12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 11: A number of party lead

Question

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Experts' Global Official Explanation

Subjunctive Mood + Pronouns + Meaning + Idioms + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

• The use of the verb “suggested” indicates that the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context, and “bossy verb (ordered) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood usage. 
• “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

A. Correct.  This answer choice avoids the pronoun error seen in Options C, D, and E by using the verb phrase “not accepting an applicant” rather than using a pronoun phrase, such as “that they not be accepted”. Further, Option A uses the phrase “a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application”, conveying the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant. Additionally, Option A maintains a correct subjunctive mood structure “bossy verb (suggested) + that + something be done (a conviction…be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Besides, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “accepting” in this sentence) to modify the noun “grounds”.

B. Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood structure, as it incorrectly uses the “something should be done” construction rather than “something be done (be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges…be grounds for not accepting…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested felony or misdemeanor charges themselves be grounds for not accepting an application- the intended meaning is that the party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting an application. Besides, the usage of “suggested” as well as “should” in this answer choice is redundant.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + to” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “are” to refer to the singular noun “conviction”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “they” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + that” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

E. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “for five years prior to applying for party membership” the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for rejecting the application, during the five years prior to the applicant applying; the intended meaning is that party leaders have suggested that any conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that occurred during the five years prior to the application be grounds for rejecting the application. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”.

A is the best answer choice.

Kinshook · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that 
 a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership 
be grounds for not accepting an applicant .

A number of party leaders have suggested that  a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant .
Is a correct sentence.

Since the sentence is in subjunctive form, the use of  should  is incorrect

An applicant  is singular but  them  is plural
Incorrect

An applicant  is singular but they is plural.
Incorrect

An applicant  is singular but  them  is plural.

IMO A

thisisit25 · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

suggestion hints at subjunctive mood sentence..correctly depicted though 'be' structure

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

'suggested' and 'should be' -- redundancy

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

plural pronoun for singular noun

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

again, plural pronoun for singular noun

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

in this option also, plural pronoun for singular noun

IMO, (A) is the correct answer

TBT · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

Subjunctive at work here. suggested+that+  something be done  is the correct usage

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant - Changes the meaning. Should redundant. Puts important info in ,MODIFER, Out.

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them - "Them" should ideally meaningwise refer to applicant here. So wrong meaning. Out.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted - "They" has wrong referent. So wrong meaning. Out.

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them - Same issue as c and d. Out.

Ans: A

UtkarshAnand · Answer

Explanation:
Here, "suggested" triggers the subjunctive form, "bossy verb + that + be + base form of the verb".

(B) uses should which is incorrect in subjunctive form. OUT.
(C) and (E) have no referent for "them" as the sentence mentions "applicant's conviction" but never mentions "applicant". OUT.
(D) has no referent for "they" as the sentence mentions "applicant's conviction" but never mentions "applicant". OUT.

ANSWER (A).

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership  be  grounds for not accepting an applicant 
-more concise: suggested a conviction.... be grounds for not accepting...
(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership,  should be  grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
-them refers party leaders
(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership  are  grounds that they not be accepted
- subjunctive "be" should be used, "they" refers party leaders
(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges  be  grounds for not accepting them
 -suggested for five years gives a meaning issue

Archit3110 · Answer

Subjunctive SC error question

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
  here modifier and meaning stands valid hence the correct option

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership,  should be  grounds for not accepting an applicant  usage of should is incorrect

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept  them   them is wrong , modifying singular applicant's

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership  are  grounds that they not be accepted  ' are usage is incorrect

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them  ' them usage is incorrect
 
 OPTION A is correct

mysterymanrog · Answer

CDE all suffer from the same error: Them has no logical referent. Applicant is singular, and the possessive form is used. So they can only refer to charges, and that is illogical because we are not rejecting the charges, we are rejecting the applicants. CDE out.

A vs B

B uses the non-essential modifier in an essential portion of the phrase. Moreover, the usage of should is redundant - we have suggested in non-underlined portion of the sentence so there is no need to repeat it. For these reasons, A is better than B.

Final choice A.

Lizaza · Answer

There are two main rules that are checked here:
  The verb  'suggest'  requires a SUBJUNCTIVE mode - so we need the structure  'BE GROUNDS'  for the application. 
 Pronoun reference: on GMAT, referring to a person of unknown gender as 'they' is considered unidiomatic - therefore, we  cannot call the applicant 'them' .

