12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: The advent of photograp

Question

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at
(C) we can see the subject as if at
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Experts' Global Official Explanation

Tenses + Pronouns + Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that we can see the subject captured on film, as it was at the moment it was captured.

• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. 
• The past perfect continuous tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had/have been") is used when a sentence contains two actions in past and one action is in greater past as well as continuous in nature; the helping verb "had been" is used with the action that is in the greater past and continuous in nature.

A. Correct.  This answer choice correctly uses the simple past tense verb “was” to refer to an action that took place during the past and is not continuous in nature. Further, Option A uses the phrase “as it was at…”, conveying the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence- that we can see the subject captured on film, as it was at the moment it was captured.

B. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect continuous tense verb “had been” to refer to an action that is neither the earlier of two actions that took place in the past nor continuous in nature; please remember, the past perfect continuous tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had/have been") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past and one action is in greater past as well as continuous in nature; the helping verb "had been" is used with the action that is in the greater past and continuous in nature.

C. This answer choice incorrectly modifies “we can see” by using “as if at…”, incorrectly implying that we can see the subject captured on film, as if we were currently at the moment of capture; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that we can see the subject captured on film, as it was at the moment it was captured.

D. Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “as it did at…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the subject captured on film can appear to us, as it appeared to us at the moment of its capture; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that we can see the subject captured on film, as it was at the moment it was captured.

E. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “as though at…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the subject captured on film can appear to us, as if it were currently within the moment of time wherein it was captured; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that we can see the subject captured on film, as it was at the moment it was captured.

A is the best answer choice.

TBT · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, we can see the subject as it was at the moment of capture.

once a subject has been captured on film - Present perfect that means the action still has it's effect.
So had been in the 2nd part of sentence will be wrong. Past perfect is used with 1 action in more past and 1 action in latest past. So b d out.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at - Correct use of tense. 
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at - Tense issue . Out
(C) we can see the subject as if at - Usage of if is wrong here.Not required. Out.
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at - Meaning issue. Did refers to appears. As it appeared. Also passive. Out.
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at - Usage of though unecessary here. Out.

Ans: A

Archit3110 · Answer

(A) we can see the subject as it was at 
 (B) we can see the subject as it had been at  past perfect not required
(C) we can see the subject as if at  if is an conditional not correct
 
 (D) the subject can appear to us as it did at
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at
  both option D & E have modifier error

OPTION A is correct

thisisit25 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at
- seems fine. "as it was" implies just how the subject was at the time when the picture was clicked.

(B) we can see the subject as it had been at
- "Had been" is past perfect, which means it denotes the past of the past, which means it must have changed after, or points to a series of events but there is nothing else. Example: He looked exactly how he had been on his birthday before he fell sick.
- I would prefer A.

(C) we can see the subject as if at
- "as if"? the subject IS at the moment of capture, "as if" sounds doubtful

(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at
- no, the subject is not appearing to us, the subject is no longer there in that form, we are looking at the photo

(E) the subject can appear to us as though at
- similar issue as D.

Answer: A

Note: Attempted this as a part of the Christmas challenge (answers not revealed yet). Let me know if there is an error.

Kinshook · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time;
 once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, 
 we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.
Is a correct sentence and is in active voice.

The use of  was  is correct in A.
Incorrect

Usage of  if  is incorrect

A is better and is in active voice.
Incorrect

The Use of  though  is incorrect

IMO A

pintukr · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject  as it was at 
 correct option..'the moment of capture' provides the time reference; so the simple past is correct

(B) we can see the subject as it  had been  at
'the moment of capture' provides the time reference; so the past perfect tense is not required

(C) we can see the subject  as if at 
 use of 'as' for comparison requires a verb in the later half of the comparison as well

(D) the subject  can appear to us  as it did at
 changes the meaning vis-a-vis the original stimulus

(E) the subject  can appear to us  as though at
 changes the meaning vis-a-vis the original stimulus

Hence, the correct option is (A)

Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, we can see the subject as it was at the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at
 - past tense to denote an event in past. We can gives a meaning issue. It should be the subject can (same as B)
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at
 - had been in wrong with "has been" to refer an event in the past. We can see is not right. Its like saying with passage of time+ we can see. Shouldn't it be "with the passage of time, the subject can appear"
(C) we can see the subject as if at
 as if is not correct as per meaning (same as B)
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at
 - concise and clear. past tense did is correct
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at
- as though at is not correct

Elite097 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, we can see the subject as it was at the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at-- the meaning of was used here in the sense of 'equal to' and hence conveys the correct meaning. Also the focus is on how persons perceive hence active tense is preferred here due to which we do not pick D even though it is written clearly
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at---had been is wrong because we are talking about point in time in past
(C) we can see the subject as if at--- as if at does not convey the sense of being at the time of capture
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at---- if we remove the modifier in the comma pair, it seems redundant to use 'subject' twice. Once a subject has been captured, the subject can appear....
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at---- if we remove the modifier in the comma pair, it seems redundant to use 'subject' twice. Once a subject has been captured, the subject can appear....

Ans A

UtkarshAnand · Answer

Explanation:
The intended meaning of the sentence is that the advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time. Further, it says that once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, one can see the subject as it had been at the moment of capture. Here, past perfect is used to describe the earlier of two actions i.e. as the subject had been at the time of capture before it was captured. Only option (B) conveys the intended meaning while being grammatically correct.

