Question
A site once used as an observatory by the Anasazi, ancient pueblo dwellers of New Mexico, has been recently discovered where patterns of light and shadow were employed to establish the precise limits of the positions of the Sun and Moon over a nineteen-year cycle.
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
Option E
(This question is from Official Guide. Therefore, because of copyrights, the complete question cannot be copied here. The question can be accessed at GMAT Club)
Solution
Sentence Analysis
- A site (Main Subject)
- once used as an observatory (Verb-ed modifier – modifies the main subject)
- by the Anasazi, (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “used”)
- ancient pueblo dwellers of New Mexico, (Noun Phrase – modifies “Anasazi”)
- by the Anasazi, (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “used”)
- once used as an observatory (Verb-ed modifier – modifies the main subject)
- has been recently discovered (Main Verb)
- where patterns of light and shadow were employed (Relative clause – needs to modify the main subject)
- to establish the precise limits (Infinitive Phrase – modifies “were employed”)
- of the positions (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “limits”)
- of the Sun and Moon (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “positions”)
- over a nineteen-year cycle. (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “positions”)
- of the positions (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “limits”)
- to establish the precise limits (Infinitive Phrase – modifies “were employed”)
A site has been recently discovered. The site was once used by the Anasazi as an observatory. At this site, patterns of light and shadow were employed to establish the limits of the positions of the Sun and Moon over a time period.
The relative clause (“where” clause) appears after the verb and is thus incorrectly placed. It needs to appear right after the noun it modifies.
Option Analysis
(A) Incorrect. For the reason stated above.
(B) Incorrect. Here, “where” seems to refer to Anasazi.
(C) Correct. The structure of this option is as follows:
- At a recently discovered site (Prepositional Phrase – modifies the main verb “were employed”)
- once used as an observatory by the Anasazi, (Verb-ed modifier – modifies the main subject)
- ancient pueblo dwellers of New Mexico, (Noun Phrase – modifies “Anasazi”)
- once used as an observatory by the Anasazi, (Verb-ed modifier – modifies the main subject)
- patterns of light and shadow were employed (Main Clause)
- to establish the precise limits (Infinitive Phrase – modifies “were employed”)
- of the positions (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “limits”)
- of the Sun and Moon (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “positions”)
- over a nineteen-year cycle (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “positions”)
- of the positions (Prepositional Phrase – modifies “limits”)
- to establish the precise limits (Infinitive Phrase – modifies “were employed”)
- At a recently discovered site (Prepositional Phrase – modifies the main verb “were employed”)
(D) Incorrect. For the following reasons:
- This option doesn’t mention that the site was used as an observatory by the Anasazi
- The positioning of the prepositional phrase “at a site” creates confusion as to what it modifies. Given the placement, it can modify cycle, positions, or “were employed”.
(E) Incorrect. For the following reasons:
- The use “the site” is incorrect since “that” already refers to the place. Without “the site”, the “that” clause will be fine.
- The positioning of the prepositional phrase “at a recently discovered place” creates confusion as to what it modifies. Given the placement, it can modify cycle, positions, or “were employed”.
This solution was created by Anish Passi and Chiranjeev Singh.
If you have any doubts regarding any part of this solution, please feel free to ask in the comments section.
Hi – in option C – you mention
“once used as an observatory by the Anasazi” is a Verb-ed modifier that modifies the main subject
I dont think that is accurate as the main subject in option C is “patterns of light and shadow”
In option C – “once used as an observatory by the Anasazi” is a noun modifier referring to “site”
thoughts ?
Hello Anish,
Thanks for the solution for the solution.
My doubts for (B) as follows:
Why can “where” refer to observatory? It can jump over prepositional phrase “by the anazis” to modify observatory. This would still make sense right?
Kindly clarify.
You’re very welcome, Vyshak.
A noun modifier can jump over other noun modifiers, but typically not over verb modifiers. ‘by the Anasazi” is a verb modifier for ‘was used’. So, the “where” can’t refer to “observatory” in this construction.
Hope that makes sense.
In option C how is “over a nineteen year cycle” modifying “positions”? What question are you asking that it modifies positions?
Positions over what period? Positions over a nineteen year cycle.