The Witch Who Towered Above All: A Study in Extraordinary Power

Once upon a time, in a small village nestled deep in the heart of a dense forest, there was a legend of a witch who stood twelve feet tall. This witch was said to possess incredible powers and a frightening presence that could strike fear into the hearts of anyone who dared to cross her path. The villagers lived in constant terror, always on guard, and fearful of the day when they would inevitably encounter this towering witch. Rumors and tales spread like wildfire through the village, heightening their anxiety and stirring their imaginations. It was said that the witch could control the elements, summoning storms and causing the earth to quake beneath her feet. Some claimed that she had the ability to shape-shift, transforming into various animals or even blending into her surroundings, making it nearly impossible to detect her presence.

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It stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, Megatherium americanum was a giant ground sloth and --- a comma splice C. There e two sentences, the first one is a list containing three factors, but essentially depending on the next indecent clause for the pronoun reference.

Some claimed that she had the ability to shape-shift, transforming into various animals or even blending into her surroundings, making it nearly impossible to detect her presence. The villagers desperately sought ways to protect themselves from the witch's wrath. They turned to their wise elder, who had spent years studying folklore and magic.

It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded

It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded seven-inch claws, and Megatherium americanum , a giant ground sloth , may have been the largest hunting mammal ever to walk the Earth.

(A) It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded seven-inch claws, and Megatherium americanum , a giant ground sloth,

(B) It stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, Megatherium americanum was a giant ground sloth and

(C) The giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum , having stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, it

(D) Standing twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, Megatherium americanum , a giant ground sloth,

(E) Standing twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, it wielded seven-inch claws, and the giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum

MBA, Class of 2020,
McDonough School of Business

Most Helpful Reply

Re: It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded [#permalink] 14 Jun 2017, 19:18

if a semicolon is used instead of the second "and" to connect the two IC would the option be correct?

If you replaced the comma + "and" in (A) with a semicolon, you'd have the following:

It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded seven-inch claws; Megatherium americanum, a giant ground sloth, may have been the largest hunting mammal ever to walk the Earth.

I hope this helps!
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Re: It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded [#permalink] 14 Jun 2017, 19:20

It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded seven-inch claws, and Megatherium americanum, a giant ground sloth[, may have been the largest hunting mammal ever to walk the Earth.

A. It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded seven-inch claws, and Megatherium americanum, a giant ground sloth, - Choice A's problem doesn't stem the use of 'and'. There e two sentences, the first one is a list containing three factors, but essentially depending on the next indecent clause for the pronoun reference. The biggest lacuna is that we cannot say for sure that 'it' stands for MA, as there is no connect between the two independent clauses. If you do not use the fanboys 'and', then the situation turns still worse, the clause becoming a comma splice.
B. It stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, Megatherium americanum was a giant ground sloth and --- a comma splice
C. The giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum, having stood twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, it ---- 'it' starts a new IC and it is a comma splice.
D. Standing twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, and wielding seven-inch claws, Megatherium americanum, a giant ground sloth, - Correct
E. Standing twelve feet tall, weighing nine thousand pounds, it wielded seven-inch claws, and the giant ground sloth Megatherium americanum -- faulty modification. A comma should have been used between the two back - to back adjectives that modify the pronoun it, because if they are not coordinate adjectives. Yet again both the ICs are standing aloof without a meaningful connect.

This topic is essentially a test of identifying the comma splices and proper conjugation of multiple modifiers.

Thank you Daagh for your time on GMAT Club and all your contributions! Thank you for everything you did!
Your work will remain a great tribute to you here on GMAT Club !
-bb

Re: It stood twelve feet tall, weighed nine thousand pounds, and wielded [#permalink] 14 Jun 2017, 19:20

She advised them that the only way to combat such a powerful foe was with unity and bravery. She urged them to stand together and face their fears head-on, rather than cowering in silence. Buoyed by the elder's words of wisdom, the villagers began to organize themselves. They formed committees and created plans of action, determining how best to defend themselves against the giant witch. Fear slowly transformed into a courageous determination to protect their homes and loved ones. As days turned into weeks, the villagers practiced their skills, honing their abilities to become formidable warriors. They learned to wield weapons, concoct potions, and cast spells, all with the hopes of gaining an advantage over the seemingly unbeatable witch. Each day brought them closer to the inevitable confrontation, and their anticipation grew. Finally, the day arrived. The sky darkened, and a sense of foreboding filled the air. The villagers assembled, standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to face the witch head-on. They chanted ancient incantations, their voices rising in unison, creating a wall of sound that reverberated through the forest. And then, out of the shadows, she emerged - the witch standing twelve feet tall. Her presence was indeed fearsome, her eyes gleaming with a mix of power and intelligence. But the villagers stood tall, their fear transformed into unwavering resolve. To their surprise, instead of launching an attack, the witch merely observed them with a curious expression. After a few moments, she spoke, her voice echoing with an unexpected gentleness. She revealed that she had been watching the village for many years, curious about their determination and spirit. The witch explained that she was not a malicious being but rather a misunderstood guardian of the forest. She had unleashed her powers in response to the villagers' fear, hoping to teach them a lesson about the power of unity and perseverance. In that moment, the villagers realized the true meaning of the elder's words. By standing together and facing their fears head-on, they had not only overcome their own struggles but also gained the respect of the witch. From that day forward, the witch and the villagers formed an unlikely alliance, working together to protect the forest and its inhabitants. And so, the legend of the witch standing twelve feet tall became a tale of courage and unity, serving as a reminder that sometimes what appears to be a terrifying force can turn out to be a valuable ally..

Reviews for "The Enigmatic Witch with a Towering Stature"

1. Tim - 2/5 - I found "Witch standing twelve feet tall" to be incredibly disappointing. The book started off with a promising premise, but it quickly fell flat. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. The plot seemed forced and predictable, and I often found myself losing interest. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had invested my time in a different book.

2. Sarah - 1/5 - I absolutely despised "Witch standing twelve feet tall". The writing was meandering and confusing, and I struggled to understand the author's intentions. The pacing was all over the place, and it felt like the story didn't go anywhere. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the interactions between characters. I couldn't wait for this book to end, and I would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Alex - 2/5 - "Witch standing twelve feet tall" had the potential to be an intriguing read, but it fell short. The world-building was half-baked, leaving me with more questions than answers. The main character was meant to be a strong and independent witch, but her actions often felt inconsistent and her decisions were illogical. The plot had potential, but it lacked depth and failed to engage me fully. Overall, I was left disappointed and underwhelmed by this book.

4. Lisa - 2.5/5 - "Witch standing twelve feet tall" was an average read for me. While the concept was interesting, the execution was lacking. The prose was overly verbose and convoluted, making it difficult to follow the story. The pacing was also uneven, with long stretches of boredom followed by moments of rushed action. Additionally, the book left many loose ends unresolved, which left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I wouldn't actively recommend this book, but it may appeal to readers who enjoy complex and ambiguous narratives.

5. Max - 1/5 - I couldn't stand "Witch standing twelve feet tall". The writing style was pretentious and overly descriptive, and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be literary. The plot was convoluted and confusing, and the characters were unlikable and lacked depth. There were moments when I considered giving up on the book altogether, but I pushed through hoping for some sort of payoff. Unfortunately, that payoff never came, and I was left feeling frustrated and disappointed.

The Tall Tales of the Twelve-Foot Witch