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29 Sep 2021, 01:30
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D
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Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
62% (02:07) correct
38%
(02:05)
wrong
based on 293
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The United States' proposal to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II, known as the Marshall Plan, met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed it chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
A. The United States' proposal to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II, known as the Marshall Plan, met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed it chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
B. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States proposed to help reconstruct Western Europe and create a more secure economic foundation for European countries in the aftermath of World War II, but met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
C. Viewing the Marshall Plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, the USSR opposed the United States' proposal, in the aftermath of World War II, to help reconstruct Western Europe and create for its countries a more secure economic foundation.
D. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States' proposal to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
E. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States had proposed to help the countries and economies of Western Europe undergo reconstruction by creating a more secure foundation for their economies; this was viewed by the USSR chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, which they opposed.
A. The United States' proposal to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II, known as the Marshall Plan, met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed it chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
B. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States proposed to help reconstruct Western Europe and create a more secure economic foundation for European countries in the aftermath of World War II, but met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
C. Viewing the Marshall Plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, the USSR opposed the United States' proposal, in the aftermath of World War II, to help reconstruct Western Europe and create for its countries a more secure economic foundation.
D. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States' proposal to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
E. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States had proposed to help the countries and economies of Western Europe undergo reconstruction by creating a more secure foundation for their economies; this was viewed by the USSR chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, which they opposed.
30 Sep 2021, 01:15
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The United States' proposal to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II, known as the Marshall Plan, met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed it chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
A. The United States' proposal to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II, known as the Marshall Plan, met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed it chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
Incorrect.
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and illogical.
In the original sentence the use of the parallel verbs reconstruct and create is illogical, because it doesn't make sense to say that the goal of the plan was to both reconstruct (=rebuild) and create the same object (a more secure economic foundation). To reconstruct is to change or rebuild something that already exists, but to create is to bring something new into existence.
In addition, the V3 modifying phrase known as the Marshall Plan is ambiguous in terms of what it can refer to in the long preceding phrase The United States...World War II. Remember that with V3 phrases after a comma, these generally refer back to the closer preceding noun.
You may notice that the pronoun it in the second part of the sentence seems ambiguous. However, it is quite clear what it refers to in this case (The Marshall Plan) from a meaning standpoint as nothing else would make logical sense.
B. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States proposed to help reconstruct Western Europe and create a more secure economic foundation for European countries in the aftermath of World War II, but met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
Incorrect.
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect.
By changing The United States' proposal to the United States proposed, the corrected sentence creates a Dangling Modifier mistake. The corrected sentence begins with a modifier: Known as the Marshall Plan. A modifier should be placed right next to the noun it describes. However, what immediately follows the modifier is the United States, and the United States is not known as the Marshall Plan.
What helps us identify this question as a Dangling or Misplaced Modifier question as well as identify the mistake is the following Stop Sign:
A modifier
- Verb+ing or V3, or non participial phrase at the beginning of the sentence, and separated by a comma). The modifier should modify the noun following the comma.
- Verb+ing or V3, or non participial phrase appearing in the middle to end of a sentence and preceded by a comma; the modifier should refer back to the nearest subject or clause or show the result of the previous clause.
- Verb+ing or V3, or non participial phrase appearing in the middle to end of a sentence and NOT preceded by a comma; the modifier should modify the preceding noun or noun phrase.
Whenever you see this Stop Sign, focus on the modifier: check whether the modifier modifies what it is supposed to.
C. Viewing the Marshall Plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, the USSR opposed the United States' proposal, in the aftermath of World War II, to help reconstruct Western Europe and create for its countries a more secure economic foundation.
Incorrect.
While this answer choice is grammatically correct, it is stylistically flawed and slightly changes the meaning of the original sentence.
This answer choice corrects the logical mistake in the original sentence by breaking up the parallel verbs reconstruct and create, and matching reconstruct with Western Europe and create with a more secure.. foundation.
However, with the sentence rearranged, it is difficult to grasp the meaning of the sentence, making it confusing and unclear. The designation the Marshall Plan is introduced before we are told what the Marshall Plan is. The subject of the sentence changes too, from the United State's proposal to the USSR. Instead of telling us something about the U.S. initiative, the perspective changes to the USSR. This is a departure from the gist of the original sentence.
In addition, in the aftermath of World War II is awkwardly placed between the proposal and its definition and as it is a time expression, it would be better placed at the beginning or end of the sentence or idea to which it belongs.
Some GMAT Sentence Correction questions are more focused on testing your grasp of style than of grammar. This answer choice gives you a feel for this kind of question.
D. Known as the Marshall Plan, the United States' proposal to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
This answer choice corrects the logical mistake in the original sentence by breaking up the parallel construction reconstruct and create, and matching the verb reconstruct with Western Europe and the verb create with a more secure.. foundation.
In addition, the V3 modifying phrase known as the Marshall Plan is now placed at the start of the sentence and is properly followed by the noun it modifies, The United States' proposal.
E. In the aftermath of World War II, the United States had proposed to help the countries and economies of Western Europe undergo reconstruction by creating a more secure foundation for their economies; this was viewed by the USSR chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc, which they opposed.
Incorrect.
This answer choice is grammatically incorrect and illogical, as well as stylistically flawed.
