The eighteenth-century Italian soprano Francesca Cuzzoni was known for

The eighteenth-century Italian soprano Francesca Cuzzoni was known for her

exceptional voice,
extravagant lifestyle, and
bitter rivalry with Faustina Bordoni

Only (D) present a list which is perfectly parallel, hence Answer must be (D)

OE:

(1) Take a First Glance (5 seconds)

Each answer choice consists of a list of three things that vary in their phrasing (e.g. exceptional voice and voice that was exceptional). This list indicates that the sentence is testing Parallelism.


(2) Read for Meaning

This sentence describes a singer who was known for three different attributes. Just before the list begins, the sentence contains the words for her; these words apply to the first and second elements of the list, so they must also apply to the third element—but that third element repeats the words for her. Eliminate answer choice (A) and any other answers that repeat this mistake.


(3) Find a Starting Point

Start with any difference that seems easiest to you, then move to the next easiest issue, and so on. Stop when you have one answer or you aren’t sure how to address the remaining differences. All errors for each choice are detailed in the next section.


(4) Eliminate (and Repeat)

(A) The original sentence offers a list of three parallel characteristics, X, Y, and Z, that are not expressed in parallel form. Effectively, this choice reads Cuzzoni was known for her voice, (for her) lifestyle, and (for her) for her rivaling. The third element is incorrect due to the repetition of for her. Further, the word rivaling is not in the same noun form as voice or lifestyle; the equivalent noun would be rivalry.

(B) If the sentence is still meant to be a list of three items, then the second element (leading...) is not parallel to the first and third elements (voice and rivalry). Alternatively, the leading part could be meant to modify the main sentence (which is grammatically possible, though illogical: what does leading a lifestyle have to do with being known for her exceptional voice?). In this case, the parallelism in the sentence now reads: Cuzzoni was known for her voice and (for her) rivalry that was bitter with Bordoni. The two elements voice and rivalry are parallel, but the placement of the modifier with Faustina Bordoni in the second element makes it unclear how Bordoni was involved in the situation. Rivalry with Faustina Bordoni, as some other choices say, makes clear that Bordini was the other party in the rivalry. Bitter with Faustina Bordoni, as this choice says, indicates only that there was some bitterness involving Bordoni—but perhaps the rivalry was with someone else over Bordoni?

(C) If the root phrase is Cuzzoni was known for her, then the parallelism in this sentence is as follows: Cuzzoni was known for her voice, (her) lifestyle, and (her) her bitter rivalry. The third element is incorrect due to the repetition of her. Alternatively, if the root phrase is Cuzzoni was known for, then the parallelism is as follows: Cuzzoni was known for her voice, (for) lifestyle, and (for) her bitter rivalry. The second element is missing a pronoun, such as her, in front of lifestyle.

(D) CORRECT. This choice expresses the three elements—voice, lifestyle, and rivalry—in parallel form.

(E) If the root phrase is Cuzzoni was known for her, then the parallelism is as follows: was known for her voice, (for her) the lifestyle, and (for her) bitter rivalry. The first and third elements are okay, but it's not correct to say for her the lifestyle. Alternatively, if the root phrase is Cuzzoni was known for, then the parallelism is as follows: was known for her voice, (for) the lifestyle, and (for) bitter rivalry. In this case, the third element needs an article or a pronoun in front (such as the bitter rivalry or her bitter rivalry). A pronoun would be better for the intended meaning of this sentence. In fact, the second element is a bit ambiguous due to this: the lifestyle leaves open to question whether the sentence is referring to her lifestyle or (nonsensically) some other lifestyle.