Question
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, which was published in 1982, brought her the widest acclaim in that it won both the National Book Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize.
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
- Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, (Sub-ordinate clause presenting a contrast to the main clause. Subject – “Alice Walker”; Verb – “published”)
- her third novel, The Color Purple, (Main Subject – “novel”)
- which was published in 1982, (Relative clause modifying the main subject)
- brought her the widest acclaim (Main Verb – “brought”)
- in that it won both (“in that” means “in a way that”. It modifies “brought”, saying how the novel brought her the widest acclaim)
- the National Book Award (X in both X and Y)
- as well as the Pulitzer Prize. (Y in both X and Y. “as well as” is incorrect.)
- in that it won both (“in that” means “in a way that”. It modifies “brought”, saying how the novel brought her the widest acclaim)
The sentence says:
Alice Walker published a number of works during the 1970s but it was her third novel, The Color Purple, that brought her the widest acclaim by winning both National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
The error in the sentence is that “both X as well as Y” is non-idiomatic. The correct idiom is “both X and Y”.
Option Analysis
(A) Incorrect. For the error mentioned above.
(B) Incorrect. There is no main verb in this sentence.
(C) Correct. The verb-ing modifier “winning” modifies the preceding clause by providing additional information about it i.e. how it brought her the widest acclaim.
(D) Incorrect. “which” is incorrect here since it begins a relative clause after ‘and’. However, there is nothing parallel to it before ‘and’.
(E) Incorrect. “Both X as well as Y” is non-idiomatic. Also, this option distorts the meaning since “winning the awards” and “bringing her acclaim” are presented as parallel information and not as one thing leading to the other.
Hi CJ ,
Could you please explain why the Colour Purple cannot be the Main Subject of the sentence ?
Well, you’re right. The sentence can be read in that way that “The Color Purple” is the main subject and “her third novel” is just an initial modifier.
Hi CJ,
i have one Q from explanation about the option D. Rewriting the sentence by plugging option D
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple, was published in 1982 and which, winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, brought her the widest acclaim
Beside the ||ism error with usage of “which”
Is it Ok to describe the leading action first inside , …. Verbing…., like here and actual action later ? Can Verb -ING modifier providing extra information about main clause comes in between main subject and verb ?
Rewriting original – removing one modifier information:
Although Alice Walker published a number of essays, poetry collections, and stories during the 1970s, her third novel, The Color Purple ( Main Subject)
,winning both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize ( Verb ING modifier modifying main clause)
,brought ( Main Verb) her the widest acclaim.
Main Subject, Verb +Ing modifier (modifies the clause by providing additional information ), Main Verb + Modifier.
Thanks
Cheers
AC
I think it is ok. For example:
The world cup final, breaking all viewership awards, become the most profitable event ever.
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