EMPOWERgmatVerbal wrote:
Official Explanation:
Because there is a lack of a single factor to appraise the art against, calculating the market value of art is subjective.
A. Because there is a lack of a single factor to appraise the art against, calculating the market value of art is subjective.
B. Subjective is to calculate the market value of art because a single factor is lacking against which the art can be appraised.
C. It is subjective to calculate the market value of art because against no single factor can the art be appraised.
D. To calculate the market value of art is subjective because there is no single factor that the art can be appraised against.
E. Calculating the market value of art is subjective because there is no single factor against which the art can be appraised.
Since the entire sentence is underlined, let’s review our answer choices one by one.
Option A: Because there is a lack of a single factor to appraise the art against, calculating the market value of art is subjective.
“A lack of a single factor” is wordy and awkward. The preposition (against) is away from the noun (factor) it connects to. It is unlikely that this is the best answer.
Option B: Subjective is to calculate the market value of art because a single factor is lacking against which the art can be appraised.
“Subjective” is the subject of this sentence. The way this sentence is arranged, it seems like the definition of “subjective” is to calculate the market value of art. That is not the meaning of subjective, so this sentence is at the very least unclear and misleading. It cannot be the best answer.
Option C: It is subjective to calculate the market value of art because against no single factor can the art be appraised.
Once again, it is unclear if the sentence is simply providing an example of something subjective or if the only possible thing “subjective” could be is calculating the market value of art. Flipping the order of the subject and verb in the “because” clause creates an awkward sentence. This cannot be best answer.
Option D: To calculate the market value of art is subjective because there is no single factor that the art can be appraised against.
Using the infinitive (to calculate) as the subject is not quite clear here. Is it the calculations themselves that are subjective or the process of calculating (how to calculate) the value subjective? The preposition (against) is very removed from the noun (factor) it governs. This lack of clarity and poorly placed preposition means this cannot be the best answer.
Option E: Calculating the market value of art is subjective because there is no single factor against which the art can be appraised.
The use of the gerund (calculating) is clearer than using the infinitive. It is clear it is not the calculations themselves but the process of calculating that is subjective. The preposition is in the correct location, paired with “which.” “No single factor” is concise compared to “there is a lack of a single factor.” This sentence is concise, clear, and grammatically correct.
Option E is the best answer.
EMPOWERgmatVerbal, would like to ask on option C.
Flipping the order of the subject and verb in the “because” clause creates an awkward sentence. Does it mean that we can test whether a sentence has the correct form or not by flipping the subject and the object? I tried to flip the subject and object on option C and E, and seems like option C does not make sense if it is flipped. Hence, the structure is wrong. Am I understanding it correctly?
(1) ... Because against
no single factor can
the art be appraised --> Because against
the art be appraised can
no single factor (2) ... Because
there is
no single factor against which the art can be appraised. --> Because
no single factor is
there against which the art can be appraised