Source:OG 10th edition Q 5
Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of
their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.
(A) as old as any of their supposed
(B) older than any of their supposed
(C) as old as their supposed
(D) older than any of their supposedly
(E) as old as their supposedly
Choices A, C, and E do not state the comparison logically. The expression as old as indicates equality of age,
but the sentence indicates that the Brittany monuments predate the Mediterranean monuments by 2,000 years.
In B, the best choice, older than makes this point of comparison clear. B also correctly uses the adjective
supposed, rather than the adverb supposedly used in D and E, to modify the noun phrase Mediterranean
predecessors.
As per the explanation "Mediterranean predecessors" is a "NOUN PHRASE",but
my knowledge says that "Mediterranean" is an Adjective and "Predecessors"
is a noun cooresponding to the adjective "Mediterranean",So "Mediterranean"
should be preceded by Adverb "Supposedly" rather than adjective "supposed"
As per OG's explanation,I am wrong.So,where am I going wrong?
Please help me guys...
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- RonPurewal
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Ah yes, this one...
As with many complicated SC problems, the first thing you have to figure out is WHAT THE SENTENCE IS TRYING TO SAY. In many cases this is straightforward, but not here. The process:
(1) "2000 years as old as" is nonsense. If you don't see why, try applying it to a statement about other ages: "I am about 4 years as old as my brother." Huh?
This is good enough to eliminate all of A, C, E.
The only reasonable interpretation is that the monuments in Brittany are 2000 years OLDER than the other ones. There's no other way in which this sentence could legitimately make sense.
(2) To break the deadlock between B and D, we need to use the MEANING of the sentence. Here's the meaning of each choice.
Choice B ('supposed Mediterranean predecessors') --> There's no doubt that the other monuments are Mediterranean, but what was supposed (and now disproved by the new evidence) is that they were the predecessors of the ones in Brittany.
Choice D ('supposedly Mediterranean predecessors') --> There's no doubt that the other monuments are the predecessors of the ones in Brittany, but what was supposed (and now disproved by the new evidence) is that they were Mediterranean.
B makes sense; D doesn't. If you don't immediately see why, consider that the decisive evidence was carbon-14 dating (which is used to tell how old things are, not where they're from).
As with many complicated SC problems, the first thing you have to figure out is WHAT THE SENTENCE IS TRYING TO SAY. In many cases this is straightforward, but not here. The process:
(1) "2000 years as old as" is nonsense. If you don't see why, try applying it to a statement about other ages: "I am about 4 years as old as my brother." Huh?
This is good enough to eliminate all of A, C, E.
The only reasonable interpretation is that the monuments in Brittany are 2000 years OLDER than the other ones. There's no other way in which this sentence could legitimately make sense.
(2) To break the deadlock between B and D, we need to use the MEANING of the sentence. Here's the meaning of each choice.
Choice B ('supposed Mediterranean predecessors') --> There's no doubt that the other monuments are Mediterranean, but what was supposed (and now disproved by the new evidence) is that they were the predecessors of the ones in Brittany.
Choice D ('supposedly Mediterranean predecessors') --> There's no doubt that the other monuments are the predecessors of the ones in Brittany, but what was supposed (and now disproved by the new evidence) is that they were Mediterranean.
B makes sense; D doesn't. If you don't immediately see why, consider that the decisive evidence was carbon-14 dating (which is used to tell how old things are, not where they're from).
- MaheshR722
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Re: Confusion regarding placement of an Adverb(OG Question)
@Ron: This is the best explanation I have seen for differences between the usage of supposed and supposedly. Thanks, has made life easier!
- RonPurewal
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- Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:23 am
Re: Confusion regarding placement of an Adverb(OG Question)
you're welcome. hahah that post is more than 9 years old...
7 posts Page 1 of 1