In the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed

Official Explanation

Diction; Rhetorical construction

Although the word flat is a standard adjectival form, it functions in this context as the more appropriate adverb, indicating the manner of packing clothing. That is, stated correctly, the clothing would be packed flat.

Note, however, that the adverb flatly is correctly used in different contexts, such as he flatly denied it.

A. This choice incorrectly uses the adverb flatly. Furthermore, the phrase it was not necessary is unnecessarily wordy.

B. Correct. This choice correctly uses the adverb flat and implies that the flat-packing of clothing led to the absence of closet facilities.

C. This choice incorrectly uses the adverb flatly. Furthermore, there was no necessity for is unnecessarily wordy; it would be better stated were unnecessary, as in choice B.

D. This choice incorrectly implies that clothing could be packed flat because closet facilities were unnecessary. Rather, the correct answer must imply that the flat-packing of clothing made closet facilities unnecessary.

E. This choice incorrectly uses the adverb flatly. It also incorrectly implies that clothing could be packed flat because closet facilities were unnecessary.

The correct answer is B.

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 meaning of this sentence is that since in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed flat elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness

• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “packed flatly”; the use of the adverb “flatly” incorrectly implies that in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a flat manner; the intended meaning is in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a way that makes it physically flat. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy clause “it was not necessary to have elaborate closet facilities”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “packed flat”; the use of the adverb “flat” conveys the intended meaning – that in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a way that makes it physically flat. Moreover, Option C uses the clause “elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary”; the construction of this phrase conveys the intended meaning – that since in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed flat elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary. Further, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “packed flatly”; the use of the adverb “flatly” incorrectly implies that in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a flat manner; the intended meaning is in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a way that makes it physically flat. Further, Option C uses the needlessly wordy clause “there was no necessity for elaborate closet facilities”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “there being no necessity for elaborate closet facilities”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that because in a traditional Japanese household there is no necessity for elaborate closet facilities, most clothing could be packed flat; the intended meaning is that since in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed flat elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary. Further, Option D uses the word “being”, rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy; please remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “packed flatly”; the use of the adverb “flatly” incorrectly implies that in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a flat manner; the intended meaning is in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed in a way that makes it physically flat. Moreover, Option E further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "as no elaborate closet facilities were necessary"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that because in a traditional Japanese household there is no necessity for elaborate closet facilities, most clothing could be packed flat; the intended meaning is that since in the traditional Japanese household, most clothing could be packed flat elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

Note: Please note that the usages of “flat” and flatly” as adverbs convey different meanings. When “flatly” is used as an adverb, it conveys that an action was done in a flat, meaning blunt or emotionless, manner; for example, “He flatly explained his decision.” When “flat” is used as an adverb, it conveys that an action was taken to make something physically flat; for example, “He lay flat on the floor.”

To understand the use of "Being" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

B.

to me, flatly is not correct adverb. Flat is correct(irregular adverb where its not suffixed by -ly).

B is concise.

D. uses of "there being" is awkward

packed is an adjective. flatly is an adverb. An adverb should be in front of an adjective.

Example:
a lovely dinner
NOT a dinner lovely

Therefore, ACE are wrong. BD are left. being is hardly ever correct on the GMAT.

B.

"packed" is actually a verb in this case. Adverbs (in a context) such as "fast", "flat", "high" are used without "+ly"
E.g. -He runs fast (Incorrect: He runs fastly)
-Throw high (Incorrect: throw highly)

daagh,

Thanks.. That serially solves the queries in head.. But raises another question..
I am sorry but have to ask this question..

So here the flat is adverb and acting as verb modifier or it is adjective and acting as noun modifier?

Flat in this context, is an adverb modifying the verb packed; make bold to choose B as the answer.

to my acknowledge, there can't be a "," before "and"
correct me if i'm wrong.

YangYichen, it's fairly common to use a comma before "and." This happens all the time in lists. That usage is what we call the Oxford Comma, and while not everyone agrees on this usage, it's what the GMAT uses. (I'm also a fan!)

Correct: I like peanut butter, chocolate, and maple syrup.
Incorrect (according to me and the GMAT, but not to everyone): I like peanut butter, chocolate and maple syrup.

Another common situation in which we put a comma before "and" shows up in the original question. This is when we are using "and" to join two independent clauses:

I like peanut butter, and I put it on everything.
Clothing could be packed flat, so we didn't need elaborate closets.

Now if we don't have two clauses, you're right that we don't generally put a comma into the predicate of the sentence unless it's needed for clarity.

Correct: I like peanut butter and put it on everything. (There's no subject in the second part, so there's no new clause and no need for a comma. Note that in the sentence I just wrote, I follow the comma rule again! "There's no new clause" is a clause. )
Correct: Clothing could be packed flat and kept out of closets.

I hope this helps!

Though answer is B , I am not sure if a comma can be used before " AND ".
AND joins two independent clauses , and I read somewhere that a comma should not come before an AND.
and anybody confirm or deny this rule with some certainty?
Thank you, appreciate your contribution.

I'm not sure where you saw that rule, but "and" is very, very frequently preceded with a comma -- both when "and" joins two independent clauses, and when "and" is part of a list of three or more items. Just flip through the official guide, and you'll find dozens of correct answers with "and" preceded by a comma.

"flatly" is incorrect here because it is being used as an adverb. Flatly is modifying the verb - pack.

what we need here something that modifies the noun-clothing- and hence "flat" is appropriate. Options A, C and E are out.

Between B and D, option D is wordy- 'there being...".

Hence option B is short and conveys the message correctly that the clothing is packed "flat".

Correct answer is B.

I totally understand option B is right. But as I learned in Manhattan book, two FANBOYS cannot appear together. in this case, it is "and" and "so". Someone please clarifies me per this confusion?

I think it is used as placeholder pronoun, but not sure why A is wrong. Please explain egmat GMATNinja VeritasKarishma

Yes, "it" can be used as a placeholder.
The correct adverb here is "flat", not "flatly". Though flatly is an adverb too but it means "absolutely" or "smooth" (e.g. He flatly refused.)
To show a flat state or position, the adverb "flat" is used.

"So" can be used as a conjunction, i.e.: "I was hungry, so I ate a 10-kilo bag of potato chips." (Mmm.. potato chips.)

But "so" can also be used as an adverb, as it is in this question. There are actually multiple ways to use "so" as an adverb, but in this case it basically means "thus" or "therefore": "Most clothing could be packed flat, and therefore elaborate closet facilities were unnecessary."

So (ha), we actually do not have two conjunctions in a row.

I hope this helps!

Hello Daagh!

Concerning deep and close qithout -ly. Doesn´t one say "Watch closely!" or "They are deeply in love"?

Thanks for the clarification.