12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 11: A number of party lead : Sentence Correction (SC)

**Bunuel** · Dec 24, 2022

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

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Spoiler: OA

**Bunuel** · Dec 25, 2022

Bunuel wrote:12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

This question was provided by Experts'Global
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Experts' Global Official Explanation

Subjunctive Mood + Pronouns + Meaning + Idioms + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

A. Correct. This answer choice avoids the pronoun error seen in Options C, D, and E by using the verb phrase “not accepting an applicant” rather than using a pronoun phrase, such as “that they not be accepted”. Further, Option A uses the phrase “a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application”, conveying the intended meaning of this sentence is that party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that took place in the five years prior to an application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant. Additionally, Option A maintains a correct subjunctive mood structure “bossy verb (suggested) + that + something be done (a conviction…be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Besides, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “accepting” in this sentence) to modify the noun “grounds”.

B. Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood structure, as it incorrectly uses the “something should be done” construction rather than “something be done (be grounds for not accepting an applicant)”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges…be grounds for not accepting…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested felony or misdemeanor charges themselves be grounds for not accepting an application- the intended meaning is that the party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting an application. Besides, the usage of “suggested” as well as “should” in this answer choice is redundant.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + to” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb “are” to refer to the singular noun “conviction”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “they” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “grounds + that” rather than the idiomatic construction “grounds + for”; please remember, “grounds + for” is a correct, idiomatic usage.

E. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “for five years prior to applying for party membership” the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the party leaders have suggested an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for rejecting the application, during the five years prior to the applicant applying; the intended meaning is that party leaders have suggested that any conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges that occurred during the five years prior to the application be grounds for rejecting the application. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the plural pronoun “them” to refer to the singular noun “applicant’s”.

A is the best answer choice.

**Kinshook** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that
a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership
be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.
Is a correct sentence.

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

Since the sentence is in subjunctive form, the use of should is incorrect

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

An applicant is singular but them is plural
Incorrect

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

An applicant is singular but they is plural.
Incorrect

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

An applicant is singular but them is plural.

IMO A

**thisisit25** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that <<<a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.>>>

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
- whose application? prior to application? submission of application or release of application? applying will be better

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
- looks okay

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
- applicant's conviction? applicant is found to be convicted for a crime, not sure if possessive gives the right meaning here
- same issue with "application"

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
- "are grounds"?

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
- this assessment is not happening during the five years

Going with B.

Note: Attempted this as a part of the Christmas challenge (answers not revealed yet). Let me know if there is an error.

**TBT** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

Subjunctive at work here. suggested+that+ something be done is the correct usage

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant - Correct usage and correct meaning.

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant - Changes the meaning. Should redundant. Puts important info in ,MODIFER, Out.

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them - "Them" should ideally meaningwise refer to applicant here. So wrong meaning. Out.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted - "They" has wrong referent. So wrong meaning. Out.

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them - Same issue as c and d. Out.

Ans: A

**UtkarshAnand** · Dec 24, 2022

Bunuel wrote:12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

This question was provided by Experts'Global
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

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Explanation:
Here, "suggested" triggers the subjunctive form, "bossy verb + that + be + base form of the verb".

(B) uses should which is incorrect in subjunctive form. OUT.
(C) and (E) have no referent for "them" as the sentence mentions "applicant's conviction" but never mentions "applicant". OUT.
(D) has no referent for "they" as the sentence mentions "applicant's conviction" but never mentions "applicant". OUT.

ANSWER (A).

**samagra21** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership [color=#00a651]be grounds for not accepting an applicant[/color]
-more concise: suggested a conviction.... be grounds for not accepting...
(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
-them refers party leaders
(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
- subjunctive "be" should be used, "they" refers party leaders
(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
-suggested for five years gives a meaning issue

**Archit3110** · Dec 24, 2022

Subjunctive SC error question

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
here modifier and meaning stands valid hence the correct option

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant usage of should is incorrect

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them them is wrong , modifying singular applicant's

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted ' are usage is incorrect

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them ' them usage is incorrect

OPTION A is correct

Bunuel wrote:12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

This question was provided by Experts'Global
for the 12 Days of Christmas Competition

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**mysterymanrog** · Dec 24, 2022

CDE all suffer from the same error: Them has no logical referent. Applicant is singular, and the possessive form is used. So they can only refer to charges, and that is illogical because we are not rejecting the charges, we are rejecting the applicants. CDE out.

A vs B

B uses the non-essential modifier in an essential portion of the phrase. Moreover, the usage of should is redundant - we have suggested in non-underlined portion of the sentence so there is no need to repeat it. For these reasons, A is better than B.

Final choice A.

