Sentence Correction

Question 1

Economic vs Economical

Answer 1

Economic - monetary, dealing with the economy
Economical - efficient

Question 2

When can you use co-conjunctions (FANBOYS) versus other conjunctions (however, therefore, in addition)

Answer 2

FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Both are used to connect independent clauses.

Comma + FANBOYS to connect independent clauses.
(otherwise, it would be a comma splice).
> this includes COMMA AND

e.g., I went to the movies, and I had a great time.

However, Therefore, and In addition are used for connecting two independent clauses with a SEMI-COLON or PERIOD
* some exceptions though

Question 3

Adjectives vs Adverbs that are related

Supposed / Supposedly

“Max’s great-grandmother is his supposed(ly) Irish ancestor”

Answer 3

Supposed modifies a noun, ancestor (which doesn’t make sense)

Supposedly modifies an adjective, Irish

Question 4

Noun versus Adverbial Modifiers

Answer 4

In general, modifiers can modify:
> nouns
> Verbs
> actions / prepositional phrases, entire clauses

Noun modifiers are ADJECTIVES that modify NOUNS
- e.g., rare, corresponding, frequent, significant
- typically placed CLOSE TO THE NOUN (usually right next to it)
- typically noun modifiers are essential (no commas)

Adverbial modifiers modify everything else (verbs, adjectives, PREPOSITIONAL phrases, entire clauses)
- can be placed anywhere in the sentence

*If the modifier is changing in the answer choices, figure out what they are trying to modify and whether the MEANING is logical.
**IF the final options are very similar and only differ by the placement of modifier –> make sure modifier is CLOSE to what it is modifying

Prep phrases can be noun or adverbial modifiers.

-ing modifiers can be noun or adverbial modifiers.
(e.g., The engineer RUNNING this meeting fixed the problem. She fixed the problem, EARNING herself a promotion).
> -ing words can also be verbs (if preceded by another verb) and nouns (if not verbs and not separated by a comma).

-ed modifiers can be noun or adverbial modifiers.
(e.g., The candidate INTERVIEWED last week accepted the job. EXCITED by the new opportunity, she accepted the job.)

Question 5

Essential versus Nonessential Modifiers

Answer 5

Essential Modifiers are necessary in the core sentence - removing it will change the meaning of the sentence.
- usually NO COMMAS
- e.g., Turn left on Mayberry Street, and stop at the first house THAT IS RED

Nonessential Modifiers are not necessary in the core sentence
- usually preceded by commas
- e.g., Turn left on Mayberry Street, and stop at the first house, WHICH IS RED

Question 6

comma “WHICH” versus comma “-ING” modifiers

Answer 6

“Which” modifies a NOUN (closest to “which”, otherwise known as the “touch rule” —> can reach behind prep phrases like “-of”)
(same with - who, whose, whom - “w”s)
- Who/Whom specifically modify PEOPLE

“-ing” modifies an action
- Adverbial modifier
- e.g., Crime has recently decreased in our neighbourhood, LEADING to a RISE in property values.

Question 7

“Where” modifier

Answer 7

Can be noun or adverbial modifiers.
> should be placed right after LOCATION (physical place)

e.g., Having lived for several years in Tahiti, WHERE life was slow and relaxed, Paul Gauguin had difficulty readjusting to the hectic pace of Paris upon his return.

WHERE cannot modify conditions, situations, cases, circumstances, or arrangements (metaphorical places).
- Use “in which” instead.

In which can be used to modify both locations and metaphorical places

e.g., We had an arrangement IN WHICH he cooked and I cleaned

The bees lived in a society IN WHICH …

Question 8

“When” modifier

Answer 8

Can modify a noun (time or event), such as period, age, 1987, decade

When = in which = during which

e.g., The three-century span of the Renaissance, a period DURING WHICH artists such as Leonardo da Vinci thrived, marked the European transition from the middle ages to modern times.

Question 9

“The departmental director addressed the team’s recent success in the memo”

Answer 9

WRONG - incorrect prep phrase placement causes ambiguity

“in the memo” …

Should be: “IN THE MEMO, the departmental director …”

Question 10

Subordinate clauses - are they modifiers? What type?

What is the difference between subordinate clauses and opening modifiers (e.g., -ing and -ed ones)

Answer 10

Yes they are modifiers -> adverbial modifiers
include:
- although
- while
- after
- unless
- until
- before
- if
- since
- when
- THAT **
- Because
(can put a comma before or after).

