Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole

Question

Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends , many conspiracy enthusiasts are convinced they can prove that the mysterious 18th-century high-society figure known as the Count of St. Germain lived for 500 years.

A) Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends,

B) With contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends used for a basis,

C) Basing it on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends,

D) Using contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends,

E) By contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, musical compositions that had been recorded, and subsequent legends,

arvind910619 · Answer

Imo D

This is a very tricky modifier problem .
The subject of the sentence in the original choice is "many "conspiracy enthusiasts" , s the modifier should make sense with the subject .
Here we have three things in the list which is used to draw some conclusions .

The list is " contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke,records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends . "
The elements in the list should be parallel

"Using" correctly modifies the subject as the  conspiracy enthusiasts  are using the records.

Doer01 · Answer

Rule to follow here: Verb+ing modifier+comma+Noun.... is the form that should be used in this case.

Modified Action here is "convinced" and its in right tense form. Modifying action is the  modifier  itself and both have the same Doer- many conspiracy enthusiasts .
So no ambiguity there.

List of examples in the modifier is parallel, so no error there too.

Hence the only logical answer is option D.

worship · Answer

One small comment to the popular but incorrect Option A (i used to make such mistake a lot in the past

): Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends , many conspiracy enthusiasts are convinced they can prove that the mysterious 18th-century high-society figure known as the Count of St. Germain lived for 500 years. A) Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends, enthusiasts, mentioned right after the underlined tex, cannot be based on diaries/records/legends, its their findings that are based on the listed items. Same in the movies: based on a true story, director - director cannot be based on a true story; based on a true story, the film - it is the film that is based on a true story, not director

Heisenberg12 · Answer

This question, if understood well gives direct answer.

Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole and Lady Jemima Yorke, records of musical compositions, and subsequent legends, many conspiracy enthusiasts.....

This question wrongly addresses that the conspiracy enthusiasts are based on something. This sounds illogical and hence is incorrect.

Only option D corrects the meaning.

P.S. If we understand the meaning of the sentence and then try to solve questions based on grammatical errors, we would be able to more accurately and quickly reach the answer.

VerbalBot · Answer

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.

Based on contemporary diaries from luminaries such as Horace Walpole

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards