the usage of "Whose"

[noor_dalhousie]

Hi Ron

In this question, won't option A, i.e., "often goes into decline after death, and never regains popularity again" refer to Joachim Raff and Giacomo Meyerbeer since they are the subjects of the sentence. I negated option A based on this logic. Please help.

Further, I really want tell you that you are an AWSOME guide!!... Always been a great help. :)

[RonPurewal]

Hi Ron

In this question, won't option A, i.e., "often goes into decline after death, and never regains popularity again" refer to Joachim Raff and Giacomo Meyerbeer since they are the subjects of the sentence. I negated option A based on this logic. Please help.

Not just those guys, but everyone else who is like them, too:
...the kind of composer who receives popular acclaim while living, often goes into decline after death, and never regains popularity again

Nonsense. According to this structure, we're talking about the kind of composer who ... does all three of these things.
The kind of composer who receives popular acclaim while living? Sure.
The kind of composer who often goes into decline after death? Nonsense.

Further, I really want tell you that you are an AWSOME guide!!... Always been a great help. :)

Thanks.

[Suapplle]

Hi,Ron,I have one more questions,please clarify,thanks in advance ^_^~
I wonder that if the subject of decline is a person, the"decline" means "refute to accept" and if the subject is non-living, the "decline" means "go down"
so,can I guess that " composer declines in reputation" have the wrong meaning?"decline" here means "refuse to accept"?

[RonPurewal]

Hi,Ron,I have one more questions,please clarify,thanks in advance ^_^~
I wonder that if the subject of decline is a person, the"decline" means "refute to accept" and if the subject is non-living, the "decline" means "go down"
so,can I guess that " composer declines in reputation" have the wrong meaning?"decline" here means "refuse to accept"?

That's a valid way of looking at it, yes.

[xiaolanjingheleaf]

Hi, Ron.
In choice (C)but whose reputation declines after death and never regains its former status,

Is "whose reputation" the subject of "never regains its former status"?

[RonPurewal]

Yes.

[jackson.b.allan]

I am having issues understanding how C is the best answer.

I eliminated C on the basis that a reputation regaining a status is illogical.

Is 'regain' an active verb in this sentence? Suggesting that a reputation is an object that can gain, lose and regain a status.

I chose A, on the basis that the composer 'never regains popularity again'. To me the double-up issue with 'regain' and 'again' was less of an issue than 'whose reputation... never regains its former status'.

Frustrated and confused on this one. Please enlighten me as to where my thinking is wrong.

[RonPurewal]

I am having issues understanding how C is the best answer.

I eliminated C on the basis that a reputation regaining a status is illogical.

Is 'regain' an active verb in this sentence? Suggesting that a reputation is an object that can gain, lose and regain a status.

I see what you're saying here, but choice A"”which talks about the kind of composer who often goes into decline after death (!!)"”is much, much worse. (This statement is either tautological"”we all decline after death, after all"”or absurd, depending on how you look at it. No matter what, bad. Very bad.)

[RonPurewal]

Anyway, three things.

1/
Don't make these into absolute decisions (I like this or I don't like this). Make relative decisions.
I.e., if you are pondering choice C on its own merits, then I can see how you might find yourself in a quandary. On the other hand, if you are comparing choice C with choice A, then, while you might not find choice C perfect, you absolutely must acknowledge that A is far worse.

2/
The test is GMAC's playground. You can get mad at the problems... or you can learn from them.

3/
I'd side with GMAC on this one, anyway. To me, (s)he never regains his/her former status is nonsense unless the person in question is still alive.
After the person is dead, it makes better literal sense to say that the status is accorded to the person's legacy, reputation, or something else along those lines.

Again, at the end of the day, it's only important to note that choice A is much worse.

[jackson.b.allan]

Thanks.

I think I have to focus on your point about not making absolute decisions. I really dug in my heels on that one and wouldn't budge for another answer.

[RonPurewal]

Thanks.

I think I have to focus on your point about not making absolute decisions.

On SC, the answer choices are there to help you.

This is also the only reason why they bother to reproduce choice A"”to help you make relative decisions! Yes, they are actually trying to help you.
If the decisions were absolute, then there would be no value in reproducing choice A.

[healthy312]

Can anyone suggest what " its" mean ? its means reputation's ?

[RonPurewal]

Can anyone suggest what " its" mean ? its means reputation's ?

yes.

[ShriramC110]

Hi Ron,

I choose option C on the basis that only that option provided two contrasting things (with the help of but),is my understanding correct.
Is contrast necessary here??

[RonPurewal]

Hi Ron,

I choose option C on the basis that only that option provided two contrasting things (with the help of but),is my understanding correct.
Is contrast necessary here??

this is a perceptive observation.

yes, there's certainly a contrast here. so, yes, there should be something to indicate it.
nicely done.