Although nobody knows when ravens first arrived at the Tower of London

Question

Although nobody knows when ravens first arrived at the Tower of London, their presence has been all but mandated for approximately 300 years, because a superstition holds that  if there are no ravens at the Tower, the entire kingdom will fall.

(A) if there are no ravens at the Tower, the entire kingdom will fall
(B) without ravens at the Tower, the entire kingdom will fall
(C) the entire kingdom will fall if the Tower did not have ravens
(D) without that, the entire kingdom would have fallen
(E) with no ravens at the Tower, the entire kingdom would have fallen

Source: Ready4GMAT

shaarang · Answer

Is there a clear case to be made for choosing B over A? The OA just says that B is better worded and is, therefore, the correct answer. This seems a bit arbitrary.

surendrasaini1 · Answer

So I would go with A

Please correct if I am wrong.
Thanks

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ArupRS · Answer

I have selected A, but it is wrong. One explanation I have, but not sure of this. The error could be with - " If there are no ravens". I think the intended meaning is if there is no raven, the kingdom will fall. One raven at least needs to be there. Hence the usage of plural form renders option A as wrong. Experts can answer.

Regards,
Arup

Regards,
Arup

PM20 · Answer

A and B are close but without is much better than no ravens. Next since a superstition is being described as a condition present and future tenses are used.

shiva007 · Answer

I'm still confused between A and B.
And I chose A because it sounded better than B.
Can anyone please differentiate precisely, why B is a better choice?

taniad · Answer

I went with B.
Since if, then statement is for conditional "If there are no ravens the kingdom will fall"

But- the words preceding the underline superstition holds also indicates a conditional even "superstitions holds that without ravens, the kingdom will fall"

Hence, B removes the redundant IF for the conditional phrases.

That's my thinking.

surendrasaini1 · Answer

Dear experts please help.

Thanks

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guptakashish02 · Answer

sonusaini1   ArupRS   taniad

"Holds that" require a direct object and for that reason B is preferred over A. 
 A) a superstition holds that if there are no ravens at the Tower, the entire-   It sounds like there were no ravens at all at any time.

abhi2707 · Answer

I am not able to differentiate between A and B.

Chose A as the If structure did not seem to have a problem. Meaning is also properly communicated.
There is no clear way to negate B as well.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

Reading through this discussion, I still don't see any convincing reason to choose B over A. Ideally, we'd see the subjunctive in A: "If there WERE no ravens, the tower WOULD fall." However, A is not grammatically wrong, and there's no significant meaning difference. Both A and B imply describe a lack of any ravens, so we have R=0 in both cases. The phrase "holds that" introduces an independent clause, not an object, and both choices supply a complete clause.

We could make a slight meaning case against A if we interpret it as extreme and immediate--if there are no ravens for even a moment, the country will fall--but this is a stretch.

We could make a slight meaning case against A if we interpret it as extreme and immediate--if there are no ravens for even a moment, the country will fall--but this is a stretch.

NinetyFour · Answer

Could someone explain why E is wrong?

ParthSanghavi · Answer

mikemcgarry

Can you please explain the difference between (A) & (B)?

As per the question, we know that without Ravens at the Tower of London, the British empire would collapse.

Both (A) & (B) convey the meaning and i am unable to find a difference between them

anvesh004 · Answer

egmat

Can you please explain the difference between A and B answer choice.

agar123 · Answer

I have also selected A as I thought it's a fact, so condition 0 will be applicable and hold that should be proceeded by independent clause(which is the case with A). Can someone please help with this?

elavendan1 · Answer

I chose B. It's because, we don't a conditional clause, as we are discussing about 'superstition'. The idea here is not whether Ravens are present, but what will happen to the tower without Ravens?

Posted from my mobile device

generis · Answer

Everyone, please don't worry about this question. It's not official. Answers A and B are too close to call. I have tagged the question with "debatable OA."

Read Dmitry Farber's post just a few posts up,  HERE . Your questions about A and B have been answered in that post.

vatsal323 · Answer

Doesn't "will fall" sound wrong here? Shouldn't it be D or E, given those options have "would have fallen"?

Although nobody knows when ravens first arrived at the Tower of London

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Although nobody knows when ravens first arrived at the Tower of London

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