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.

Hello Everyone!

Let's take a closer look at this question to see where we can narrow down wrong options to get to the correct answer quickly! To get started, here is the original question with major differences between each option highlighted in orange:

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 inseparable
(D) private—are social phenomena but not separable
(E) also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable

After a quick glance over the options, a few key differences pop out right away:

1. What to do after the word "emotions"
2. What to do after the word "phenomenon/phenomena"

Let's get started with #1 on our list: what to do after the word "emotions." It's clear from the original sentence that the phrase, "including those deemed personal or private" is a MODIFIER that is also acting as a non-essential clause. It is giving us more information about the word "emotions," but doesn't NEED to be in the sentence.

Whenever we deal with non-essential clauses or modifiers, they MUST be offset from the rest of the sentence somehow.You can do this by either putting commas before and after it, dashes before and after it, or put it inside parentheses. To make this easier to spot, I'm going to include the entire sentence with the different options added in. Let's see which sentences handle this non-essential clause correctly or not:

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

This option is INCORRECT for a few reasons. First, the phrase "including those deemed personal or private" isn't offset on both sides with commas. Second, the singular verb "is" doesn't match up to its plural subject "emotions."

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

This option is CORRECT! It puts commas on both sides of the phrase to tell readers this is non-essential information! If you remove the non-essential clause, the rest of the sentence makes perfect sense without it!

(C) Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private are a social phenomenon but are not those inseparable from bodily response.

This option is INCORRECT because it doesn't have commas on both sides of the non-essential phrase "including those deemed personal or private." There's also a problem with the word "those" later on in the sentence. It's not clear if "those" is referring to emotions or phenomenon. When a pronoun is too vague, it's likely an incorrect choice.

(D) Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or private—are social phenomena but not separable from bodily response.

This option is also INCORRECT. Remember when I said you can offset non-essential clauses with commas, dashes, or parentheses? You can only use ONE method for each clause, and this sentence uses two (comma and dash).

(E) Recent interdisciplinary studies advance the argument that emotions, including those deemed personal or also as private emotions, are social phenomena not inseparable from bodily response.

This option is INCORRECT, though not because of punctuation. Yes, it properly utilizes commas on both sides of the non-essential phrase. However, the non-essential phrase is overly wordy. Why say "also as private emotions" when simply saying "private" will do? We also have a problem with the phrase "not inseparable" changing the intended meaning. This changes the meaning of the sentence from "emotions are inseparable from bodily response" to "emotions are not inseparable from bodily response."

There you have it! Option B is the correct answer because it uses correct punctuation with non-essential modifiers and doesn't confuse readers to the intended meaning.



Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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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 emotions, including those deemed personal or private, are social phenomena and are inseparable from bodily response.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Pronouns + Meaning + Grammatical Construction + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• A phrase that conveys extra information must be offset by a pair of commas or a pair of dashes; if the phrase is at the beginning or end of the sentence, only one comma is needed.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "emotions" with the singular verb "is" and the singular pronoun "one". Further, Option A incorrectly uses a single comma to offset the phrase "including those deemed personal or private", which conveys extra information; please remember, a phrase that conveys extra information must be offset by a pair of commas or a pair of dashes.

B: Correct This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "emotions" with the plural verb "are". Moreover, Optin B avoids the pronoun error seen in Option A, as it uses no pronouns. Further, Option B the phrase "that are inseparable", conveying the intended meaning - that emotions, including those deemed personal or private, are social phenomena and are not separable from bodily response. Additionally, Option B correctly uses a pair of commas to offset a phrase that conveys extra information - "including those deemed personal or private". Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "but are not those inseparable from bodily response"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that emotions, including those deemed personal or private, are social phenomena and are inseparable from bodily response. Further, Option C incorrectly uses a single comma to offset the phrase "including those deemed personal or private", which conveys extra information; please remember, a phrase that conveys extra information must be offset by a pair of commas or a pair of dashes.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses a single comma and single dash to offset the phrase "including those deemed personal or private", which conveys extra information; please remember, a phrase that conveys extra information must be offset by a pair of commas or a pair of dashes. Further, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase "not separable", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "not inseparable"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that emotions are separable from bodily response; the intended meaning is that emotions are not separable from bodily response. Further, Option E uses the needlessly wordy phrase "not separable", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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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
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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"

'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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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."
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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.