Judging by the first criterion of subjunctive,   we eliminate B and D  .

Judging by the second consideration,   we eliminate C and E   for using 'them' to refer to an applicant.

Therefore,   the correct answer is A   which ticks both our boxes.

GautamKhanduja · Answer

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Wrong. the sentence requires subjunctive construction

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
Wrong.Them cannot refer to applicant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
Wrong. the sentence requires subjunctive construction

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
Wrong. Them cannot refer to applicant

Elite097 · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant--- not used subjunctive. Also if leading to convinction does not apply to charges and that portion is also wordy

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them----'them' is plural

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted----- not used subjunctive. Also 'they' is plural

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them--- communicates wrong meaning , conviction for five years. Also applicant is singular so them does not apply

Ans A

Note: Here we picked for accepting over to accept which is not common in GMAT

rvgmat12 · Answer

Sentence structure - 
A number of party leaders have suggested that 
 a conviction on any felony or 
 criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership 
 be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

Subjunctive form is needed. Original sentence structure is correct and meaning is clear.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Incorrect. Subjunctive form is needed

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
Incorrect. Pronoun error - "them" has no antecedent

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
Incorrect. Subjunctive form is needed. Pronoun error - "they" has no antecedent

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
Incorrect. Pronoun error - "them" has no antecedent

A is the correct answer.

akhtolkhyn · Answer

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant - Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant - no need to change sentences' location

(C)  an applicant’s  conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept  them  - i think using it twice is abundant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds  that  they not be accepted - incorrect use of that

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them - sub, verb agreement error.

IMO  A

Suraj0184 · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership  be grounds for not accepting an applicant

suggestion hints at subjunctive mood sentence..correctly depicted though 'be' structure

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership,  should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

'suggested' and 'should be' -- redundancy

(C)  an applicant’s conviction  on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept  them

plural pronoun for singular noun

(D)  an applicant’s conviction  on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that  they  not be accepted

again, plural pronoun for singular noun

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, a n applicant’s conviction  on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting  them

in this option also, plural pronoun for singular noun

IMO, (A) is the correct answer

Kushchokhani · Answer

"suggested" is a trigger word for Subjunctive mood.
As per the format of command subjunctive, suggested that...something...be...done
Choice A perfectly fits this format.

Choice B uses "should", thereby creating redundancy with "suggested". Hence, B is out.

Logical referent for pronouns they/them in choice C, D and E should be applicant per the meaning of the sentence. However, applicant is used as a reflective noun- the main noun in these sentences is applicant's conviction. Hence, these choices are out.

Answer is A.

pintukr · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

A subjunctive sentence structure conveys correctly that conviction.......in the 5 years prior to application..'be grounds'

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
unnecessarily wordy sentence structure

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept  them

Pronoun error ..'them' referring to a single applicant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that  they  not be accepted

Pronoun error ..'they' referring to a single applicant

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting  them

Pronoun error ..'them' referring to a single applicant

Hence, (A) will be the answer

rxb266 · Answer

A number of party leaders have suggested that  a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.
  
(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
 Here the word “suggested” is correctly followed by subjunctive which makes this choice concise. There are no errors present. Hence, this choice is likely correct.

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges,   if   leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
 In this choice, the use of “if” is unnecessary and makes this choice wordy. Also, a subjunctive construction in Choice A is concise and is preferred to the word “should” used in choice B.

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept   them  
 The pronoun “them” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership   are   grounds that   they   not be accepted
 The pronoun “they” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Also, the plural verb “are” used for singular subject “an applicant’s conviction” makes this choice INCORRECT.

(E)   for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction   on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting   them  
 The pronoun “them” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Also, the modifier “for five years prior to applying for party membership” incorrectly refers to the subject “an applicant’s conviction”, which distorts the meaning. Hence, this choice is INCORRECT.
 
  Answer : OPTION A

limuengaoey · Answer

B wrong because suggest should be followed by be not should
D wrong because of the same reason as b
C wrong because of pronoun "them" is unclear
E wrong for the same reason as c
hence it is A

LeopardLiu · Answer

Answer is A 
A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant  suggested that and should is redundant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them   them is wrong.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted   they is wrong

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them  them is wrong

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 11: A number of party lead

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