In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America, West Af

Question

In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America,  West Africa is the home of the djembe , a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape.
A. West Africa is the home of the djembe
B. West Africa is home to the djembe
C. West Africa was the home of the djembe
D. the djembe originated in West Africa
E. the djembe has a home in West Africa

Source: McGraw Hill GMAT

Takdir · Answer

shouldn "djembe" be at the end ?

Bhuvan.deshwal · Answer

In my opinion djembe should be in the end since noun modifier should be placed closest to the noun it modifies.

mkumar26 · Answer

opt A and B passive voice 
opt is awkward 
can anyone help me on this ?

sayantanc2k · Answer

Your query has already been correctly explained above by Bhuvan.

The modifier "In contrast to the bongo, (which was invented in Latin America)," modifies "the djembe". (What is in contrast to the bongo? - the djembe"). Hence the modifier should touch "the djembe".

sayantanc2k · Answer

A, B and C can be eliminated because of wrong modification (please see above). "The djembe" (not "West Africa") should be followed by the modifier "In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America,". Thus only D and E remains. E conveys a wrong meaning. D is the correct answer.

TejasD · Answer

The comparison is between the two instruments. The instrument should be introduced immediately after comma.

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Abhishek009 · Answer

AGreed, but the correct idiomatic usage is -

In Contrast to X,Y   , hence options  (A), (B) & (C) can be negated....

Only (D) & (E) remains and out of the same

(E) the djembe  has a home  in West Africa.

Thus, option (D) remains as our only answer choice...

sd1713 · Answer

In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America, West Africa is the home of the djembe, a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape.

A. West Africa is the home of the djembe
"In contrast to X, Y" idiom doesn't make sense with X = bongo, Y = West Africa

B. West Africa is home to the djembe
In contrast to X, Y idiom doesn't make sense with X = bongo, Y = W Africa

C. West Africa was the home of the djembe
In contrast to X, Y idiom doesn't make sense with X = bongo, Y = W Africa. Also no reason for past tense with "was" since this is a universal truth and can stay present tense.

D. the djembe originated in West Africa
Correct. Better conveys meaning of sentence regarding place of origin.

E. the djembe has a home in West Africa
Not really parallel with comparison. Sentence talks about bongo being "invented" (past tense) and then "has a home" (present participle) in West Africa. Not grammatically wrong, but doesn't seem to capture idea of point of origin as well as D.

Pankaj0901 · Answer

Using the correct choice, option D, in the main sentence:
"In contrast to the bongo,  which was invented in Latin America ,    the djembe originated in West Africa   ,  a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape . 
 
What is the last sentence  "a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape"  modifying here,   "bongo"   or   "the djembe"  ?

CASE 1
All these 3 sentences (or modifiers) are modifying the "the bongo" in the first sentence:
 which was invented in Latin America 
 the djembe originated in West Africa 
 a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape

CASE 2 
"the djembe" is being modified- because it is the noun closest to the below modifier
 a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape 
However, "the djembe" doesn't touch the above modifier. This could imply that the "the djembe" is modifying "West Africa"- but it doesn't make sense logically.

Could you please throw some light what am I missing here. Thanks in advance.
 AndrewN

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Pankaj0901 . This is a poorly constructed question, in my view, a case in point for why I do not recommend students practice unofficial questions. The appositive phrase at the end should  clearly  modify  the djembe . Its current placement can lead to nonsensical interpretations, such as that West Africa is a drum shaped like a goblet. Compare to a more streamlined version of the sentence:

In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America, the djembe, a large, single headed drum with a goblet shape, originated in West Africa.

Now, the contrast is clear, the appositive phrase clearly belongs to the djembe, and the prepositional phrases  in Latin America  and  in West Africa  are perfectly parallel.

Although I do tell students that they have to go by what is on the screen, I cannot point to an official question with a correct answer that fits into the same mold as this one. I think GMAC™ would more carefully construct the question and the correct answer choice.

- Andrew

Pankaj0901 · Answer

Thanks a lot AndrewN . This is crystal clear to me now.

In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America, West Af

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In contrast to the bongo, which was invented in Latin America, West Af

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