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Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont

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Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 11 Mar 2019, 04:31
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Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.


(A) Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(B) Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(C) Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(D) Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.

(E) Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.
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Originally posted by harshsingla on 12 Oct 2010, 20:11.
Last edited by Bunuel on 11 Mar 2019, 04:31, edited 3 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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SC Revision: Though the language of Beowulf is practically [#permalink] New post   Updated on: 11 Mar 2019, 04:32
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Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

A. Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

B. Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.

C. Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

D. Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.

E. Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.


OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


The opening clause "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers," correctly modifies the main clause "careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English." Moreover, all verbs are in the correct tenses and all nouns are properly modified. There are no errors in the original sentence.

(A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) This choice begins with the unidiomatic "despite that it." "Despite" must be followed by either a noun ("despite extreme hunger...") or a verb ("despite having been fired..."). It cannot be followed by a relative pronoun ("despite that..."). Moreover, the opening clause seems to modify "careful linguistic analysis," which is the subject of the main clause, creating an illogical meaning (that the analysis is incomprehensible to contemporary readers).

(C) "Though being practically incomprehensible" is wordy; "being" is unnecessary here. Moreover, the main clause seems to imply that "the language of Beowulf" performed the "careful linguistic analysis," thus creating an illogical meaning.

(D) "Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible" is wordy. The original "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible" is more concise. Moreover, "a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English" seems to imply that the "similarities" were revealed to "modern English" when the correct meaning is that that "similarities to modern English" were revealed.

(E) "Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis" illogically implies that Beowulf carried out the analysis.

Originally posted by souvik101990 on 06 Feb 2015, 03:03.
Last edited by Bunuel on 11 Mar 2019, 04:32, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   13 Oct 2010, 04:29
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To make life simple, what has to be kept in mind is that the language of Beowulf is being compared with modern English, and that it is the analysis that reveals the similarities.

This thesis is brought out effortlessly in A.

B: Structuring is flawed. Despite is a preposition and has to be followed by a noun or noun phrase and not a clause- that it is

C. faulty because, it says that it is the language of Beowulf that reveals the similarities rather than the critical analysis. A case of altered intent.

D. similarities are revealed to modern English is different from similarities to modern English are revealed. Wrong word order and a case of distorted meaning

E. Same as in C. Beowulf reveals the similarities rather than the analysis. – altered intent.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   12 Oct 2010, 23:29
harshsingla wrote:
Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

• Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English. - I don't find anything that is glaringly wrong here. So I will keep this for the moment and look at other choices.
• Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English. - Awkward usage "despite that it is" - the use of pronoun is uncalled for here.
• Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. - I am usually wary of the word BEING but in this context it might be grammatically ok, it is awkward.
• Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis. - "similarities are revealed to modern English" is also weird as it might suggest the changes are revealed to the language instead to a reader. Changes the meaning. It seems to indicate that Beowulf has many languages and one of those is incomprehensible. We want to say that the language of beowulf is incomprehensible. We don't know if beowulf is a country like INDIA or language like Spanish. If its a country then this might make sense but if the original sentence intends this to be a language then it doesn't. Rephrasing - "Though spanish has a language ... " - Not good! "Though India has a language ..." - this sounds OK but we are not sure what beowulf represents.
• Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. - The same problem as above. Is Beowulf a country or a language? this doesn't even work if it is a country.


My 2 cents. Let me know if I made a mistake anywhere.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   29 Apr 2012, 23:45
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A] Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

Though indicates some type of comparison. What is being compared? Language of Beowulf that seem incomprehensible to contemporary reader actually has a lot similarities to modern English. Meaning wise check!

B] Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.

"it" in the beginning is ambiguous pronoun with no clear antecedent. First part is a dangling modifier since it is not describing "careful linguistic analysis"


C] Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

This may not be 100%, but whenever i see "though being" or some type of "being" i mentally put a question mark. Usually this type of sentence structure isn't most concise choice. Also "reveals through careful..." seems wordy and sounds awkward

D] Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.

