Solutions

Question

During her presidency of the short-lived Woman’s State Temperance Society (1852-1853), Elizabeth Cady Stanton, as she was a staunch advocate of liberalized divorce laws, scandalized many of the most ardent supporters in her suggestion that drunkenness should be made sufficient cause for divorce.

Difficulty Level

Solution

Option D is the right answer.

Option Analysis

A) Suggestion should be followed by bossy verb. Usage of just ‘be’ rather than ‘should be’ is the correct way. Usage of “as” is incorrect. “As” is used in the same sense as “because”. It implies a cause-and-effect relationship – Not logical.

B) Usage of “being” is incorrect. “by her suggestion of drunkenness being …” – “being” serves as a modifier. The sentence nonsensically implies that she scandalized many people by her suggestion of “drunkenness”. Usage of “as” is incorrect.

C) “in being” is incorrect. Removing this phrase does not change the meaning of the sentence – hence, redundant. Usage of past perfect – had scandalized – is incorrect, as we are referring to a specific time period 1852-53. “scandalized most of her supporters with the suggestion of drunkenness + Modifier” – is nonsense. Note that “being” is used as a modifier.

D) Correct Answer. OA. Uses bossy verb. The modifier is concise and accurate

E) Sentence reduces to Elizabeth Candy Stanton … she scandalized. This is an incorrect construction”