Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alc

Question

Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the term halcyon days is a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together .

(A) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the term halcyon days is a period during which prosperity, peace and happiness flourish together

(B) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together is described by the term halcyon days

(C) The term halcyon days originates from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, and is a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together

(D) The term halcyon days originates from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx and refers to a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together

(E) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the flourishing together of prosperity, peace, and happiness is a period described by the term halcyon days

IanStewart · Answer

It's the term "halcyon days" that comes from the Greek myth, not the "period of peace", so there's a modifier error in B and E. Answers A and C are wrong because they both illogically say that a "term... is a period of peace...". A term is just a word. It can't be a period of peace and happiness, but it can refer to a period of peace and happiness, so D is correct.

NawalDwivedi · Answer

IMO D is correct.
A.  the term halcyon days  is not  a period   , but rather it refers to a period. ----> wrong
B. A period did not originate from the Greek myth. The term had its origin in the greek myth. ------>wrong
C. Same problem as B.-------> wrong
D. correct. The term originates ... and.... refers makes sense and is perfectly parallel.
E. The flourishing together of prosperity did not originate in greek myth. ----->Wrong

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the term halcyon days is a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together.

(A) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the term halcyon days is a period during which prosperity, peace and happiness flourish together

This answer choice is illogical. The subject of the sentence is  the term halcyon days , not actual  halcyon days . The  term  cannot be  a period during which prosperity, peace and happiness flourish together .

We cannot say that a word or term is something or other, but a word or term can refer to/define/describe something or other.

What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign: The word/term... (it) is...

Whenever we see this Stop Sign, we know that the topic that the question checks is pronouns, specifically using  refers to/defines/describes  after  the word/term  (and not  is ).

(B) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together is described by the term halcyon days

Although this answer choice corrects the original Pronoun error by introducing the phrase  is described by , it is grammatically incorrect. The original sentence begins with a modifier:  Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx . A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only noun that this modifier can logically modify is  the term halcyon days . However, what immediately follows the modifier is  a period during which...together .

What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:

A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence

Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.

(C) The term halcyon days originates from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, and is a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together

This answer choice is illogical and repeats the original Pronoun error. The subject of the sentence is  the term halcyon days , not actual  halcyon days . The  term  cannot be  a period during which prosperity, peace and happiness flourish together .

We cannot say that a word or term is something or other, but a word or term can refer to/define/describe something or other.

What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign:

The word/term... (it) is...

Whenever we see this Stop Sign, we know that the topic that the question checks is pronouns, specifically using  refers to/defines/describes  after  the word/term  (and not  is ).

(D) The term halcyon days originates from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx and refers to a period during which prosperity, peace, and happiness flourish together

The subject of the sentence is  the term halcyon days , not actual  halcyon days . This answer choice corrects the original Pronoun error by introducing the phrase  and refers to .

(E) Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx, the flourishing together of prosperity, peace, and happiness is a period described by the term halcyon days

Although this answer choice corrects the original Pronoun error by introducing the phrase  is described by , it is grammatically incorrect. The original sentence begins with a modifier:  Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alcyone and Ceyx . A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. The only noun that this modifier can logically modify is  the term halcyon days . However, what immediately follows the modifier is  the flourishing  and  flourishing  cannot originate from a Greek myth.

What helps us identify this question as a Dangling Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:

A modifier, characterized by all of the following:
1. Verb+ing or Verb in 3rd form
2. Separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
3. Appears at the very beginning of the sentence

Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the noun right after the modifier is indeed the noun that the modifier describes. If it isn't - you've found your mistake.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alc

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Originating from the Greek myth that recounts the dramatic tale of Alc

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