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07 Oct 2021, 23:41
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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)!
Difficulty:
5%
(low)
Question Stats:
92% (00:43) correct
8%
(01:11)
wrong
based on 225
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Unlike the Indus Valley Civilization, which portrayed women as extremely powerful, the men were portrayed as wielding power in the Mesopotamian civilization.
A) the men were portrayed as wielding power in the Mesopotamian civilization
B) the power was wielded by men in the Mesopotamian civilization
C) the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed powerful men wielding power
D) the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed men as the ones wielding power
E) the men in the Mesopotamian civilization were the ones wielding power
07 Oct 2021, 23:43
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
• Meaning?
Whereas the Indus Valley Civilization portrayed women as extremely powerful, the Mesopotamian culture portrayed men as extremely powerful.
• Issues tested: comparisons, modifiers, pronouns ("the ones"), and
• Comparison: Unlike
→ unlike functions exactly as the word like does: unlike compares two nouns and does not include verbs
→ In the construction Unlike X, Y, the X and Y elements must be parallel.
We must compare similar things. The objects under comparison must be the same part of speech and must play the same logical role in the sentence.
• Introductory modifier: Make sure that whatever that introduction is describing is the first thing you start reading about after the intro phrase.
→ Noun modifiers must be placed as close as possible to the nouns they modify.
→ in the case of introductory noun modifiers, "as close as possible" means "the targeted noun is the subject of the next clause."
• Pronouns: the ones
→ in this case, the pronoun the ones refers to the people
→ for a good, quick overview of the use of one or ones, click on [utl=https://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/one.htm]this link, here[/url]
→ the ones can be used to add emphasis:
About 15,000 years ago, American Indians who migrated to the Pacific Northwest were the ones who actually discovered America—not Leif Eriksson and not Christopher Columbus.
• Split #1: Dangling modifier
The introductory phrase (which itself is followed by a modifier) is not underlined and states, "Unlike the Indus civilization. . ."
The words like and unlike compare nouns.
This unlike refers to a particular civilization.
The next major noun we read about must be something similar to the Indus civilization—namely, the Mesopotamian civilization.
Otherwise, the comparison is not parallel.
Options A, B, and E incorrectly open with the men, the power, and the men, respectively.
The Indus civilization cannot be compared to the men or the power
Unlike X, Y
X = the Indus civilization
Y ≠ the men or the power
Eliminate A, B, and E
(Other errors: Options A and B, written in passive voice, conflict with the first part of the sentence, which is written in active voice. Almost always, do not switch from active to passive or passive to active voice in the same sentence.)
• Split #2: Redundancy and Meaning
Option C corrects the modifier issue above by opening with the Mesopotamian civilization, but then clumsily reports that the latter "portrayed powerful men wielding power."
First, by definition, men who are wielding power are powerful.
The glaring redundancy in this option is almost comical.
Second, the sentence raises a meaning issue that its own construction cannot resolve.
That is, did only powerful men wield power?
The way that the sentence is written makes it sound as though only powerful men wielded power.
On the other hand, as mentioned, the sentence sounds tautological. (Yes, thank you, I know that a powerful person would be the one wielding power.)
Finally, remember that we want to maintain fidelity to the first part of the sentence.
The Indus Valley civilization portrayed women as a group—all women—as powerful.
Option D maintains a similar structure, but option C does not: Mesopotamian civilization portrayed men, as a group, as powerful.
In a word, option D is clearer and closer in meaning and cadence to the first part of the sentence than is option C.
Eliminate option C.
The correct answer is D.
COMMENTS
These answers are all excellent.
Others will benefit from the different ways in which you all "think out loud."
Speaking of others . . .
All aspirants have a standing invitation to post—and if you want a good or top-notch score in SC (or any area), you should post at least a few times.
Posting forces you to organize and clarify what are often inchoate thoughts about a subject.
That is, often we think we understand material, but our understanding is not as complete as we believe.
Rather than be gobsmacked in the test, practice thinking through SC issues by posting.
I don't bite. Well, not often.
Kidding.
I am even known to give kudos for bravery now and then.
Stay safe, everyone.
Nice work, posters.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
Quote:
• Meaning?
Whereas the Indus Valley Civilization portrayed women as extremely powerful, the Mesopotamian culture portrayed men as extremely powerful.
• Issues tested: comparisons, modifiers, pronouns ("the ones"), and
• Comparison: Unlike
→ unlike functions exactly as the word like does: unlike compares two nouns and does not include verbs
→ In the construction Unlike X, Y, the X and Y elements must be parallel.
