The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as a very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other. (A) The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as (B) Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region, one explanation is (C) That Thule artifacts are remarkably similar throughout a vast region is, in part, explainable as (D) One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region is that there was (E) Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar, with one explanation for this being comma + with (adverbial modifier) = LINK 1 & LINK 2 & LINK 3 & LINK 4 & LINK 5 & LINK 6 & LINK 7 Thule Artifacts (A) Meaning / Idiom (B) Meaning (C) Meaning / Idiom (D) CORRECT (E) Modifier / Meaning (with ... being) First glance The opening of each answer choice changes significantly. This problem doesn’t have a great initial clue as to what the sentence may be testing. When this happens, pay special attention to overall sentence structure and meaning when reading the original sentence. Issues (1) Meaning: explained as Logically, the sentence is trying to say that the fact that these artifacts are so similar can be explained by, or is due to, the fact that people were moving throughout this region; presumably, they were carrying these artifacts with them. Explained by , however, does not mean the same thing as explained as , which the sentence uses. Explained as is used when you’re trying to connect or equate two things. For example, compare these two sentences: A yawn can be explained as a generally involuntary reflex consisting of an intake of air accompanied by a release of pressure (or popping) in the eardrums. (This explains what a yawn is.) The doctor’s endless yawning can be explained by her lack of sufficient sleep the night before. (This explains why she’s yawning.) In the problem, the similarity of the artifacts is not a rapid movement of people . Rather, the similarity might be the result of this rapid movement. Eliminate answers (A) and (C). (2) Meaning / Modifier: Thule artifacts ... region The opening modifier is constructed incorrectly. The word being is tricky to use properly. Consider this incorrect sentence: The dogs being similar, one explanation is that they are siblings. When the intent of the sentence is something like The fact that (X is true) can be explained by Y , don’t use the being construction above. In this case, the structure of the opening modifier does not indicate that the explanation in question is about why the dogs are similar. Eliminate answer (B). (3) Meaning / Modifier: with ... being A comma + with modifier is an adverbial modifier; it refers to the main action taking place in the sentence. Consider these two correct examples: He jumped crazily on the trampoline, with arms and legs flying everywhere. She ate too much at dinner, with the result that she suffered indigestion. In the first correct example, the comma with modifier describes an action taking place simultaneously with the main action. In the second correct example, the comma with modifier introduces a consequence of the main action. In the problem, though, the comma with modifier tries to explain the main clause; this is not an acceptable way to structure this meaning. Consider this incorrect example: She ate too much at dinner, with the explanation being that she hadn’t eaten anything all day. Rather, She ate too much at dinner because she hadn’t eaten anything all day. The Correct Answer Correct answer (D) fixes the original meaning error by changing the structure of the sentence completely: One explanation for the remarkable similarity is that people moved around a lot. The passive structure of the rest of that sentence (there was a very rapid movement of people) will likely cause many people to eliminate this choice. If you did, or were tempted to do so, remind yourself in future: there is nothing inherently wrong with the passive voice . Don’t eliminate just because a choice is passive . Note: in the first printing of the 2016 edition of The Official Guide for GMAT Review, the question text on page 678 does not completely match the re-print of the same question on page 717. This solution follows the problem as printed on page 678.

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The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region

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MartyTargetTestPrep

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07 Jun 2022, 09:11

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dcoolguy

I was keeping original choice’s meaning as the right meaning.

Don't ever do that again.

There is nothing special about the meaning of the original version.

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KarishmaB
Thank you for this helpful explanation. To clarify on the posts above, what is incorrect about "being remarkably similar"? Is it incorrect to have a gerund with an adverbial modifier? Thank you again.

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MartyTargetTestPrep

dcoolguy

I was keeping original choice’s meaning as the right meaning.

Don't ever do that again.

There is nothing special about the meaning of the original version.

MartyTargetTestPrep
To clarify for meaning SC problems, we are trying to decipher what the author logically meant, correct? So even if the original sentence is illogical, we should try to figure out what the author meant and choose the answer choice that best expresses the author's original intent?

Also, I have a question on Choice D's use of "is that there was"....
To clarify, the use of "that" in this answer follows the sentence structure subject-verb-THAT-subject-verb... because a verb is followed immediately by the word "that"?

Thank you for your help!

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KarishmaB

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The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can,in part,be explained as a very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other.

