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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Fistail
The Achaemenid empire of Persia reached the Indus Valley in the fifth century B.C., bringing the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and southern India alphabets.


(A) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and

(B) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the

(C) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the

(D) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and

(E) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the Achaemenid empire of Persia brought the Aramaic script with it to the Indus Valley, and both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic Script.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Tenses + Verb Forms

• Information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the singular verb "was derived" to refer to the plural noun "alphabets". Further, Option A incorrectly modifies the pronoun "it", which refers to "the Achaemenid empire of Persia" - with "from which was derived...alphabets", illogically implying that both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Achaemenid empire; the intended meaning is that both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic Script; remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "was derived" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.

B: This answer choice incorrectly modifies the pronoun "it", which refers to "the Achaemenid empire of Persia" - with "from which was derived...alphabets", illogically implying that both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Achaemenid empire; the intended meaning is that both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic Script; remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "deriving" in this sentence) to refer to information that is permanent in nature; please remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the plural verb "derive" to refer to the plural noun "alphabets". Further, Option C correctly modifies the noun "the Aramaic script" with "from which derive...alphabets", conveying the intended meaning - that the Achaemenid empire brought the Aramaic script to the Indus Valley, and as a separate action, both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic script. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the simple present tense verb "derive" to refer to information that is permanent in nature.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the singular verb "derives" to refer to the plural noun "alphabets".

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "and deriving from it"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the Achaemenid empire brought the Aramaic script to the Indus Valley and derived the northern and southern India alphabets from the Aramaic script; the intended meaning is that both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic script; the intended meaning is that the Achaemenid empire brought the Aramaic script to the Indus Valley, and as a separate action, both northern and southern India alphabets derive from the Aramaic script.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
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Fistail
The Achaemenid empire of Persia reached the Indus Valley in the fifth century B.C., bringing the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and southern India alphabets.

A the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and
B the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the
C with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the
D with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and
E with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and


Would go for C,

between A and C, choose C cuz "from which" refers to script not "Achaemenid empire".
Other choices sound awkward.
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The answer is most definitely (c). The correct usage here is "derive", not "derives", because alphabets is plural.

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The answer should be 'C'. Here is why:

i) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and - this is grammatically wrong because of 'was', should have been 'were'.
ii) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the - 'from which' seems to be misplaced.
iii) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the - should have been 'derived' for answer to be perfect but derive is also correct grammatically.
iv) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and - derives is singular, should have been plural here.
v) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and - second 'it' is redundant.
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+1 for C.

Rephrasing the last part clarifies the role of "derive" which here is used for northern and southern Indian alphabets and not script:

both northern and southern Indian alphabets derive from the Aramaic script

Crick
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The part in each choice about deriving ("from which derive," etc.) is a modifier. So what is it modifying? What were the Indian alphabets derived from? They were derived from the Aramaic script. Our modifier therefore needs to touch this noun. Therefore, we can eliminate A & B, which put "it" (the empire) next to the modifier.

Now, we can eliminate D as soon as we see "from which derives both." Two things=plural=derive

E uses "and," which adds a parallel clause. Now we are saying "The empire reached the I. Valley in the 5th century, bringing the script and deriving from it the alphabets."
This meaning is all wrong! According to E, the Achaemenid empire was responsible for deriving the Indian alphabets from the Aramaic script. This is an entirely different meaning from the other four choices, which do not specify *who* derived the script. The derivation is described in the passive voice, and this is appropriate since we are describing a historical development, rather than something a particular person or group did. This is a great example of how meaning can make a big difference in SC.
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Tom’s note makes an excellent analysis and a wonderful lesson; As an offshoot, let me give another angle to it. What are derived from it are two things; therefore, you require a plural verb namely derive; C is the only one tht depicts a plural working verb.


“A) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and - ---- was derived is singular verb
“B) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the ------ second part is a fragment
“C) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the--- good
“D) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and --- derives is singular
“E) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and --- second part is a fragment.

This is perhaps a quick-fix shot via grammar notwithstanding that we can point out several other incongruities in structure and logic.
A big Kudo to TOM
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metallicafan
+1 C

A "which" refers to "it"
B "and from which..." is not a clause
C Correct
D "derives" is wrong; we are talking about northern AND southern alphabets
E "deriving from..." is not a clause


Request you to please elaborate more on the Option E ! why is it wrong.

I understand C is correct , however if we talk about parallelism isn't C giving us that?
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GRITTY16
metallicafan
+1 C

A "which" refers to "it"
B "and from which..." is not a clause
C Correct
D "derives" is wrong; we are talking about northern AND southern alphabets
E "deriving from..." is not a clause


Request you to please elaborate more on the Option E ! why is it wrong.

I understand C is correct , however if we talk about parallelism isn't C giving us that?

E is wrong because of multiple reasons:
1. 'with it the aramaic script' - so 'it' refers to "The Achaemenid empire of Persia". The thumb rule is that we cannot change the reference of pronoun in one statement; therefore, 'it' should refer to "The Achaemenid empire of Persia" throughout the statement. Well this is an issue because the second part of statement, "deriving from it", refers it as aramaic script. Hence it is incorrect.

