperation”, conveying the intended meaning – that ancient hunter-gatherers' instincts stigmatized selfishness, and
as a separate action encouraged voluntary cooperation as well. Further, Option E correctly uses the simple past tense verb “encouraged” to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option E avoids the grammatical construction error seen in Option A, as it places no information between commas. Moreover, Option E avoids the grammatical construction error seen in Option D, as it includes only one independent clause. Option E also correctly uses the idiomatic construction “not only A (“within the group”) but also B (“with outsiders”)”; “not only A but also B” is the correct, idiomatic usage; A must be parallel to B. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the use of punctuations on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~10 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Comma Plus Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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17 Apr 2011, 18:40
6%
(01:10)
wrong 
