Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that despite the fact that Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel brought her the widest acclaim, and as a result, it won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatial Construction + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
• The introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “winning” and "bringing" in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses "in that" to refer to a cause-effect relationship; remember, "because" is used to refer to a cause-effect relationship, and "in that" is used to refer to intrinsic properties. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “both A as well as B”; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "which was published in 1982", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "published", "bringing", and "winning" are all modifiers, there is no active verb to act upon the subject, "her third novel".

C: Correct. This answer choice acts upon the independent noun phrase "her third novel" with the active verb "brought" to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Further, Option C uses the phrase " brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize"; the construction of this phrase and the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "winning" in this sentence)" construction convey the intended meaning - that despite the fact that Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel brought her the widest acclaim, and, as a result of bringing her the most acclaim, it won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Further, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic construction "both A and B". Additionally, Option C avoids the idiom error seen in Option A, as it uses the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "winning" in this sentence)" construction to convey a cause-effect relationship. Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice uses the phrase "was published in 1982 and which...brought her the widest acclaim", forming an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that despite the fact that Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel brought her the widest acclaim.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim"; the construction of this phrase and the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "winning" and "bringing" in this sentence) incorrectly imply that despite the fact that Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel was published in 1982, and, as a result of being published in 1982, it both brought her the widest acclaim and won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize; the intended meaning is that despite the fact that Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel brought her the widest acclaim, and, as a result of bringing her the most acclaim, it won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize; remember, the introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “winning” and "bringing" in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “both A as well as B”; remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Comma Plus Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship", you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize - Both X and Y is correct. Hence this option is wrong.
(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim
(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim. Both X and Y is correct. Hence this option is wrong.

Only Option C is free from error.

Lets get the theme -

Although Alice Walker
published a number of essays,.........during the 1970s
her third novel, The Color Purple published in 1982 brought her the widest acclaim


(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize - Incorrect
(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize - Incorrect
(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize - Correct

published .....published.....brought
Winning ->comma+Verb-Ing = Presents results of preceding clause
Correct Use of Both_______ and ________

(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim - Incorrect
(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim - Incorrect

Hence IMHO (C) is correct in all aspect...

C seems okay. Just a clarification: Does novel win price or the author? If answer is author than C is wrong because it suggests that Novel won the price. Any comments?

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize
(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize (NO VERB)
(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim
(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim

'Both X and Y' is the right idiom. A and E are out.

Sentence is in past tense and hence we should use 'brought' instead of 'bringing'. B is out

(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize . correct sentence. Maintains parallelism.
(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim . 'and' indicates parallel marker. But, which is lacking in the beginning of the sentence.

C is the answer

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize
(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize --- NO VERB. so not an indep clause.
(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize
(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim
(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim

Still don't understand why B is is incorrect. If B is missing a verb, why C is correct.

Choice B:
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

Although (Co-ordinating conjunction) | Alice Walker (Subject) | Published (Verb)
Subordinating conjunction + Subject + Verb ------ Dependent Clause

Her Third Novel (subject) + bringing (not a verb).
Subject + NO Verb ------ NOT Independent clause

Dependent Clause + Comma + NOT an Independent Clause --- Wrong construction

Choice C
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

Although (Co-ordinating conjunction) | Alice Walker (Subject) | Published (Verb)
Subordinating conjunction + Subject + Verb ------ Dependent Clause

Her Third Novel (subject) brought (verb)
Subject + Verb ------ Independent clause

Dependent Clause + Comma + Independent Clause --- correct

Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize - "both" needs "and", "as well" is wrong here
(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize - no verb, therefore its a fragment not a complete sentence
(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize - CORRECT
(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim - "which" reference unclear + wordy
(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim - "both" needs "and", "as well" is wrong here

Vertical scan reveals that option A and E have idiom pair ‘both X as well as Y’. Correct idiom pair is ‘both X and Y’. Eliminate A and B.

In option D, ‘was published….. and which’ demands parallel structure. If ‘which’ is present after ‘and’, ‘which’ must be present before ‘and’ as well. Parallel structure missing. Eliminate.

In B, ‘published in 1982’ is a modifier, ‘ bringing her ..’ is again a modifier. ‘her third novel’ is the subject. But verb is not present. Eliminate.

Hence option C is correct.

A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize

(B) published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize

(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize

(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim

(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest

A and E have incorrect IDIOM - both x as well as y

Correct IDIOM should be both x and y

B - Missing verb

D - usage of "which" is incorrect

Hence, Answer is C

Did you like the answer? Hit Kudos

Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer prize

(B)published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize

(C)published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize

(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim

(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim



Can someone please explain why the answer is not B?

Hi ggpapas,

To answer your question, B is wrong because it doesn't contain a verb. By starting that phrase with an -ing word, it changes the verb phrase to a modifier phrase. Here is what B looks like with the rest of the sentence added in:

Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

If we cross out the modifiers from the original sentence, we're left with a sentence fragment:

The Color Purple bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

If we do the same thing with the correct answer (C), we're left with a complete sentence:

The Color Purple brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.

I hope this helps!

Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.

(A) which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer prize. Both A and B is the correct usage

(B)published in 1982, bringing her the widest acclaim by winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. No verb for the subject The color purple

(C)published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Both A and B correctly used

(D) was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim

(E) was published in 1982, winning both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize, and bringing her the widest acclaim

So answer C is correct

Though I answered the question correctly, I am curious to know the word "winning" acts as what kind of verb in option C ? it seems to me on the other hand that "winning' is a bit ambiguous, i mean in terms to "what" it refers

(C) published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize

winning modifies preceding clause ..The Color Purple, published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim...
in terms of "what" means..it refers to the book (which is the subject of the clause)