668. Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily response.

A) private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable
B) private, are social phenomena that are inseparable
C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those separable
D) private--are social phenomena but not separable
E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable

The correct answer must have a comma in it to complete the appositive (descriptive phrase with commas on both sides), and you must be able to skip over the appositive and have the sentence still make sense.

A) We cannot say that “emotions (plural subject)...is" (singular verb) a social phenomenon. In addition, the sentence does not make sense when skipping over the appositive "emotions...though one inseparable...".

B) Yes. The plural of “phenomenon” is “phenomena.” "emotions...are inseparable" is correct ("they are").

C) Emotions (plural) cannot be a phenomenon (singular).

D) The dash would only work if the initial comma were replaced by a dash (appositives require two commas, two dashes, or two parentheses).

E) Or + also = redundant

'Emotions' needs plural 'are'. A is out

We do need contrast in the sentence; however, we need to mention that emotions are social phenomenon that are not separable from bodily temperature. C and D are out

'also' is redundant with 'or' in option E.

B is the right option.
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d is wrong because there is no contrast between two parts before and after "but" . so there is no reason to use "but"

Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily temperature.

Meaning of the sentence:
Studies have supported an argument that emotions are a social phenomenon. The emotions include those deemed personal or private. These social phenomena are inseparable from Bodily Temperature

A) private is a social phenomenon,though one inseparable
1) Emotions -> are -> Subject Verb Agreement issue

B) private,are social phenomena that are inseparable -> Correctly conveyed

C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable
1) There are two nots -> Changes the meaning of the sentence
2) comma is required to specify that the modifier has ended.

D) private –are social phenomena but are not separable
1) Social phenomena is not separable from Bodily Temperature. It sounds as if
Emotions
a) are social Phenomena
but
b) are not separable from bodily Temperature

2) Comma is required to specify where the modifier ends

E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable
1) Also as private emotions -> Removes the function of "or" and doesn't go well at all.

Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private,are social phenomena that are inseparable from bodily temperature.

None but (B) maintains s-v structure and conveys the indended meaning...
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B.

The clause 'including those deemed personal or private' is an non essential one and needs to be separated off with a comma. This leaves only B and E.
E however doesn't fit the parallelism of deemed __ or ___

Hope we see this type of question on the real exam!

Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily temperature.

A) private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable
B) private, are social phenomena that are inseparable
C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable
D) private – are social phenomena but are not separable
E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable

I am not able to parse this "one" in option A. Can you please share your view here mcelroytutoring?

"One" is simply referring to "a social phenomenon" and is a simpler way of restating that phrase. That part is fine. For example: "I am looking for a skilled tutor, one who understands every in and out of the GMAT verbal section."

Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily temperature.

A) private is a social phenomenon,though one inseparable
B) private,are social phenomena that are inseparable
C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable
D) private –are social phenomena but are not separable
E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable

Vertical Scan reveals a split of 'is/are'
The subject is 'emotions', so option A (is is single). Eliminate
Option B, C, D and E
In B, comma before 'are'
In C, no comma before 'are'
In D, dash(-) before 'are'
In E, a comma before 'are'

The sentence has a modifier(including.............private)
'including is preceded by a comma, therefore, private should be followed by comma
Option C and D are out

In B and E
"or" before the underlined part demands a parallel construction
'personal' or 'also as private' not parallel
Option E is out

Therefore option B is the correct answer
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I got to option B in 57 seconds but got one doubt that what is "That" referring to? I feel it is referring to Emotions then isn't it should be those because plural of That is Those or something which means plural?

Hi gmat4varun, that is referring to social phenomena.

All relative pronouns (such as that in this case) can refer to both singular or plural nouns.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses Relative pronouns, their application and examples in significant detail. If someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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If that is referring to social phenomena , then isn't it is wrong to use "THAT" instead of "WHICH" ?

Why do you say so? Kindly explain.
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I believe between two sentences below , 2nd sentence is better than 1st .
1. I have a pen which writes very good .
2. I have a pen that writes very good .

Hello gmat4varun,

I apologize if my response seems intrusion. This is completely unintentional.

The two sentences that you have presented in your post convey exactly the same meaning. There is no such rule that that must be used to refer to plural nouns and which must be used to refer to plural nouns.

Both that and which are noun modifiers and can refer to both singular and plural noun.


Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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From the grammatical stand, B is the clear winner. I wanted to understand from the meaning standpoint.

Main meaning: Emotions are social phenomena.

Additional:

though one inseparable from bodily response.

A) though one inseparable -->one (emotion) inseparable from bodily response. Does this convey the meaning correctly? Don't we wish to present that emotions are inseparable from bodily response. I find the meaning here ambiguous. What I understood is that there exists any one such emotion which is inseparable from bodily response.

B) private, are social phenomena that are inseparable --> social phenomena are inseparable from bodily response --> Makes sense to me.

I would like to understand your view.

Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable from bodily response.

(A) private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable - "Emotions" is plural. Use of "is" is incorrect. Eliminate.
(B) private, are social phenomena that are inseparable - Correct answer. "That" modifies the closest noun "social phenomenon". Modifier "including ....private" is correctly within the commas and modifying emotions.
(C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable - No antecedent for those. Eliminate.
(D) private—are social phenomena but not separable - The dash (—) is a flexible punctuation mark that the GMAT occasionally employs. You can use a dash
as an emphatic comma, semicolon, or colon. But in this sentence the modifier "including ...private" has a comma to start with so it should end also with the comma. Had dash been used to start this modifier than the dash in this answer choice would have been correct.
(E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable - We see the parallalism marker "or" so personal or private should be in the correct answer choice.

After removing the fluff, we get "Emotions are social phenomenon that are inseparable from bodily response."

(A) private is a social phenomenon, though one inseparable

(B) private, are social phenomena that are inseparable

(C) private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable

(D) private—are social phenomena but not separable

(E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable


We need a "comma" to set off the VERB-ing modifier from the main clause, and also to connect the verb "are" with subject "emotions" properly.

"Emotions" is plural, so we need "are".
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gmat4varun

That is referring to phenomena. Now Plural of Phenomena is Phenomena and that's why in option B, the use of the plural verb "are" is correct.

mcelroytutoring Could you please confirm if the above reasoning is correct for the use of plural verb are? Appreciate it.
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