The use of the Past Perfect tense (had proposed) is incorrect. For actions that occurred at a specific point in the past, such as in the aftermath of World War II, the appropriate tense to use is Past Simple. Remember that certain time expressions indicate when Past Simple is correct. e.g. yesterday, ago, during, in. Also, the Past Perfect tense is normally used to show that one finished action in the past occurred before another. In this sentence there is no such comparison.
In addition, the use of the plural pronoun they is ambiguous and confusing: the location of they in the corrected sentence's second clause suggests that it refers to USSR, but this would be grammatically incorrect (USSR is singular). If they is taken to refer to the plural noun countries this would create an awkward construction - since countries appears in the first clause, before the semicolon. Furthermore, the sentence would be illogical, since the Western European countries did not oppose the Marshall Plan.
30 Sep 2021, 05:30
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Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the United States made a proposal, know as the Marshall Plan, to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies, and this plan met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the United States' proposal was to both reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was to reconstruct the Western European countries and create a more secure foundation for their economies. Further, Option A incorrectly modifies "World War II" with "known as the Marshall Plan", incorrectly implying that World War II was known as the Marshall Plan; the intended meaning is that The United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan; please remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses "Known as the Marshall Plan" to modify "the United States", incorrectly implying that The United States was known as the Marshall Plan; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Moreover, Option B further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "economic foundation for European countries"; the omission of the word "Western" incorrectly implies that the United States proposed creating a more secure economic foundation for all European countries; the intended meaning is that the United States proposed creating a more secure economic foundation specifically for Western European countries.
C: This answer choice incorrectly places the phrase "in the aftermath of World War II" between two commas; this placement is incorrect, as this phrase conveys information important to the core meaning of the sentence, the fact that the United States' proposal was made in the aftermath of World War II; please remember, information that is important to the core meaning should not be placed within two commas.
D: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses "Known as the Marshall Plan" to modify "the United States' Proposal", conveying the intended meaning - that the United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan. Moreover, Option D uses the phrase "to help reconstruct Western European countries ...create...their economies", conveying the intended meaning - that the United States' proposal was to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies. Further, Option D avoids the tense error seen in Option E, as it uses the noun phrase "the United States' proposal" rather than the verb phrase "had proposed". Additionally, Option D avoids the grammatical construction error seen in Option C, as it placed no information between two commas. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "USSR" with the plural pronoun "they". Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to help the countries and...for their economies"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the United States proposed to help reconstruct both Western European countries and economies through the method of creating a more secure foundation for their economies; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was to reconstruct the Western European countries and, as a separate action, create a more secure foundation for their economies. Moreover, Option E further alters the meaning of the sentence by omitting the term "Marshall Plan"; the intended meaning of the sentence conveys that the United States' Proposal was known as the Marshall Plan. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had proposed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Besides, Option E uses the passive voice construction "undergo reconstruction", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Extra Information Between Two Commas" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Bunuel
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the United States made a proposal, know as the Marshall Plan, to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies, and this plan met with opposition from the USSR, which viewed the plan chiefly as an attempt to undermine the consolidation of the Soviet Bloc.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to help reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the United States' proposal was to both reconstruct and create a more secure economic foundation for Western European countries; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was to reconstruct the Western European countries and create a more secure foundation for their economies. Further, Option A incorrectly modifies "World War II" with "known as the Marshall Plan", incorrectly implying that World War II was known as the Marshall Plan; the intended meaning is that The United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan; please remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses "Known as the Marshall Plan" to modify "the United States", incorrectly implying that The United States was known as the Marshall Plan; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Moreover, Option B further alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "economic foundation for European countries"; the omission of the word "Western" incorrectly implies that the United States proposed creating a more secure economic foundation for all European countries; the intended meaning is that the United States proposed creating a more secure economic foundation specifically for Western European countries.
C: This answer choice incorrectly places the phrase "in the aftermath of World War II" between two commas; this placement is incorrect, as this phrase conveys information important to the core meaning of the sentence, the fact that the United States' proposal was made in the aftermath of World War II; please remember, information that is important to the core meaning should not be placed within two commas.
D: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses "Known as the Marshall Plan" to modify "the United States' Proposal", conveying the intended meaning - that the United States' proposal was known as the Marshall Plan. Moreover, Option D uses the phrase "to help reconstruct Western European countries ...create...their economies", conveying the intended meaning - that the United States' proposal was to help reconstruct Western European countries in the aftermath of World War II and create a more secure foundation for their economies. Further, Option D avoids the tense error seen in Option E, as it uses the noun phrase "the United States' proposal" rather than the verb phrase "had proposed". Additionally, Option D avoids the grammatical construction error seen in Option C, as it placed no information between two commas. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "USSR" with the plural pronoun "they". Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to help the countries and...for their economies"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the United States proposed to help reconstruct both Western European countries and economies through the method of creating a more secure foundation for their economies; the intended meaning is that the United States' proposal was to reconstruct the Western European countries and, as a separate action, create a more secure foundation for their economies. Moreover, Option E further alters the meaning of the sentence by omitting the term "Marshall Plan"; the intended meaning of the sentence conveys that the United States' Proposal was known as the Marshall Plan. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had proposed" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to actions that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Besides, Option E uses the passive voice construction "undergo reconstruction", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Extra Information Between Two Commas" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