Beowulf does NOT "has a language" the book can't possess a language. The second part of the sentence "a multitude of ..." just lack a subject and just seems like a fragment

E] Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

Beowulf is singular, can't use have or "having", also Beowulf is a book can't really have or imply possession of "incomprehensible language"

Honestly, i just thought first one sounds better to the ear.....a big no no when come to SC Sad
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   11 Mar 2013, 10:03
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A all the way

A) Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English. – correct choice

B) Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.—Despite, being a preposition cannot be followed by a clause

C) Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. – Beowulf does not reveal; It is the analysis that reveals ---meaning gets changed

D) Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis. – Who is revealing to whom in this case? Is Beowulf trying to reveal? Definitely it is the analysis that is revealing.

E) Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. --- Beowulf reveals is wrong; meaning gets changed
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   06 Feb 2015, 06:58
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souvik101990 wrote:
Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

A. Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

B. Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.

C. Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

D. Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.

E. Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

Show Spoiler
OA - In a while!


I went with option A.
I have a question. Can the word "Despite" follow a Gerund, as shown in option D ?
I rejected option D, because of change in meaning. Is D incorrect because of the way Despite is used ?? Please clarify.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   06 Feb 2015, 13:09
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Between A and C, A is definitely the best choice. C introduces a small shift in meaning saying that it's the language of Beowulf that reveals a moltitude of similarities rather than a careful linguistic analysis. E is faulty for the same reason. B "Despite that it is" is horrible and addresses the wrong modifier.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   27 Feb 2015, 11:36
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Answer is A , concise and clearly and directly expressing the idea.
Option B is incorrect bcoz despite is usually followed by phrase not clause as here it is used. Moreover, sentence is wordy and awkward - Despite that it is ......
C - by using vague verb being , it confuses meaning . Plus language reveals ...........illogical meaning it should be careful analysis reveals
Option D though grammatically correct but it got some meaning clarity problem e. g it uses adjective clause like " language that is practically incomprehensible instead of just " practically incomprehensible language etc plus second clause in D is used indirectly .
Option E completely distorted meaning of sentence and E is awkward and wordy
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   01 Mar 2015, 11:42
Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

A. Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.
Correct.
B. Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.
Incorrect. Ambiguous reference to "it".
C. Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.
Incorrect. Though is a conjunction; therefore, it demands a clause.
D. Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.
Incorrect. "similarities are revealed to modern English" explicits that something is being revealed to the entity "modern english", what makes no sense.
E. Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.
Incorrect. "Beowulf reveals" explicits that Beowulf himself did the the linguistic analysis.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   06 Feb 2016, 09:15
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A. Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English. --- Keep this; looks like the best.

B. Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English. – wrong; implies that the pronoun ‘it’ refers to analysis. It should refer to Beowulf

C. Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. --- being is a modifier of the language. Hence, it is wrong. In addition, one should have a subordinate clause when one has a subordinate conjunction ‘though’.

D. Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities is revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis. --- altered intention.—Implies that Beowulf possesses a language

E. Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. Altered meaning. --- 'Having' changes the meaning as the language possesses.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   21 Oct 2017, 06:10
harshsingla wrote:
Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(A) Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(B) Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(C) Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

(D) Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.

(E) Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.


OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


The opening clause "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers," correctly modifies the main clause "careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English." Moreover, all verbs are in the correct tenses and all nouns are properly modified. There are no errors in the original sentence.

(A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.

(B) This choice begins with the unidiomatic "despite that it." "Despite" must be followed by either a noun ("despite extreme hunger...") or a verb ("despite having been fired..."). It cannot be followed by a relative pronoun ("despite that..."). Moreover, the opening clause seems to modify "careful linguistic analysis," which is the subject of the main clause, creating an illogical meaning (that the analysis is incomprehensible to contemporary readers).

(C) "Though being practically incomprehensible" is wordy; "being" is unnecessary here. Moreover, the main clause seems to imply that "the language of Beowulf" performed the "careful linguistic analysis," thus creating an illogical meaning.

(D) "Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible" is wordy. The original "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible" is more concise. Moreover, "a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English" seems to imply that the "similarities" were revealed to "modern English" when the correct meaning is that that "similarities to modern English" were revealed.

(E) "Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis" illogically implies that Beowulf carried out the analysis.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   17 Nov 2019, 03:00
Can someone explain how the first clause is modifying the second clause in Options A and B? Not able to find a difference.
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink] New post   18 Mar 2023, 07:09
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Re: Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to cont [#permalink]
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