**Lizaza** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

There are two main rules that are checked here:

The verb 'suggest' requires a SUBJUNCTIVE mode - so we need the structure 'BE GROUNDS' for the application.
Pronoun reference: on GMAT, referring to a person of unknown gender as 'they' is considered unidiomatic - therefore, we cannot call the applicant 'them'.

Judging by the first criterion of subjunctive, we eliminate B and D.

Judging by the second consideration, we eliminate C and E for using 'them' to refer to an applicant.

Therefore, the correct answer is A which ticks both our boxes.

**GautamKhanduja** · Dec 24, 2022

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Wrong. the sentence requires subjunctive construction

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
Wrong.Them cannot refer to applicant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
Wrong. the sentence requires subjunctive construction

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
Wrong. Them cannot refer to applicant

**Elite097** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant--- Correct SV and correct use of subjunctive

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant--- not used subjunctive. Also if leading to convinction does not apply to charges and that portion is also wordy

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them----'them' is plural

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted----- not used subjunctive. Also 'they' is plural

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them--- communicates wrong meaning , conviction for five years. Also applicant is singular so them does not apply

Ans A

Note: Here we picked for accepting over to accept which is not common in GMAT

**rvgmat12** · Dec 24, 2022

Sentence structure -
A number of party leaders have suggested that
a conviction on any felony or
criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership
be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

Subjunctive form is needed. Original sentence structure is correct and meaning is clear.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Incorrect. Subjunctive form is needed

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
Incorrect. Pronoun error - "them" has no antecedent

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
Incorrect. Subjunctive form is needed. Pronoun error - "they" has no antecedent

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
Incorrect. Pronoun error - "them" has no antecedent

A is the correct answer.

**akhtolkhyn** · Dec 24, 2022

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant - Correct

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant - no need to change sentences' location

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them - i think using it twice is abundant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted - incorrect use of that

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them - sub, verb agreement error.

IMO A

**Suraj0184** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

suggestion hints at subjunctive mood sentence..correctly depicted though 'be' structure

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant

'suggested' and 'should be' -- redundancy

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

plural pronoun for singular noun

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

again, plural pronoun for singular noun

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

in this option also, plural pronoun for singular noun

IMO, (A) is the correct answer

**Kushchokhani** · Dec 24, 2022

"suggested" is a trigger word for Subjunctive mood.
As per the format of command subjunctive, suggested that...something...be...done
Choice A perfectly fits this format.

Choice B uses "should", thereby creating redundancy with "suggested". Hence, B is out.

Logical referent for pronouns they/them in choice C, D and E should be applicant per the meaning of the sentence. However, applicant is used as a reflective noun- the main noun in these sentences is applicant's conviction. Hence, these choices are out.

Answer is A.

**pintukr** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

A subjunctive sentence structure conveys correctly that conviction.......in the 5 years prior to application..'be grounds'

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
unnecessarily wordy sentence structure

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them

Pronoun error ..'them' referring to a single applicant

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted

Pronoun error ..'they' referring to a single applicant

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them

Pronoun error ..'them' referring to a single applicant

Hence, (A) will be the answer

**rxb266** · Dec 24, 2022

A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant
Here the word “suggested” is correctly followed by subjunctive which makes this choice concise. There are no errors present. Hence, this choice is likely correct.

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant
In this choice, the use of “if” is unnecessary and makes this choice wordy. Also, a subjunctive construction in Choice A is concise and is preferred to the word “should” used in choice B.

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them
The pronoun “them” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted
The pronoun “they” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Also, the plural verb “are” used for singular subject “an applicant’s conviction” makes this choice INCORRECT.

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them
The pronoun “them” incorrectly refers back to the subject “a number of party leaders” which is INCORRECT as it distorts the intended meaning of the original sentence.
Also, the modifier “for five years prior to applying for party membership” incorrectly refers to the subject “an applicant’s conviction”, which distorts the meaning. Hence, this choice is INCORRECT.

Answer : OPTION A

**limuengaoey** · Dec 24, 2022

B wrong because suggest should be followed by be not should
D wrong because of the same reason as b
C wrong because of pronoun "them" is unclear
E wrong for the same reason as c
hence it is A

**LeopardLiu** · Dec 24, 2022

Answer is A
A number of party leaders have suggested that a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant.

(A) a conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds for not accepting an applicant

(B) any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges, if leading to a conviction in the five years prior to applying for party membership, should be grounds for not accepting an applicant suggested that and should is redundant

(C) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to application for party membership be grounds not to accept them them is wrong.

(D) an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges in the five years prior to applying for party membership are grounds that they not be accepted they is wrong

(E) for five years prior to applying for party membership, an applicant’s conviction on any felony or criminal misdemeanor charges be grounds for not accepting them them is wrong

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