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Bunuel
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The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violist 10 May 2023, 01:30
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D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

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15% (low)

Question Stats:

74% (00:53) correct 26% (01:01) wrong based on 167 sessions

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The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violists as well as more than a dozen cellists and bassists, were justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked in last night’s performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.


A. were justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked

B. were justly praised for invoking their tremendous passion

C. were justly praised for the passion they were tremendous in invoking

D. was justly praised for invoking tremendous passion

E. was justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked



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D
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The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violist 11 May 2023, 01:30
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I think it's D.
"string section" is singular and that eliminates the first 3 choices. In option E, it says "they" which doesn't agree with the singular "string section". Hence, imo it's D.
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The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violist 26 May 2023, 05:22
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A B and C are eliminated since subject is singular.
Option E is eliminated for using THEY. "more than 30 violinists and violists as well as more than a dozen cellists and bassists" phrase is part of non essential modifier and is not the subject so plural THEY is wrong.
OA is D
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The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violist 03 Jun 2023, 13:45
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Bunuel
The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violists as well as more than a dozen cellists and bassists, were justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked in last night’s performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.


A. were justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked

B. were justly praised for invoking their tremendous passion

C. were justly praised for the passion they were tremendous in invoking

D. was justly praised for invoking tremendous passion

E. was justly praised for the tremendous passion they invoked



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KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



(D)


Step 1: Read the Original Sentence Carefully, Looking for Errors

The underlined portion begins with the verb phrase “were justly praised.” While there are many individual musicians, the praise is given to the “string section,” a singular subject. It is not correct to say “the string section were.” Similarly, the pronoun “they” at the end of the underlined portion refers to the same singular subject, so that is equally problematic.

Step 2: Scan and Group the Answer Choices

(A),(B), and (C)begin with “were,” while (D)and (E) begin with “was.”

Step 3: Eliminate Choices Until Only One Remains

As “were” was identified as mistaken, eliminate (A), (B), and (C). These choices also use a plural pronoun (“they” or “their”), which is improper. Furthermore, (B) makes the pronoun possessive, making it sound like the passion was the musicians’ rather than a feeling generated in others. And (C) creates the unnecessarily complex phrase “the passion they were tremendous in invoking,” which now describes the musicians, instead of the passion, as “tremendous.”

Then, eliminate (E)because it continues to use the pronoun “they” to refer to the singular string section. (D) corrects the verb error by using the singular “was,” and it also uses more direct phrasing to eliminate the pronoun error. Read this choice back into the sentence to confirm:

The string section, which included more than 30 violinists and violists as well as more than a dozen cellists and bassists, was justly praised for invoking tremendous passion in last night’s performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
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