The first shots of the American Revolution, fired at Lexington and Con

Question

The first shots of the American Revolution, fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, were, according to legend, heard around the world, but news of these  shots, which were sent by swift messenger, took four days in reaching New York City as well as another additional eleven days  to reach Charleston, South Carolina.

(A) shots, which were sent by swift messenger, took four days in reaching New York City as well as another additional eleven days

(B) shots that was sent by swift messenger took four days in order to reach New York City, and also another eleven days

(C) shots that were sent by swift messenger took four days to reach New York City and another eleven days

(D) shots took four days by swift messenger in order to reach New York City and another eleven days in addition

(E) shots took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days

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daagh · Accepted Answer

Concision is certainly one of the factors but not the sole factor. Here in this case we can see how others are technically wrong.

A. shots, which were sent by swift messenger, took four days in reaching New York City as well as another additional eleven days -------  1.wrong modification of the pronoun ‘which’ 2. News is singular and the plural verb ‘were’ is SV mismatch 3. Awful redundancy of another, additional etc  
 
B. shots that was sent by swift messenger took four days in order to reach New York City, and also another eleven days ---  1 wrong modification by using the restrictive ‘that’ 2. Redundancy in ‘also another’

C. shots that were sent by swift messenger took four days to reach New York City and another eleven days ----  1, same modification problem as in B 2. Additionally, ‘news’ and ‘were’ – SV mismatch
 
D. shots took four days by swift messenger in order to reach New York City and another eleven days in addition ----  1. redundancy of another and in addition 2. unnecessary use of ‘in order’ 
 
E. shots took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days— avoids all the grammatical errors and of course is also concise

leeye84 · Answer

E.

The news were sent by the messanger, not the bullets. Therefore, 'which and that' following 'shots' must be elimanated for incorrect modification.

That leaves D and E. 

I assume the underlined portion ends at 'eleven days'. Regardless, E is parallel. 

E.

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

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 the first shots of the American Revolution were, according to legend, heard around the world, but news of these shots took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days to reach Charleston, South Carolina.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• For referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" - "to + reach" in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "reaching" in this sentence) construction.
• If a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "news" with the plural verb "were". Further, Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "reaching" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "took four days"; remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "reaching" in this sentence) construction. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrases "which were sent by swift messenger" and "another additional", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that was sent by swift messenger"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that that   specific   news about the shots   that was sent by swift messenger   took four days to reach New York; the intended meaning is that news about the shots was,   in general  , sent by swift messenger and took four days to reach New York. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the "comma + conjunction ("and" in this case)" construction to join two elements in a list; please remember, if a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction. Additionally, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase "in order to" and "and also", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C:  Trap. This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "news" with the plural verb "were". Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that were sent by swift messenger"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that that   specific   news about the shots   that was sent by swift messenger   took four days to reach New York; the intended meaning is that news about the shots was,   in general  , sent by swift messenger and took four days to reach New York.

D:  This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy phrase "in order to" and redundantly uses "another" alongside "in addition", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy.

E:   Correct.  This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun "news" with the verb "took", which refers to both plural and singular nouns. Further, Option E uses the phrase "took four days by swift messenger", conveying the intended meaning - that news about the shots was,   in general  , sent by swift messenger and took four days to reach New York. Additionally, Option E correctly uses conjunction ("and" in this case) to join two elements in a list. Additionally, Option E uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + reach" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "took four days". Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Infinitive" vs "Present Participle" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbr_XRGL3js

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

sivasanjeev · Answer

I will tell you a simple trick. :idea:

When reading a long sentence, remove prepositional phrases , modifiers and parenthetical elements to understand diction, parallelism, clauses etc. Also marking SV pairs . The first shots of the American Revolution , fired at Lexington and Concord. Massachusetts , were , according to legend , heard around the world, but news of these shots took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days to reach Charleston, South Carolina. The simple translation of the sentence is the first shots were heard around the world , but news of these shots took four days to reach New York and another eleven days to reach Charleston

vishwaprakash · Answer

Error 1 : Redundant "Another Additional"
Option A and Option D - Incorrect.

Error 2 : Redundant "And also"
Option B.

