Inspired by the Helsinki Accords and outraged by the harsh sentences meted out to a group of Czech rock musicians called the Plastic People of the Universe, Charter 77 was established by dissident writers, philosophers, and other professionals to be a human rights group.
Meaning Analysis
- Inspired by the Helsinki Accords and
- outraged by the harsh sentences meted out to a group of Czech rock musicians called the Plastic People of the Universe,
The sentence starts by describing some entity. We get to know that this entity was deeply affected by two events – it was inspired by one and angered by the other.. Let’s read further to find out the entity being described.
- Charter 77 was established by dissident
- writers,
- philosophers, and
- other professionals
- to be a human rights group.
In this part of the sentence we learn that the description given in the beginning of the sentence was that of a particular group called Charter 77. We get to know that the two events mentioned earlier affected many professionals from various fields who did not agree with the government. Hence, they formed Charter 77 as a human rights group.
To sum up, the sentence intends to say that inspired by one event and angered by another, some professionals from different walks of life who were against the authorities formed Charter 77, a human rights group.
Error Analysis
1. Modifier Error
The opening verb-ed modifiers inspired and outraged illogically modify the subject of the following clause Charter 77. From the meaning analysis, we understand that it is not Charter 77 that was inspired or outraged, but the dissident people from various professions.
2. Meaning Error
The way the phrase to be a human rights group is placed in the sentence, it seems to convey that these different professionals wanted to become a human rights group. This meaning makes little sense. The context of the sentence clearly indicates that Charter 77 was the human rights group formed by these agitated professionals.
POE
Choice A
Incorrect
This choice is incorrect for the reasons stated in the error analysis.
Choice B
Incorrect
1. Modifier Error
This choice repeats the modifier error of Choice A.
2. Verb Tense Error
Use of past perfect tense had been established is incorrect because there is no other related past event mentioned in the sentence that needs explicit sequencing. Since the sentence presents general information from past, simple past tense verb must be used.
Choice C
Incorrect
1. Modifier Error
This choice repeats the modifier error of Choice A.
2. Meaning Error
The use of simple past tense verb was indicates that Charter 77 used to be a human rights group and that it is no longer a human rights group. However, the original sentence doesn’t indicate anything about the current status of Charter 77. Therefore, we have a meaning error in this option.
Choice D
Correct
This is the correct answer choice. Change in subject of the main clause rectifies the modifier error. Also, use of as presents the function of Charter 77, logically conveying that Charter 77 was established as a human rights group.
Choice E
Incorrect
1. Verb Tense Error
Use of past perfect tense had established is incorrect because there is no other related past event mentioned in the sentence that needs explicit sequencing. Since the sentence presents general information from past, simple past tense verb must be used.
2. Meaning Error
The phrase Charter 77 to be a human rights group fails to convey clearly that Charter 77 indeed was a human rights group.
