Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 16:31 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 16:31
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,258
Own Kudos:
37,724
 [28]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,258
Kudos: 37,724
 [28]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
21
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
generis
User avatar
Senior SC Moderator
Joined: 22 May 2016
Last visit: 18 Jun 2022
Posts: 5,258
Own Kudos:
37,724
 [18]
Given Kudos: 9,464
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,258
Kudos: 37,724
 [18]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Prateekj05
Joined: 28 Nov 2017
Last visit: 22 Jun 2021
Posts: 133
Own Kudos:
277
 [5]
Given Kudos: 101
Location: India
Posts: 133
Kudos: 277
 [5]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Carcass
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 01 Sep 2010
Last visit: 20 Apr 2026
Posts: 4,711
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4,925
Posts: 4,711
Kudos: 37,829
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
C and D are out immediately because of lays.

B, D are convoluted and not with a linear yet simple construction.

A wins.

I am not a fun of 1000 series to practice.

Regards
User avatar
hiranmay
Joined: 12 Dec 2015
Last visit: 21 Feb 2026
Posts: 458
Own Kudos:
566
 [2]
Given Kudos: 87
Posts: 458
Kudos: 566
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Q: Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family: the shared genetic inheritance, or accident, that enables musicians to make music.
(A) Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family --> correct: Inverted sentence: a sense of family lies within the boundaries of artistic rivalry
(B) Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lays a sense of family --> lay needs direct object
(C) A sense of family lies inside of the boundaries of artistic rivalry --> "the shared genetic inheritance" describes "a sense of family"
(D) A family sense lies within artistic rivalry’s boundaries --> same as C
(E) Within artistic rivalry’s boundaries lays a family sense --> same as B
User avatar
09173140521
Joined: 09 May 2017
Last visit: 03 Jul 2025
Posts: 173
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 778
Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
GMAT 1: 430 Q39 V12
GMAT 1: 430 Q39 V12
Posts: 173
Kudos: 384
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
within/beyond the boundaries of something====IDIOM
EX=within the boundaries of the law


Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry= PREPOSITION
lies=VERB
a sense of family=SUBJECT

KIND OF INVERSION BE CAREFUL
User avatar
azhrhasan
Joined: 13 Apr 2019
Last visit: 13 Sep 2024
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93
Location: Canada
Concentration: Marketing, Operations
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.5
WE:General Management (Retail: E-commerce)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
Posts: 107
Kudos: 168
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
generis
generis

Project SC Butler: Day 43 Sentence Correction (SC2)


Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family: the shared genetic inheritance, or accident, that enables musicians to make music.

(A) Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family
(B) Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lays a sense of family
(C) A sense of family lies inside of the boundaries of artistic rivalry
(D) A family sense lies within artistic rivalry’s boundaries
(E) Within artistic rivalry’s boundaries lays a family sense.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

• Meaning/Structure?

The same thing that drives artistic rivalry also creates a sense of belonging to a special kind of family, one whose members have the talent to make music.

Structure? Everything after the colon both encapsulates and adds detail to the previous clause. Whatever precedes a colon must be a full independent clause. Whatever comes after the colon does not have to be an independent clause.

• Options B and E incorrectly use LAY rather than LIE

Lay requires a direct object. Lay means to put something down.
I laid a blanket on him.

Lie does not take a direct object.
Usually LIE means to rest or to recline.
A third meaning is:
Quote:
"(of something abstract) reside or be found.
"the solution lies in a return to traditional values"
From Oxford Dictionary online, here

Example: The responsibility for the alarming rise in U.S. hate crimes LIES partly with leaders whose constant public scorn for certain groups emboldens others.

This prompt's sentence requires that third definition of LIE.

For more on the distinction between LAY and LIE, go here

-- Eliminate B and E

• Options C and D have misplaced modifiers

-- the shared genetic inheritance, or accident, that enables musicians to make music is a modifier of "sense of family,"
but in C and D, the modifier describes the boundaries of artistic rivalry.
Such description is nonsensical.

-- Although not strictly an idiom, "inside of" is suspect.
Correct: She went inside the house.
Suspect, usually Incorrect: She went inside of the house

-- Contrary to popular belief, GMAC sometimes does use the possessive for things, such as rivalry’s in option D
Such use, however, needs to be more justified than it is in this instance.
Abstract nouns such as "rivalry" are not great candidates for the possessive case

Eliminate C and D

• The best answer is A.


(I think it could be punctuated more effectively, but I say so only to flag how GMAC might convey emphasis, this way: Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family: the shared genetic inheritance—or accident—that enables musicians to make music.)

Kudos to Prateekj05 :)

daagh GMATNinja

My takeaway from the question: Lay has two meanings :
1- Past tense for Lie
2- "Put" or "Place"

My query: Can i use this as principle ? Whenever i see second usage(No. 2 above) of "Lay", It should be replaceable with "Put" or "Place". This will make the job very easy as it is very confusing usage here.

Thanks in advance
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,262
Own Kudos:
42,464
 [1]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,262
Kudos: 42,464
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Azhr
You can, of course, do it; however, see whether the sentence is in the present tense in general. Secondly, you have to lay (put or place) something. Therefore, there must be a direct object of the verb. There is also a noun form of 'lay'; Nevertheless , you may not encounter in GMAT SC.
User avatar
azhrhasan
Joined: 13 Apr 2019
Last visit: 13 Sep 2024
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 93
Location: Canada
Concentration: Marketing, Operations
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.5
WE:General Management (Retail: E-commerce)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
Posts: 107
Kudos: 168
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
daagh
Azhr
You can, of course, do it; however, see whether the sentence is in the present tense in general. Secondly, you have to lay (put or place) something. Therefore, there must be a direct object of the verb. There is also a noun form of 'lay'; Nevertheless , you may not encounter in GMAT SC.

The usage is crystal clear now. I hope i will not make this mistake again. Thanks a lot.
avatar
Eswar42
Joined: 24 Oct 2019
Last visit: 17 Dec 2023
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 6
Kudos: 27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
@generis
is the subject verb agreement fine here?
Within the boundaries of artistic rivalry lies a sense of family: the shared genetic inheritance, or accident, that enables musicians to make music.

'lies' is verb, means it has to take singular subject. In the preceding phrase 'within the boundaries of artistic' ? what is subject here?

if subject is not preceding to verb, in what cases/ situations we have to see for subject after the verb?

thanks!
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,404
Own Kudos:
Posts: 19,404
Kudos: 1,009
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
495 posts
358 posts