ANSWER B.

Kushchokhani · Answer

Answer is A. Edited for correct OA. OE is already posted.

rajtare · Answer

(A) we can see the subject as it was at  - Correct 
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at  - Incorrect usage of had been 
(C) we can see the subject as if at  - Incorrect - this option literally suggest time travel 
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at  - Incorrect- Meaning issue as if subject is going to appear from thin air 
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at  - Incorrect - Meaning issue related to appearance of the subject

Bhartii · Answer

option D . the sentence is using passive voice. also perfect tense and then perfect tense.

LeopardLiu · Answer

answer is D 
The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, we can see the subject as it was at the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at 
(B) we can see the subject as it had been at 
(C) we can see the subject as if at
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at 
(E) the subject can appear to us as though at

Suraj0184 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

The stimulus means ---> advent of photography has enabled people to see the subject as it was at the moment of the capture of the photograph.

(A) we can see the subject as  it was at 
 right meaning; simple past tense is correctly used along with a time marker

(B) we can see the subject  as it had been at 
 use of time marker in the end ; so, past perfect tense is not required

(C) we can see the subject  as if at 
 use of 'as' in a wrong manner

(D)  the subject can appear  to us as it did at
 redundancy through use of 'can' and appear..'we can see' is better way of conveying the meaning

(E)  the subject can appear  to us as though at
 we can see' is better way of conveying the meaning

IMO, (A) is correct

rn1112 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

(A) we can see the subject as it was at
 right meaning (conveyed through use of simple past in the end)

(B) we can see the subject as it had been at
 use of past perfect tense is not required since timing of the action conveyed through the phrase 'at the moment of capture'

(C) we can see the subject as if at
 'as if at' --> wrong way of comparing

(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at
 convoluted manner of conveying the meaning

(E) the subject can appear to us as though at
 convoluted manner of conveying the meaning..use of 'we can see' is more direct and appropriate

Thus. (A) is the correct choice

wadhwakaran · Answer

(A) we can see the subject as it was at  Correct

(B) we can see the subject as it had been at  Incorrect use of Past Perfect Continuous

(C) we can see the subject as if at  Incorrect 'as if at' changes the meaning, the sentence meant we can see the subject as the subject was at the moment of capture 
 
(D) the subject can appear to us as it did at  Incorrect the subject can appear changes the meaning i.e. it is not in the hands of subject to appear however it wants to be

(E) the subject can appear to us as though at  Incorrect the subject can appear changes the meaning i.e. it is not in the hands of subject to appear however it wants to be

sivatx2 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it, we can see the subject as it was at the moment of capture.

as usage:
'as' should be followed by noun or a clause or a phrase.

as if/though followed by noun: He consider himself as a CEO material, even though he is an intern.
as if/though followed by a clause: They consider him as though he is the savior of the city.
He is the savior of the city, by itself can be sentence.
as if/though followed by a prepositional phrase: They were shouting as though( they were) in panic.
The usage of as if and though are fine when it maintains the same time both on the left hand side and right hand side of the comparison.

As comparison means exactly same. The picture was taken already. The sentence should convey the meaning that the subject, in the picture, looked(past) the same at the time when young(past). Example of correct usage:

Paul appears(present) same as he normally is(present).

'as if/though at the moment of capture' means we can see the subject(present time) as if/though when the picture/film was captured(past). But the sentence intend to say that 'we can see the subject as it was (past) at the time of capture (past)'.

(A) we can see the subject  as it was at  
 'as it was at' is the correct idiom usage to compare between 2 past time. Note the time of the capture is a past event. 'as it(subject) was' refers to the past. AS comparison is correct. Keep.

(B) we can see the subject  as it had been at  
 'had been' means it is a greater past event happened before another past event which occurred later.
So the AS comparison is not correct( comparison between greater past and past event) since it requires an exact match. Eliminate.

(C) we can see the subject  as if at  
 Incorrect As comparison here, which is between 'can see'(present tense).... and 'at the moment of capture'(past event). Eliminate

(D) the subject can appear to us  as it did at  
 As comparison is again is incorrect 'can appear' (present tense) as 'it did at the moment of capture(past)'. Eliminate

(E) the subject can appear to us  as though at  
 Incorrect As comparison here, which is between 'can appear'(present tense) and 'at the moment of capture'(past event). Eliminate

So the best answer choice is A.

Surerere · Answer

It's providing the information about past two past sentence so we use had/had been to sentence which happen before the other.

So Ans- B

Posted from my mobile device

rahulp11 · Answer

The advent of photography has changed how people perceive reality and time; once a subject has been captured on film, no matter how the passage of time affects it,  we can see the subject as it was at  the moment of capture.

"the subject can appear" does not logically convey the intended meaning. Eliminated D & E

(A)  we can see the subject as it was at - Correct  
(B)  we can see the subject as it had been at - "we can see" is in present tense . "Had been" is not required 
(C)  we can see the subject as if at  - Awkward phrasing
(D)   the subject can appear  to us as it did at -  Eliminated
(E)   the subject can appear  to us as though at  - Eliminated

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: The advent of photograp

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 9: The advent of photograp

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

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