We must compare similar things. The objects under comparison must be the same part of speech and must play the same logical role in the sentence.
• Introductory modifier: Make sure that whatever that introduction is describing is the first thing you start reading about after the intro phrase.
→ Noun modifiers must be placed as close as possible to the nouns they modify.
→ in the case of introductory noun modifiers, "as close as possible" means "the targeted noun is the subject of the next clause."
• Pronouns: the ones
→ in this case, the pronoun the ones refers to the people
→ for a good, quick overview of the use of one or ones, click on [utl=https://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/one.htm]this link, here[/url]
→ the ones can be used to add emphasis:
About 15,000 years ago, American Indians who migrated to the Pacific Northwest were the ones who actually discovered America—not Leif Eriksson and not Christopher Columbus.
• Split #1: Dangling modifier
The introductory phrase (which itself is followed by a modifier) is not underlined and states, "Unlike the Indus civilization. . ."
The words like and unlike compare nouns.
This unlike refers to a particular civilization.
The next major noun we read about must be something similar to the Indus civilization—namely, the Mesopotamian civilization.
Otherwise, the comparison is not parallel.
Options A, B, and E incorrectly open with the men, the power, and the men, respectively.
The Indus civilization cannot be compared to the men or the power
Unlike X, Y
X = the Indus civilization
Y ≠ the men or the power
Eliminate A, B, and E
(Other errors: Options A and B, written in passive voice, conflict with the first part of the sentence, which is written in active voice. Almost always, do not switch from active to passive or passive to active voice in the same sentence.)
• Split #2: Redundancy and Meaning
Option C corrects the modifier issue above by opening with the Mesopotamian civilization, but then clumsily reports that the latter "portrayed powerful men wielding power."
First, by definition, men who are wielding power are powerful.
The glaring redundancy in this option is almost comical.
Second, the sentence raises a meaning issue that its own construction cannot resolve.
That is, did only powerful men wield power?
The way that the sentence is written makes it sound as though only powerful men wielded power.
On the other hand, as mentioned, the sentence sounds tautological. (Yes, thank you, I know that a powerful person would be the one wielding power.)
Finally, remember that we want to maintain fidelity to the first part of the sentence.
The Indus Valley civilization portrayed women as a group—all women—as powerful.
Option D maintains a similar structure, but option C does not: Mesopotamian civilization portrayed men, as a group, as powerful.
In a word, option D is clearer and closer in meaning and cadence to the first part of the sentence than is option C.
Eliminate option C.
The correct answer is D.
COMMENTS
These answers are all excellent.
Others will benefit from the different ways in which you all "think out loud."
Speaking of others . . .
All aspirants have a standing invitation to post—and if you want a good or top-notch score in SC (or any area), you should post at least a few times.
Posting forces you to organize and clarify what are often inchoate thoughts about a subject.
That is, often we think we understand material, but our understanding is not as complete as we believe.
Rather than be gobsmacked in the test, practice thinking through SC issues by posting.
I don't bite. Well, not often.
Kidding.
I am even known to give kudos for bravery now and then.
Stay safe, everyone.
Nice work, posters.
08 Oct 2021, 01:13
Kudos
Bookmarks
My answer is (D). It took me 30 seconds.
To have "Apple VS Apple" comparison, the subject must be "the Mesopotamian civilization", which is compared with "the Indus Valley Civilization". Eliminate (ABE).
Now we have to pick a winner from (C) and (D). Both are grammatically correct, so let's consider their meanings.
In (C), it says the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed a subset of men (i.e. those with power).
In (D), it says the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed men as a whole as powerful.
To have better contrast with "which portrayed women as extremely powerful", I chose (D) over (C).
Besides, in (C), "powerful" and "wielding power" is redundant.
In (D), the use of "as" has correspondence with "as" in "which portrayed women as extremely powerful". Such parallel won't hurt.
To have "Apple VS Apple" comparison, the subject must be "the Mesopotamian civilization", which is compared with "the Indus Valley Civilization". Eliminate (ABE).
Now we have to pick a winner from (C) and (D). Both are grammatically correct, so let's consider their meanings.
In (C), it says the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed a subset of men (i.e. those with power).
In (D), it says the Mesopotamian civilization portrayed men as a whole as powerful.
To have better contrast with "which portrayed women as extremely powerful", I chose (D) over (C).
Besides, in (C), "powerful" and "wielding power" is redundant.
In (D), the use of "as" has correspondence with "as" in "which portrayed women as extremely powerful". Such parallel won't hurt.
