Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally

Question

Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores,  as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known  as early as the medieval period, but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

(A)as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known

(B)as a method of the moulding of metals well known

(C)was a well known method of metal moulding

(D)was a well known method of moulding metal that was

(E)had been a method of metal moulding, well known

Answer with reason ..

Carcass · Answer

Tricky but if you focus on the meaning the answer appears clear.

The subject is metallurgy , filler, then HERE we need a VERB not as so A and B are out.
E doesn't make sense because had been give the meaning that the process is not used anymore. So C and D. In D we have moulding metal but is wrong : the process is about moulding not metal: metal moulding is correct.

C is the best answer

Kudos if is clear and useful my post

navi19 · Answer

Carcass :
Please elaborate your explanation.

Carcass · Answer

Navy the subject verb and complement are the core elements of a phrase. Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores , as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known as early as the medieval period, but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process. Red ----> filler So the phrase becomes: Metallurgy, ....., as...........it doesn't make sense at all, you need a verb after the subject. so A and B are out., suddenly. (even though if use A or B as options it has a not clear antecedent) Metallurgy, ...., had been a method of metal moulding, well known as early as the medieval period, but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process. Not has sense at all. E is out Between C and D see my previous post; indeed the correct sequence in the meaning to use is metal moulding not the reverse and also D is ackward. Hope is clear. i suggest this link ultimate-gmat-grammar-book-133952.html

raghupara · Answer

Hi Carcass,

Please correct my understanding here.

I stick with E- had been, because there is a but introduced in the sentence showing a contrast that only since a few decades, people have started to realize the action of bacteria and probably no manual refinement/metallurgy is required.

Sorry, if this has been pathetically viewed.

Thanks,
Raghupara

mohan514 · Answer

why is metallurgy as wrong ????

joshnsit · Answer

@Raghupara, If we go with E, then Sentence looks like:
Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores,  had been a method of metal moulding, well known as early as the medieval period, but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

where
Clause 1 = Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores,  had been a method of metal moulding, well known  as early as the medieval period
Conjunction = but
Clause 2 =but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

Let us see Clause 1 as independent clause
Metallurgy,  the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores ,  had been a method of metal moulding, well known  as early as the medieval period.
The green part in above sentence can be taken away leaving only the below sentence.
Metallurgy  had been a method of metal moulding,  well known  as early as the medieval period .

The blue portion in above sentence is unfortunately referring to Metal moulding rather than Metallurgy, which is improper reference.
HTH

TeamGMATIFY · Answer

This questions tests your knowledge about Verbs, modifiers and tenses. Let us deal with it by taking one option at a time.

Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores,  as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known  as early as the medieval period, but until 
about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

(A)   as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known
This is a classic case of repeating a subject.
The sentence reads something like this:
Metallurgy, ... , ..., "it" was
Watch out for this error in sentences with long modifiers.

(B)   as a method of the moulding of metals well known
This option changes the meaning and incorrectly suggests that metals were well known.
Also, it lacks a verb too.

(C)   was a well known method of metal moulding
Correct

(D)   was a well known method of moulding metal that was
This option changes the meaning and incorrectly suggests that metals were well known

(E)   had been a method of metal moulding, well known
Incorrect reference of well known. Here well known is pointing towards the metals and not the process.

mvictor · Answer

This is a poor quality question!!!!

Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally mined ores, as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known as early as the medieval period, but until about several decades ago workers did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

(A)as a method of the moulding of metals, it was well known
out because after metallurgy, we have 2 noun modifiers that are not properly connected.

(B)as a method of the moulding of metals well known
same as A + the subject does not have a Verb.

(C)was a well known method of metal moulding
incorrect!!!
metallurgy was a well known method 
method of metal moulding as early as the medieval period!!!

there should be a verb very close to "as early as medieval", otherwise the sentence is very awkward.

(D)was a well known method of moulding metal that was
changes the meaning - moulding of METAL - singular! Moreover, it is wordy metal moulding would be much better.

(E)had been a method of metal moulding, well known
although comma makes sense since it clearly can be inferred that it has been a method that was well known, had been is incorrect, since metallurgy is still used in our days.

neeraj609 · Answer

The core sentence is Metallurgy as a method of moulding of metals, it was well known as early as ....
The verb is missing in the original sentence. For this reason A and B are out.

See the comments in-lined.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Metallurgy, the process of refining metals from naturally

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