Split 3 : "News took " Vs "swift messenger took"
Clearly as per the meaning, it was messenger which took 4 days to deliver the news. News by itself wont take 4 days.
Option C - News of shots took - Incorrect

Error 4 "In order to" - Purpose, We don’t need purpose we need to present fact. 
News took four days to reach city X , News took four days "in Order to" to reach city X
Former is clearly preferrable 
Option B , Option D - not preferred

Option E is Winner

Ekland · Answer

i've always screamed it to my friends that gmat tests grammar in SC not quite the meaning per se.
since we dont know what's going on in the author's mind, we are more interested in the grammar.
hence we eliminate options with excess baggage.
just D was brazen enough to carry "in addition" in addition to "and". dirty!
well, that leaves us with E, even though E sounds a little stupid. was it the shot that TOOK four days or the news?
I can surmise that GMAT has a rule that says "WHICH or THAT must be preceded by the now it modifies. right?
where are the experts?
 chetan2u 
 Bunuel

chetan2u · Answer

Hi  Nez ,

the two points you have asked..
1) even though E sounds a little stupid. was it the shot that TOOK four days or the news? ...
its actually the news and E does point to that itself..
 but news  of these shots  took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days...
some example..
the parents of the child were called to the school.. or
 the first of the game played between the two countries was won by ...
here yes we are talking of game when we say 'played' but here too it is modifying the entire phrase since it is specific to 'first'..

2) I can surmise that GMAT has a rule that says "WHICH or THAT must be preceded by the noun it modifies. right? 
yes, you are right but not always...
example from OG..
 Emily Dickinson’s letters to Susan Huntington  Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan’s marriage to Emily’s brother and ending shortly before Emily’s death in 1886, outnumber  her letters to anyone else. 
here you can see that 'which does not refer to the closest noun ' susan ..' but is still correct
which clearly refers to letters although it is away since name cannot have pronoun as 'which'

this particular example from OG will clear both concepts where 'which' can refer to a faraway noun and where not..
  Because an oversupply of computer chips has sent prices plunging,  the manufacturer has announced that it will cut production by closing its factories for two days a month. 
(A) Because an oversupply of computer chips has sent prices plunging,
(B) Because of plunging prices for computer chips, which is due to an oversupply,
(C) Because computer chip prices have been sent plunging, which resulted from an oversupply,
(D) Due to plunging computer chip prices from an oversupply,
(E) Due to an oversupply, with the result that computer chip prices have been sent plunging,

in this question 'which' can replace "plunging prices for computer chips" as in B but the choice is wrong because of the verb 'is', as the prices is 'plural' and requires 'are'..
 (B) Because of plunging prices for computer chips, which is due to an oversupply,

however if you take C..
 (C) Because computer chip prices have been sent plunging, which resulted from an oversupply,.. 
here 'which' cannot refer to 'computer chip prices' as it is long lost due to introduction of verbs 'have been' in between

pattamop · Answer

Hi, I have a question. Shouldn't it be passive because the news was sent by swift messenger Passive + by? Thanks

sayantanc2k · Answer

Both of the following are alright:
The news was sent by swift messenger.
The news took four days by swift messenger to reach.

Compare the second construction with the following:
It took six hours by train to reach Berlin.

avaneeshvyas · Answer

I need explanation with regards to the following:

In option A it says ...... "  , but news of these shots, which were sent by swift messenger " wouldn't " which " here, separated by the comma modify the entire phrase before it, hence modifying the news of these shots? In what cases " which " modifies the entire phrase preceding it and in what case it modifies the noun preceding it?

In option B and C what is " that " modifying...the shots?

" The first shots of the American Revolution ".... is the subject singular here

sayantanc2k · Answer

Just to add to the above explanations:

Your query 1:

A relative clause modifier (starting with which, who, whom, that, when, how etc.) may be noun modifiers or verb modifiers depending on the word used to introduce the clause.  Which, who, whom, that  etc. always introduce a noun modifier (because these are pronouns, and pronouns are used to replace nouns), whereas  when, how  etc. introduce a verb modifier (because these are adverbs, and adverbs are used to refer to verbs).
(In some guides verb modifiers are referred to as modifier of entire clause)

I have seen the  dog ,  which barks at night ...... noun modifier (Refers to dog)
I know the  man ,  who lives here .... noun modifier (refers to man)
I  was  there,  when you came ...... verb modifier (refers to was)
I do not know,  how he did that feat ... verb modifier (Refers to know)

Coming to your query, a modifier starting with "which" can NEVER refer to an entire clause - it must refer to a noun or a noun phrase.

