Skip to Main Content

Source: Official Guide for the GMAT 13th Ed. Sentence Correction; #101 Official Guide for the GMAT 2015 14th Ed. Sentence Correction; #101

1

As rainfall began to decrease in the

As rainfall began to decrease in the Southwest about the middle of the twelfth century, most of the Monument Valley Anasazi abandoned their homes to join other clans whose access to water was less limited.

5 Explanations

1

ZOE ZHUYAN

Hi instructors,
can "having fewer limitations to water access" be modified clans correctly?

Jul 28, 2016 • Comment

Cydney Seigerman, Magoosh Tutor

Good question! While "fewer limitations" is correct, the entire phrase results in an awkward construction and would therefore not be the best option to complete the sentence.

Hope this helps! :)

Aug 2, 2016 • Reply

ZOE ZHUYAN

thanks so much for reply,
I am confused by "having" when I practice OG this time, IMO, having works as a modifier is suspected because it can be replaced with "with phrase"...
appreciate if explain further about "having", when "having" is a better/correct,
thanks a lot

Oct 8, 2016 • Reply

Adam

Hi Zoe,

Using "having" as a descriptor in this way (to mean "with...") is almost always incorrect on the GMAT. It is most commonly used correctly in a construction such as "Having done X, Zoe did Y...."

Oct 31, 2016 • Reply

1

Richa Chandra

Can you confirm if the adjectival phrase "with less limitations on water access" correctly modifies the noun clans (and there's no ambiguity)

Mar 9, 2016 • Comment

Cydney Seigerman, Magoosh Tutor

Hi Richa :)

Yes, the adjectival phrase "with less limitations on water access" does modify the noun clans. However, since limitations is plural, the phrase would need to read "with fewer limitations..." to be correct.

Hope this helps :)

Mar 14, 2016 • Reply

1

split between 'water access' and 'access to water' eliminating C,D,E. B- has where which doesn't refer to a physical location leaving A!

Jan 8, 2016 • Comment

Adam

Hi there!

Both "water access" and "access to water" are acceptable.

(B) is wrong because of "where."
In C, the pronoun "they" has no clear antecedent.
D and E are wrong because "limitations" is a countable noun and must be paired with "fewer", not "less."

Jan 11, 2016 • Reply

1

Gravatar Jonathan , Magoosh Tutor

Hi Mukul!
Actually, "access to water," which is singular, is the subject of the verb WAS. So "was" is correct.

"Access WAS limited."

I hope that helps.

Jul 27, 2015 • Comment

1

Gravatar Mike McGarry, Magoosh Tutor

May 23, 2013 • Comment

Dipanshu Jain

shouldn't option A be "whose access to water WERE less limited." as CLANS are plural??

Jul 14, 2015 • Reply

Add Your Explanation

You must have a Magoosh account in order to leave an explanation.

Learn More About Magoosh

Official GMAT Material

Official Guide for GMAT Review 2016

Official Guide for the GMAT 13th Ed.

Official Guide for the GMAT 2015 14th Ed.

Nova's GRE Prep

Official Guide for the GMAT 12th Ed.

Revised GRE PDF 2nd Ed.


Section 9.6 Sentence Correction

Section 9.6 Sentence Correction

Improve Your Score

Magoosh GMAT is an affordable online course for studying the GMAT.

Learn More About Magoosh

Share Post

Email

Facebook