Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
neeshpal wrote:
As the former chair of the planning board for 18 consecutive years and a board member for 28 years, Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.
(A) As the former
(B) The former
(C) Former
(D) She was
(E) As the
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that in her role serving as the chair of the planning board, over the course of 18 consecutive years and a board member for 28 years, Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Grammatical Construction• A comma cannot join two independent clauses; such usage leads to the error of comma splice; to correct this error, the comma must be replaced with a semicolon or comma followed by a conjunction such as "and", "but" etc.
A: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "As the former...28 years"; the inclusion of the adjective "former" illogically implies that Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications in her role serving as the
former chair of the planning board; the intended meaning is that Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications in her role serving as the
active chair of the planning board.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "The former...28 years"; the omission of the word "As" incorrectly implies that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
as a separate action attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications; the intended meaning is that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
while serving in that role she attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "Former...28 years"; the omission of the word "As" incorrectly implies that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
as a separate action attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications; the intended meaning is that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
while serving in that role she attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "She was...28 years"; the omission of the word "As" incorrectly implies that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
as a separate action attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications; the intended meaning is that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
while serving in that role she attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications. Further, Option D incorrectly uses a comma to join the independent clauses "She was...for 28 years" and "Joan Philkill attended...applications"; please remember, a comma cannot join two independent clauses; such usage leads to the error of comma splice; to correct this error, the comma must be replaced with semicolon or comma followed by a conjunction such as "and", "but" etc.
E: This answer choice uses the phrase "As the chair of the planning board...28 years", conveying the intended meaning - that Joan Philkill is the former chair of the planning board, and
while serving in that role she attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications. Further, Option E correctly uses a comma to join the independent clause "As the chair...for 28 years" and "Joan Philkill attended...applications".
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Comma Splices" and "Run-ons" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~6 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team