2. Second issue is parallelism across both...and...
"both the northern and southern India alphabets"
'the' is missing in southern India alphabets..which makes it fault parallelism. We need 'the' to compare apple and apple.

3. when we have a construction of "S+V+Obj, -ing form" - usually -ing refers to subject of the sentence. In this case 'deriving' refers to 'The Achaemenid empire of Persia', changing the meaning of the sentence - as if 'The Achaemenid empire of Persia' were deriving something..

Hope it helps

Cheers
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daagh
Tom’s note makes an excellent analysis and a wonderful lesson; As an offshoot, let me give another angle to it. What are derived from it are two things; therefore, you require a plural verb namely derive; C is the only one tht depicts a plural working verb.


“A) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and - ---- was derived is singular verb
“B) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the ------ second part is a fragment
“C) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the--- good
“D) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and --- derives is singular
“E) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and --- second part is a fragment.

This is perhaps a quick-fix shot via grammar notwithstanding that we can point out several other incongruities in structure and logic.
A big Kudo to TOM

Hi daagh,

Can we not consider "deriving" to be a verb in B and E? Why not?

Thanks
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Fistail
The Achaemenid empire of Persia reached the Indus Valley in the fifth century B.C., bringing the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and southern India alphabets.

A the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and
B the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the
C with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the
D with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and
E with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and

A) "from which" seems to incorrectly refer to the empire (referenced by the pronoun "it") rather than to the script. Also, the singular verb "was derived" does not agree in number with the plural subject "northern and southern Indian alphabets". Finally, the subject "northern and southern Indian alphabets" is unclear: are there several alphabets, or only one of each?

B) "and" creates a lack of connection between the two parts of the sentence. Additionally, "deriving" is an incorrect verb tense.

C) CORRECT. "From which" correctly refers to the script. Additionally, "derive," a plural verb, correctly agrees with the plural subject "the Northern and the Southern Indian alphabets."

D) "derives," a singular verb, does not agree with the plural subject "Northern and Southern Indian alphabets."

E) The second pronoun "it" is ambiguous: does it refer to the "empire" or to the "script"? Additionally, the original intent of the sentence is significantly changed in meaning.
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Hi russ9,

The short answer is that the use of "deriving" in B and E doesn't make sense as a verb in the context of the sentence. Tom gets into this at length in his analysis of those answer choices in the original post. One quick way to see the problem is that this verb has no subject! We don't want to say that the empire derived the Indian alphabets from the Aramaic script. This doesn't make sense! Notice that in the correct version, we aren't told who did this deriving. None of the choices tell us this, because there is no such subject. The alphabets derived from Aramaic, but no person or thing *derived* them. It's just as if we'd said that an animal evolved from an earlier species. We don't want to say that someone or something "evolved it."

Does that help?
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I also can come to C but there is a point I do not understand.

in C, it should be " from which both a and b derive"
why do gmat use "derive" at the beginning ?

because a and b are too long?

pls, explain
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Experts please explain how "derive" is correct in C.
With the SV pair, I am convinced that we should use plural form i.e. "derive", but from tense prospective how does "simple present" makes sense with "reached"?
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I also can come to C but there is a point I do not understand.

in C, it should be " from which both a and b derive"
why do gmat use "derive" at the beginning ?

because a and b are too long?

pls, explain

This is a case of subject-verb flip. In this case the usage is just a matter of choice. The sentence would be equally correct, if it were:
....from which X and Y derive.

The flip seems to have been intentionally used to trap students into choosing D instead of C. It is important to recognise the flip to select the correct option.
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Experts please explain how "derive" is correct in C.
With the SV pair, I am convinced that we should use plural form i.e. "derive", but from tense prospective how does "simple present" makes sense with "reached"?

Consider this a stylistic usage - somewhat similar to the following example:
I come from India.
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The Achaemenid empire of Persia reached the Indus Valley in the fifth century B.C., bringing the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and southern India alphabets.

(A) the Aramaic script with it, from which was derived both northern and - "from which" seems to incorrectly refer to the empire (referenced by the pronoun "it") rather than to the script. Also, the singular verb "was derived" does not agree in number with the plural subject "northern and southern Indian alphabets". Finally, the subject "northern and southern Indian alphabets" is unclear: are there several alphabets, or only one of each?

(B) the Aramaic script with it, and from which deriving both the northern and the - "and" creates a lack of connection between the two parts of the sentence. Additionally, "deriving" is an incorrect verb tense.

(C) with it the Aramaic script, from which derive both the northern and the -CORRECT. "From which" correctly refers to the script. Additionally, "derive," a plural verb, correctly agrees with the plural subject "the Northern and the Southern Indian alphabets."

(D) with it the Aramaic script, from which derives both northern and - "derives," a singular verb, does not agree with the plural subject "Northern and Southern Indian alphabets."

(E) with it the Aramaic script, and deriving from it both the northern and - The second pronoun "it" is ambiguous: does it refer to the "empire" or to the "script"? Additionally, the original intent of the sentence is significantly changed in meaning.

Answer C
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