Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields

Question

Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe,  now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be  the remains of giants and were often displayed as curiosities in castles, palaces, town halls, churches, and monasteries.

(A) now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be

(B) presently known as from large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as

(C) bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be

(D) bones known at present as of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as those of

(E) currently known as those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be those of

GMATBLACKBELT · Accepted Answer

I think C

"those" is required in the first part of the sentence to establish whose bones we are talking about. 

A: the bones are now known to be prehistoric animals??? thats illogical.

B: known as from large prehistoric animals, ungrammatical.

D: those (in second part) is not needed, because the remains is already stated

E: those (in second part) is not needed, b/c the remains is already stated

anairamitch1804 · Answer

Known to --> a fact that people know. 
For example: 
12 moons are known to orbit Jupiter. (A fact that people know)

Known as --> named as 
X is known as Y.

Since, we are discussing some facts that we know about, so "known to" is correct usage here. B, D and E are incorrect. 
"now known to be large prehistoric animals" follows "Europe". It seems that "Bones" were known to be prehistoric animals, signaling awkward meaning. So, A is incorrect.

IMO C 
Also, apart for the issues discussed above other choices have more issues in them. The sentence intends to talk about the Bones, which were discovered in some area, were assumed to be remains of large animals.

Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe, now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be the remains of giants and were often displayed as curiosities in castles, palaces, town halls, churches, and monasteries. 
A. now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be INCORRECT as mentioned above. 
B. presently known as from large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as "assumed as" is incorrect here. INCORRECT 
C. bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be 
D. bones known at present as of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as those of (those of remains --> bones of remains. Also, "assumed as" is incorrect here. INCORRECT) 
E. currently known as those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be those of (those of remains --> bones of remains INCORRECT)

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be the remains of giants, and these bones are now known to be the remains of large prehistoric animals.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Idioms

• “known to be” is an idiomatic construction used to refer to an intrinsic quality, and “known as” is used to refer to the title or name of a noun.
• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
 • "assumed + to" is the correct, idiomatic construction.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly modifies "fields or caves of Europe" with "now known to be large prehistoric animals", illogically implying that   the fields or caves of Europe   are known to be   large prehistoric animals  ; the intended meaning is that   large bones   discovered in the fields or caves of Europe are known to be   the remains   of large prehistoric animals; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.

B:  This answer choice incorrectly uses the idiomatic construction "known as" to refer to an intrinsic quality of "large bones" - the fact they are the bones of large prehistoric animals; remember, “known to be” is an idiomatic construction used to refer to an intrinsic quality, and “known as” is used to refer to the title or name of a noun. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "assumed + as"; remember, "assumed + to" is the correct, idiomatic construction.

C:   Correct.  This answer choice avoids the modifier error seen in Option A, as it uses the appositive modifier "bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals" to modify "large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe", conveying the intended meaning - that   large bones   discovered in the fields or caves of Europe are known to be   the remains   of large prehistoric animals. Moreover, the sentence formed by Option C uses the phrase "assumed to be the remains", conveying the intended meaning - that large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be   the remains of giants  . Further, Option B correctly uses the idiomatic construction "known to be" to refer to an intrinsic quality of "large bones" - the fact they are the bones of large prehistoric animals. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic construction "assumed + to".

D:  The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "those of the remains of giants"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be   the bones   of the remains of giants; the intended meaning is that large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be   the remains of giants  . Further, Option D incorrectly uses the idiomatic construction "known as" to refer to an intrinsic quality of "large bones" - the fact they are the bones of large prehistoric animals; remember, “known to be” is an idiomatic construction used to refer to an intrinsic quality, and “known as” is used to refer to the title or name of a noun. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "assumed + as"; remember, "assumed + to" is the correct, idiomatic construction.

E:  The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "those of the remains of giants"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be   the bones   of the remains of giants; the intended meaning is that large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe were assumed to be   the remains of giants  . Further, Option E incorrectly uses the idiomatic construction "known as" to refer to an intrinsic quality of "large bones" - the fact they are the bones of large prehistoric animals; remember, “known to be” is an idiomatic construction used to refer to an intrinsic quality, and “known as” is used to refer to the title or name of a noun.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx_5LxK5Bh0

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

skkingdom · Answer

should be C

bones need to be "those" of animals, they are not animals

bones are assumed to be the remains, they are the remains, not those of the remains

gmat1220 · Answer

Easy C. "those" is the subject of comparison.

now + currently redundant.

daagh · Answer

Unless the word ‘ now ’ is also underlined, choice C makes no sense. It will read as ‘now bone now known to be”, which is wrong. 
After this error is amended, then C is the right answer since E can be easily ruled out because of the redundancy of  ‘now currently’  and to be ‘ those of the remains of’  (bones themselves are remains).