A. The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as
B. Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region, one explanation is
C. That Thule artifacts are remarkably similar throughout a vast region is, in part, explainable as
D. One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region is that there was
E. Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar, with one explanation for this being

Show Spoiler

OA: D
Can someone please explain what is wrong with E

Sorry: fixed answer choices, should be "remarkably" in B,C,E

Responding to a pm:

When you explain A as B, you are equating the two.

Here are a couple of real world examples of the usage:

The racial bias observed is not explainable as a response to local-level crime rates.
How cluster headache is explained as an intracavernous inflammatory process lesioning sympathetic fibers... (Heading)

When you want to give the cause of a certain phenomenon, you use "explain by"

Tomasetti and Vogelstein conclude that these differences can be explained by the number of stem cell divisions.

In options (A) and (C), the similarity of objects is because of the rapid movement of people. So "explained as" is not correct.

KarishmaB

I am still a bit confused on the explanations above for Choice E. In your view, why do you need a comma? I thought that the GMAT does not ask you to decide if you need a comma or not and picks at bigger issues. Thank you again.

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woohoo921

I personally don't use or recommend that approach.

Rather, I recommend looking for a version that effectively conveys a logical meaning as written without seeking to decipher what the author meant from versions that do not convey logical meanings.

Quote:

Also, I have a question on Choice D's use of "is that there was"....
To clarify, the use of "that" in this answer follows the sentence structure subject-verb-THAT-subject-verb... because a verb is followed immediately by the word "that"?

Yes, the structure is as you outlined, and "that" serves as a conjunction that introduces a noun clause that serves as a subject complement.

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blockman

Show Spoiler

OA: D
Can someone please explain what is wrong with E

Sorry: fixed answer choices, should be "remarkably" in B,C,E

Normally, when we start a sentence with a prepositional phrase, we do use a comma but I would not eliminate this option based on that. I have seen correct options in GMAT where I would prefer a comma but it was missing.
"with one explanation being ..." does not make a lot of sense to me. We use "with" to show "along" or "together with" etc. Here, there is no such meaning. Also, the intent of the sentence is to tell us that an explanation for the similarity is rapid movement. When we connect rapid movement to the rest of the sentence with preposition 'with,' this main intent is lost. It becomes an aside. If you are unsure of this, look at the two structures below:

One explanation for similarity is that there was rapid movement.
There was similarity, with one explanation being rapid movement.

The first one is direct and to the point. The focus is the explanation. The second one is awkward.

Hence (D) is much better.

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In this I have one doubt, in the question stem we are using 'CAN' which shows possibility and the in D option which is considered the correct answer we are using 'IS' which shows fact. So isn't the meaning of the sentence changing ?

The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as a very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other.

D. One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region is that there was

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Regarding version (E), there is one potential issue that has not been discussed.

(E) Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar, with one explanation being a very rapid movement of people…..

Vs

OA (D) One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts THROUGHOUT A VAST REGION is that there was a very rapid movement of people….

Notice the movement of the Prepositional Phrase from the correct version D to version E.

In version D, the modifier serves to define and further refine exactly which noun phrase we are discussing: “Thule artifacts (that exist) throughout a vast region”

These specific artifacts are remarkably similar.

However, in D, the Prepositional Phrase is moved to the front of the Subject + rest of clause. Generally, a prepositional phrase in the introductory position serves to modify the entire clause, rather than the specific noun phrase.

Therefore, in answer E the topic under discussion is ALL “Thule artifacts are remarkable similar.”

It doesn’t seem likely that the intention of the author was to explain the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts, in general.

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The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as a very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other.

(A) The remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region can, in part, be explained as When you examine the logic of this option, you will realise that this option sis saying that the similarity of Thule artifacts is a rapid movement of people from one end of North American to another, which doesn't really make logical sense. When an explanation is being offered, the phrase used should be “explained by”

(B) Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region, one explanation is “Thule artifacts being remarkably similar throughout a vast region” is a modifier that is telling us about the subject. The subject should immediately follow the comma. But in this options the subject seems to “one explanation.”

(C) That Thule artifacts are remarkably similar throughout a vast region is, in part, explainable as This option says that the phenomenon of similar artifacts IS the movement of people, not that it was CAUSED BY a sudden movement of people. This doesn't make logical sense.

(D) One explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region is that there was This option clearly explains that the very rapid movement of people from one end of North America to the other is one explanation for the remarkable similarity of Thule artifacts throughout a vast region.

(E) Throughout a vast region Thule artifacts are remarkably similar, with one explanation for this being If there were a comma after “Throughout a vast region”, this option would be clearly referring to what is the case throughout a vast region.

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