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Runner2
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 07:04
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C
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45% (medium)

Question Stats:

53% (00:57) correct 47% (00:56) wrong based on 232 sessions

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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained good humor even in his old age when he was worn down by disease.

• was an incorrigible optimist, and retained good humor
• who was an incorrigible optimist, and retaining his good humor
• who was an incorrigible optimist, retained his good humor
• being an incorrigible optimist, who retained his good humor
• who was an incorrigible optimist, retained good humor

plz explain
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C
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pavanpuneet
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 07:56
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the fight was between C and E but C sounded better. Can anyone explain why "his" makes C option better?
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 08:24
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I thought that ...retained his good humor even in his old age when he was worn down... has too many "he" so is akward
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 08:56
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I was between C and E and the only reason C is good is the "his" quantifies the "good humor" making the sentence more clear such as "retained whose good rumor ?". we may clearly answer this question based on C but not on E ; in E good rumor is just left for criticism without any specification attached.

Hence C

hope this helps..!!
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 20:49
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I do not think the difference between his good humor and just good humor is such a big deal. After all, whose other good humor is Smith expected to retain other than his own? Good humor is just a general attribute and not one’s individual characteristic to make it possessive. For ex: Smith swims in sea or Smith swims in his sea? Which is the right one?

Choice C and E are discriminated on flimsy and suspect grounds
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 15 Apr 2012, 23:56
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daagh
I do not think the difference between his good humor and just good humor is such a big deal. After all, whose other good humor is Smith expected to retain other than his own? Good humor is just a general attribute and not one’s individual characteristic to make it possessive. For ex: Smith swims in sea or Smith swims in his sea? Which is the right one?

Choice C and E are discriminated on flimsy and suspect grounds
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the only difference is "HIS" in the answer choice that are probable contenders.
if presented with this difference (which is definitely not a GMAT type problem) i think we should prefer restrictiveness in the choice that is maximum clarity and specification.

any thoughts..??
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 05 Jun 2012, 10:29
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I think C and E are most probably similar but C is better than E.Because the sentence C is more meaningful and clear than E and that is "who was an incorrigible optimist, retained his good humor"lets see another suggestion.
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 06 Sep 2022, 10:45
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KarishmaB sayantanc2k ExpertsGlobal5

What's your take on C vs E vis-a-vis GMAT type problem?
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Sydney Smith, was an incorrigible optimist, and retained 06 Sep 2022, 21:17
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Kushchokhani
KarishmaB sayantanc2k ExpertsGlobal5

What's your take on C vs E vis-a-vis GMAT type problem?
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This is not a GMAT type question and I wouldn't expect GMAT to test us on such a fine detail.
But if I had to give my preference, I would prefer (C) because it better justifies the use of 'retained.'

Smith retained his good humour even ...
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