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fozzzy
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 00:44
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45% (medium)

Question Stats:

53% (01:04) correct 47% (00:59) wrong based on 320 sessions

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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that their commission rate is too low to generate any profit on sales.

A When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
B Referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain that
C In reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained about
D When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain about
E With reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that


Please explain the above Thanks!
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pqhai
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 00:52
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that their commission rate is too low to generate any profit on sales.

A When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
Wrong. past tense does not convey the best meaning

B Referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain that
Correct. Concise, correct modifier. Present tense is correct.

C In reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained about
Wrong. very wordy, and past tense does not convey the best meaning.

D When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain about
Wrong idiom. "Complain that + clause" is the correct one.

E With reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
Wrong. very wordy, and past tense does not convey the best meaning.
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GowriNK
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 04:23
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fozzzy
When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that their commission rate is too low to generate any profit on sales.

A When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
B Referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain that
C In reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained about
D When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain about
E With reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that


Please explain the above Thanks!
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Let's take this choice by choice:
Option A: The artists are 'referring' to the upcoming convention when they say that their commission rate is too low - this is in the present. So the use of 'complained' is incorrect.
Option B: Correct
Option C: The same tense issue as in A. Additionally, 'complained about their commission rate is too low' is incorrect. We need a 'that' to make the meaning clear.
Option D: The same 'complain about' issue as in C.
Option E: The same tense issue as seen in A and C.
Hope this is clear.
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HumptyDumpty
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 05:32
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This is a very dubious question, please specify the source.

fozzzy
When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that their commission rate is too low to generate any profit on sales.
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The original reads "complained" and this is not an error. The "is" has no bearing on the "complained", nor has the "referring". Artists could have complained in a meeting before, and the rate can still be too low at present. "Referring" is a present participle and it can refer to any tense.

Quote:
A When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
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This is wrong because "when referring" is not idiomatic.
Quote:
B Referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain that
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This changes the meaning: complained == complain. Change of meaning is fatal error on GMAT, cannot be true.
Quote:
C In reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained about
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"In reference to" is not idiomatic.
Quote:
D When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists complain about
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"When referring to" is not idiomatic.
Quote:
E With reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
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"With reference to" is idiomatic. "Changed" is as in the original. This is my choice.
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HumptyDumpty
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 05:46
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GowriNK

Let's take this choice by choice:
Option A: The artists are 'referring' to the upcoming convention when they say that their commission rate is too low - this is in the present. So the use of 'complained' is incorrect.
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This explanation is incorrect. The artist are not referring. "Referring" is not used as a verb in this sentence, but as a present participle. It opens the present participial modifier that can be used correctly in any tense.
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HumptyDumpty
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When referring to the upcoming arts convention, artists 08 May 2013, 05:50
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pqhai

E With reference to the upcoming arts convention, artists complained that
Wrong. very wordy, and past tense does not convey the best meaning.
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Not wrong. It conveys the original meaning which you have marked red. It is not very wordy. It contains the correct idiom which you have marked red.
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