Manhattan GMAT Verbal Study Guide - SC Question No. 12

[piyush]

Historians and philosophers in the late 19th century both argued that Plato's work was perhaps the ultimate work of political philosophy, that it was the one paradigm of political discourse that there was no possibility to supersede

(A) that it was the one paradigm of political discourse that there was no possibility to supersede
(B) the one paradigm of political discourse that could not be superseded
(C) for it was the one paradigm of political discourse, and that it was impossible to supersede
(D) a paradigm of political discourse that there was no possibility to supersede
(E) as being the on paradigm that could not be superseded in political discourse

I chose (C) because it seemed parallel to choose "argued that X and that Y". But the answer choice is B which does seem more concise. But apart from concision isn't choice (B) "the one paradigm of political discourse that could not be superseded" a modifier and seems to modify political philosophy. Wouldn't choice (B) imply that political philosophy is the one paradigm of political discourse that could not be superseded.

Can you please explain choice (B) and also why choice (C) is incorrect.

Thanks,

[RonPurewal]

C is wrong, above all because it implies that Plato's work is the one and only (ever!) paradigm of political discourse. The comma after these words imply that whatever comes after doesn't change the fact that Plato's work is 'the one paradigm...' Also, the 'that' in the last clause is incorrect.

As far as B: This can be taken to modify either 'work of political philosophy' (taking 'work' as the last noun, and the following words as an adjective phrase), or just 'political philosophy'. The former is the correct interpretation.

Don't too much of a hard line on modifiers like this (especially modifiers that don't start with 'which'). BTW, we are doing ongoing research into the frequency of these modifiers on the GMAT.

[Anon]

Hi Ron,

Why is A and D wrong in the above sentence..

is it because of "that there was no possibility to supersede" .. is awkward ...

also... do we always do away with the middleman - adjective phrase....


Thanks..
Anon

[StaceyKoprince]

Can the original poster confirm citation of this problem? I'm not finding it in our database - it's not a CAT question nor is it in the SC Question Bank. We need proper citation in order to respond. Thanks!