Of course ‘ assumed to be’  is the right idiom’

A is wrong because, fields or caves of Europe are now known to be prehistoric animals

hellishbrain · Answer

from 1st option we do know 'now' is underlined. WarrioAjay just missed it.

A. now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be -  either large bones or, in worst case, Europe is referred as 'large prehistoric animals' 
B. presently  known as from  large prehistoric animals, were usually  assumed as   - Also ambiguous modifier as in option A. 
C. bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be
D. bones  known at present as of  large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed  as those of 
E. currently  known as  those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be  those of  -  Also ambiguous modifier as in option A.

piyushksharma · Answer

C is the correct answer.
Here is the explanation;

A. now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be-->now is wrongly used.known to be is wrong. It should be known as.
B. presently known as from large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as--> presently known as is not clear. It is ambiguous as to what it is referring to, to the caves or to the bones or fields.
C. bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be--> this one is correct.
D. bones known at present as of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as those of--> as those of is not correct.
E. currently known as those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be those of-->currently known as those of and assumed to be those of is incorrect.It is not clear to what are they referring to.

rahul202 · Answer

Until a few centuries ago,  any large bones  discovered in the fields or caves of Europe,   now known to be large prehistoric animals ,  were usually assumed  to be  the remains of giants and were often displayed as curiosities in castles, palaces, town halls, churches, and monasteries.
Error: Verb-ed modifier modifies closest Noun.
Here it is modifying caves of europe, which is wrong.
A. Wrong because of above reason
B.Same reason
C.Noun + Noun modifier can modify anything. Hence right.
D. Meaning change, to be is not same as those of.
Sentence structure is not same, as those of .. and to be 
E. same error as A

sachin0890 · Answer

egmat ,  sayantanc2k ,

Can anyone explain the correct usages of words such as  known, assume, and named . 
Every time these words appear in the options with different usages, I took a lot of time to figure out which way is correct. Some of the variations appeared in GMAT-Prep are:

known as, known to be
named as, to be named
assumed as, assumed to be

Please explain.

Thank You.

sayantanc2k · Answer

Known as: named - My dog is known as Snoopy.
Known to be: acknowledged as - My dog is known to be unfriendly.

For the other 4 phrases, could you state the full sentence?

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe,  now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be  the remains of giants and were often displayed as curiosities in castles, palaces, town halls, churches, and monasteries.

(A) now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be  The modifier "now known to be large prehistoric animals" incorrectly modifies "fields or caves of Europe". Eliminate.

(B) presently known as from large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as  "known as from" is incorrect - the correct usage is "known to be from". Eliminate.

(C) bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be  Correct answer. The modifier "now known to be  those of  large prehistoric animals" correctly modifies "bones". No new errors are introduced.

(D) bones known at present as of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as those of  "assumed as" is incorrect - the correct usage is "assumed to be". Also, "bones known ... as of" is incorrect - the correct usage is "bones known ... to be of". Eliminate.

(E) currently known as those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be those of  " were usually assumed to be those of  the remains of giants..." is redundant - bones themselves are remains. Eliminate.

Hope this helps.

ak2121 · Answer

Hi can you pls explain why the usage of 'to be' correct in c?
isn't it factual that they are of large prehistoric animals?
I'm a little confused

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  ak2121 ,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe that we can help resolve your doubt.

Here, "to be" does not directly refer to an action (the bones being those of large prehistoric animals) that conveys factual information; rather, it serves as a modification to the verb "known", conveying what is "now known" about the bones. Another way to look at it is that "to be" refers to the intent of the action "known", so it takes the form of the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + be" in this sentence); please remember, the infinitive verb form is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

souvik19 · Answer

Hi, can someone please explain which entity is the pronoun "those" is referring? Is it referring to "the remains" which comes after the modifier?

Posted from my mobile device   
 GMATNinja

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  souvik19 ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, "those" refers to the noun "bones".

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

himanshu0123 · Answer

in C] assumed to be v/s assumed as

any difference in meaning?

RonTargetTestPrep · Answer

"Assumed as NOUN" is incorrect because it's unidiomatic. (This construction doesn't have a meaning, because—like other unidiomatic things—it cannot possibly be correct.)

VerbalBot · Answer

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Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields

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Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields

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