Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a

Question

Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a lively and entertaining  book, in which the author lays his own social flaws  on the line, asking the reader to consider whether they are really flaws at all.

A. book, in which the author lays his own social flaws
B. book, in which the author lays his own socially flaws
C. book, in whom the author lays his own social flaws
D. book, in which the author lays his own socializing flaws
E. book, in whom the author lays his social flaws

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a lively and entertaining  book, in which the author lays his own social flaws  on the line, asking the reader to consider whether they are really flaws at all.

A. book, in which the author lays his own social flaws

CORRECT

B. book, in which the author lays his own socially flaws

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect.  Socially  is incorrect as  flaws  is a noun, and an adverb ( socially ) cannot describe a noun.

In addition, replacing the plural noun  flaws  with the singular  flaw  changes the meaning of the original sentence.

C. book, in whom the author lays his own social flaws

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative pronoun  whom  can only be used to describe humans.

What helps us identify this question as a Relative Clause question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: who, which, that, whose, whom

D. book, in which the author lays his own socializing flaws

While this answer choice is grammatically correct, it changes the meaning of the sentence by replacing  social flaws  with  socializing flaws , an expression which is much more specific and relates directly to social interactions.

E. book, in whom the author lays his social flaws

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The relative pronoun  whom  can only be used to describe humans.

What helps us identify this question as a Relative Clause question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign: who, which, that, whose, whom

parasma · Answer

In which rightly modified the book and social is correct use.

Posted from my mobile device

sumitkrocks · Answer

In which right modifies book in A/B and D 
In A social is adjective and it rightly modifies flaws.

(A)  is the answer IMO

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (A) . It took me 01:14.

This is probably one of few questions that could have been answered by looking at options only. I usually spend 3-5 seconds previewing options before reading the sentence.

(A) Very decent answer. Keep for now.
(B) "socially" is an adverb and cannot directly modify a noun ("flaws"). Eliminated. 
(C) "whom" can only modify a person not a thing. Eliminated. Note that "whose" can modify a thing as well as a person. 
(D) "socializing", a present participle, can be used to modify a noun. This sentence is grammatically sound. The only difference between (A) and (D) is the choice of the modifier for flaws. Keep for now.
(E) See (C). Eliminated.

Now, I had to choose between (A) and (D), at which point I read the complete sentence for the first time. 
Yet it did  not  help.

Both are decent sentences. No test takers should be expected to have read "American Nerd". Nerds actually have the reputation of being socially awkward in dealing / socializing with others, an outside knowledge that might argue for (D). But "socializing flaws" are "social flaws".

Finally, I picked (A) only because it is more common to read "social flaws".

asishron29181 · Answer

Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a lively and entertaining  book, in which the author lays his own social flaws  on the line, asking the reader to consider whether they are really flaws at all.

A. book, in which the author lays his own social flaws  - Correct. Provides the intended meaning of the sentence.
B. book, in which the author lays his own  socially  flaws- Incorrect. 'socially' is incorrect usage.
C. book, in  whom  the author lays his own social flaws- Incorrect. 'whom' cannot be used in this context.
D. book, in which the author lays his own  socializing  flaws- Incorrect. 'socializing' is incorrect.
E. book, in  whom  the author lays his social flaws- Incorrect. 'whom' cannot be used in this context.

IMO A

aarkay87 · Answer

POE:

Relative pronoun WHOM is used for a person but not for the things such as books, so the option- C and E can be rejected.

Keeping option-
A. book, in which the author lays his own  social  flaws
B. book, in which the author lays his own  socially  flaws
D. book, in which the author lays his own  socializing  flaws

Socially is an adverb , so it will not modify the noun flaws. Similarly,  socializing is a noun  (example - He doesn't like socializing), so the phrase 'socializing flaws' doesn't make sense altogether.

Option-A is the winner.

TarunKumar1234 · Answer

Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a lively and entertaining book, in which the author lays his own social flaws on the line, asking the reader to consider whether they are really flaws at all.

A. book, in which the author lays his own social flaws - Correct. Provides the intended meaning of the sentence.
B. book, in which the author lays his own socially flaws- Incorrect. 'socially' is incorrect usage.
C. book, in whom the author lays his own social flaws- Incorrect. 'whom' cannot be used in this context.
D. book, in which the author lays his own socializing flaws- Incorrect. 'socializing' is incorrect.
E. book, in whom the author lays his social flaws- Incorrect. 'whom' cannot be used in this context.

IMO A

VerbalBot · Answer

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Written by Benjamin Nugent and published in 2008, American Nerd is a

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