This is partially idiomatic: you can LOOK FOR anonymity, but you SEEK anonymity. So we want "was seeking anonymity", not "was seeking for anonymity".

Also, think about the meaning in choice (C): "William Sydney Porter, who began writing while he was in prison for embezzlement, was seeking for anonymity and therefore chose the pseudonym O. Henry."

• This makes it sound as though he chose that specific pseudonym because he was seeking anonymity.
• In other words, it sounds like "O. Henry" is for some reason a particularly good choice of pseudonym for someone who is seeking anonymity.
• That's not quite right. Porter ADOPTED a pseudonym because he was seeking anonymity. But he did not choose THAT specific pseudonym because he was seeking anonymity.

The correct meaning is clearer in choice (A): "William Sydney Porter, who began writing while he was in prison for embezzlement, was seeking anonymity when he chose the pseudonym O. Henry."

• At some point in the past, Porter CHOSE the pseudonym O. Henry.
• If (A) used simple past "sought" instead of "was seeking", it would sound as though the two actions took place simultaneously -- as if Porter suddenly desired anonymity and in that same instant chose a pseudonym.
• The use of "was seeking" tell us what the conditions were (or what was going on) when Porter chose the pseudonym.

This is similar to something like, "It was raining when I bought the umbrella."

• There was an ongoing action in the past (was raining) and, at some point while it was raining, I bought the umbrella.
• The rain likely started before I bought the umbrella and ended after I bought the umbrella.

Similarly, in choice (A), "seeking anonymity" was an ongoing action in the past. At some point after he realized that he wanted anonymity, Porter adopted the pseudonym O. Henry (and he likely didn't STOP thinking about anonymity the moment he adopted that pseudonym).

I hope that helps!
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I wish I could remember under which rule of grammar this falls (can anyone else save the day here?) but the short answer for both questions is that one would never say "seeking for x". One would always say "searching for x" to convey the same meaning as "seeking x".

seeking anonymity - you want to be anonymous
seeking for anonymity - seeking for anonymity as if anonymity is a lost entity e.g. seeking for pen

"seeking for anonymity" is incorrect as explained above

(B) was seeking that he might be anonymous when he chose was seeking what ??
(C) was seeking for anonymity and therefore chose seeking for anonymity - INCORRECT
(D) sought anonymity in the choosing of - how can anonymity can be sought in something ??
(E) sought to be anonymous in that he chose - in that - INCORRECT

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma daagh Could you please explain why A is better than E?

A: Uses past continuous
E: Past tense. I don't see any distortion in meaning as compared to A.

I believe we usually prefer non-continuous verbs over continuous verbs unless continuous verbs are necessary. I believe A is correct due to verb parallelism in which we want "seeking (when)" to be parallel to "(began) writing". (2 Past Continuous Verbs).

For option A : Doesn't ' When ' sound awkward for being placed just after ' Anonymity ' ?
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Hi Experts,

Please help me clarify why C is incorrect and why A is correct?

And one more question, how is the usage of past continuous justified here?


Thank you.

IDIOMS, MEANING


(A) was seeking anonymity when he chose --------- CORRECT


(B) was seeking that he might be anonymous when he chose ----------- 1. "seeking + that + clause" is wrong. The correct format would be "seeking + noun" OR "seeking + infinitive". 2. Modal verb "might" makes the meaning weird (he was seeking to BE something. So he was seeking a result, not a possibility). 3. Wordy.


(C) was seeking for anonymity and therefore chose ------------ "seeking for" is an incorrect idiom. "seeking" implies "for" already.


(D) sought anonymity in the choosing of --------- 1. "sought + in + -ing" is an incorrect idiom. 2. Changes the tense of the main verb and, therefore, the meaning.


(E) sought to be anonymous in that he chose -------- 1. "in that" has a different meaning than "when". 2. Changes the tense of the main verb and, therefore, the meaning.




Hit on the Kudos if this has helpful in any way.
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Here's the official explanation provided by the GMAC for this question:

The sentence—which is in order in its present form—suggests that, because he had been imprisoned, William Henry Porter was seeking anonymity when he chose the pseudonym O. Henry. The verb seek has several different meanings; here, it means try to gain, a transitive meaning that requires a direct object.

Option A: Correct. The past-continuous form was seeking indicates a process; the simple-past form chose indicates an action taken at a particular point in time in that process. The noun anonymity is the direct object of was seeking.

Option B: This answer choice is wordy and unnecessarily awkward. The noun clause that he … chose is unidiomatic as a direct object of was seeking.

Option C: The preposition for is unidiomatic in this usage of seek; here, was seeking should have a direct object (that is, should not be immediately followed by a preposition).

Option D: This answer choice conveys an idea different from the one most likely intended. As written, it means something like tried to remain anonymous while choosing. The phrasing in the choosing of is unnecessarily awkward and wordy.

Option E: The verb form sought suggests a single action rather than a process. The meaning of this version is probably not the intended meaning; it is best read as meaning aimed to be anonymous insofar as he chose.

The correct answer is A.

Please note that I'm not the author of this explanation. I'm just posting it here since I believe it can help the community.
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in that is actually correct in many other instances in GMAT. Can you explain why is that wrong here?

(A) was seeking anonymity when he chose -- Between A and B, A is far far better and concise.
(B) was seeking that he might be anonymous when he chose -- Wordy. I kept it for end review. "seeking X" is the idiom.
(C) was seeking for anonymity and therefore chose -- "seeking for" is unidiomatic. "seeking something" is better.
(D) sought anonymity in the choosing of -- Incorrect. The action isn't ongoing. We need simple past "chose". In that moment when he chose, we need "seeking"
(E) sought to be anonymous in that he chose -- same as D.