Your query 2:

"That" can be used in two ways:

a. To introduce a new copy of a noun: Must be singular
The car I have is bigger than  that  you have. ("that" introduces a new copy of "car") - in this case "that" MUST be singular and cannot be used to replace a plural noun.
The cars I have are bigger than that you have.... wrong (should be  those you have )

b. To introduce a relative clause: MAY be singular OR plural
The  car  that I bought was stolen..... correct
The  cars  that I bought were stolen..... correct

daagh · Answer

The core of this topic is that the shots were heard around the word instantly or immediately, while the communication through other means was delayed. It is immaterial whether the news was sent by a swift messenger or by a snail messenger. It could very well have been that it was sent by a special courier to New York and to the other place by ordinary post. Or New York is nearer than South Carolina. All that we have to bother is that the shots took four days in one and additional eleven days in the case and that both these elements around 'and' are parallel. 'By swift messenger' is an adverbial adjunct that is not going to impact either the structure or the content.

pra1785 · Answer

Can someone explain what is wrong with option C? I was between C and E and chose C on my test

abhimahna · Answer

Hi  pra1785  ,

The usage of 'that' in C is the problem.

Note that 'that' when used in a sentence modifies the nearest noun.

In option C, 'that' is modifying shots. Hence, the meaning is the shots were sent through messengers. Lol. How can you send shots via messengers?

It should be the news sent through messengers. Hence, E is correct.

Does that make sense?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Option C says: Because  were  is plural, it will not go with  news  (singular). It will go with  shots  (plural), but that's a meaning error: clearly, the  shots  were not  sent by swift messenger . It was the  news  that was.

debtanuB · Answer

Dear  daagh ,
Are the following constructions right??

A. shots, which  were  was sent by swift messenger, took four days in reaching New York City as well as another  additional  eleven days ; 'which.....' is a non-essential modifier here and it modifies 'news' IMO   ; Am I missing something here??

E. shots took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City  and  as well as   another eleven days; I know 'and' is the right usage, but if 'as well as' is used does it makes the SC. wrong??

THANKS & REGARDS~

daagh · Answer

Debtanu
How could we guess at first sight that we are talking about the news? The first point is to rule out the immediately preceding noun as incorrect. Only on further reasoning can we say that the shots are inappropriate because one cannot send shots by a messenger. Therefore, the word 'shots' is a misplacement. The we look forward some other eligible noun. Unfortunately, in A, the phrase runs into a deeper pitfall by using a plural verb for the singular 'news'. 
The essence of this is that this misplacement, whether correct or incorrect, will be a critical factor only if that is the only error. However, in A, we have an awful number of errors. "In reaching" is wrong idiom compared 'to reach' and then you add the redundancy of "as well as", 'another', and "additional", all of them back to back and meaning the same.

For your second query, the exchange of 'as well as' for 'and' may not make the choice wrong, but may make it inferior, as most of the references that come after the additives are not of equal importance as when using 'and'. I do not think the purpose of this SC is to make the Charleston journey any inferior to the New York Journey. Therefore, stylistically, 'and' is better.

lakshya14 · Answer

How "that" is a wrong in modifying here?

DmitryFarber · Answer

lakshya14 The use of "that" here isn't inherently wrong. Although normally we'd apply "that" to the preceding noun (shots), we could make a case for correctly applying it to "news." However, neither of the choices with "that" ends up working. C is immediately wrong because of "were." If we're talking about news, we need a singular verb.

The trouble with B is more subtle, but one problem is the use of "in order to." To do X in order to Y means to do X so that we can achieve Y. The news isn't choosing to take 4 days in order to arrive--that's simply how long it took. For instance, I might say "I arrived early in order to get a good seat," or even "I waited in line for 30 minutes in order to get a good seat" (meaning that I chose to wait in line so that I could get a certain benefit), but we can't say "It took 30 minutes in order to get a good seat" or "I waited for 30 minutes in order to get in." (In this last case, I wanted to get in, but I didn't choose to wait for that purpose. I simply tried to get in and that's how long it took.)

Someone else might argue that the use of "that" in B really is wrong because it's not perfectly clear what "that" modifies, and we can certainly see that E avoids this trouble. I've often found that the GMAT sets us up to expect a word such as "that" and then provides an alternative answer that works just fine without the expected word. Here's an official example: https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-first-tr ... ml#p235977

The first shots of the American Revolution, fired at Lexington and Con

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