Difference:
- Sub clauses have their own SUBJECTS
e.g., Although the economy is strong, …

versus e.g., Exhausted by the stress, …

Question 11

Which modifier (less or fewer) do you use when referring to the underlying quantity of uncountable nouns (e.g., money, volume)?

I have ___ than twenty dollars.

Answer 11

LESS (uncountable modifier) because you are referring to the underlying QUANTITY or value of MONEY
- This is true even though “dollars” is countable
- e.g., four million pounds of something
- e.g., population, cost, temperature (some number comparison)
> is the answer to “how much” instead of “how many”

If you were counting the actual pieces of paper, use fewer (fewer than twenty dollar bills).

Question 12

The number of cats in the house is ___ than 20!
(greater or more)

Answer 12

Greater
- use “greater than” when making a comparison with the word “number”

Question 13

What do adverbs modify?

Answer 13

Anything OTHER than a stand-alone noun

e.g., spectacularly stained-glass windows is WRONG

Question 14

The more ____, the _____

Answer 14

the more –> comparative adjective phrase statement
the ___ (e.g., greater, less) –> comparative adjective phrase

“greater” is preferred to “more” when there isn’t necessarily a substantial difference in quantity (e.g., %)

Question 15

Is the opening modifier clear here?

By skimming along the top of the atmosphere, a proposed new style of aircraft could fly between most points on Earth in under two hours, according to its proponents

Answer 15

yes –> “style of aircraft” is the main subject

• “of aircraft” modifies style (noun)

Question 16

Which is better and why?

I talked to the Boston soldier
I talked to the soldier from Boston

Extra: What is the rule of thumb for Noun + of + adjective statements?

Answer 16

2 –> first one’s concision is too much (makes it sound like a TYPE of soldier, not where the soldier is from.

RULE OF THUMB: Noun + of + adjective can be made concise –> adjective + noun

e.g., wall of stone —> stone wall

Exception: Time period, quantity

e.g., Canada Day week (wrong)
The week OF Canada Day (right).

The oxygen amount (wrong)
The amount OF oxygen (right)

The honeybee population’s density (wrong)
The density OF the honeybee population.

Question 17

Is this right?

The face I see in ads every day is a famous actor.

Answer 17

WRONG –> missing “that of”
> the face cannot be an actor
> instead, the face is OF a famous actor.

The face I see in ads every day is THAT OF a famous actor.

CONCEPT:
> if you spot a “that of” split –> see if it makes sense to remove “that of” (what is the resulting comparison?)

Question 18

Is this right?

The fields I most enjoy studying are those of physics and chemistry.

Answer 18

wrong - could be less wordy (those of)

Makes perfect sense to remove “those of”:

The fields I most enjoy studying are physics and chemistry.

RULE OF THUMB: Decide whether to keep “that of” or “those of”

Question 19

What do you do if you have two subjects conjoined by “or”, “nor”, “neither/nor” and the nouns disagree in number? Should the working verb be singular or plural?

e.g., Either the manager or the employees (take/takes) a break.

Answer 19

Verb should agree with the closest noun.

Either the manager or the employees TAKE a break.

Question 20

How do you use colons : ?

Answer 20

1) The sentence before the colon should be COMPLETE.

e.g., I loved listening to many kinds of music: namely, classical, rock, rap, and pop.

2) The clause after the colon can be incomplete or complete, as long as it EXPLAINS the preceding clause.

3) The stuff that is explains should be placed very close to the colon.
e.g., The rate of a reaction is affected by THREE FACTORS: A, B, and C.

Question 21

How do you use dashes (–)?

Answer 21

Flexible punctuation used as an emphatic comma, semicolon, or colon.

• often used to make a sentence less ambiguous.
  e.g., my three friends - Danny, Enrico, and Joey - and I went skiing.

Question 22

Subgroup modifiers (“some”, “each”, “any”, “many” etc.)

Which is right?
A) This model explains all known particles, some of which only recently discovered.

B) This model explains all known particles, some of which were only recently discovered.

Answer 22

B!

Memorize these correct forms of subgroup modifiers:

, some of which WERE only …
> “which” modifies the noun directly before it

, some only …

, some of THEM only ..

“part” can be:
> SANAM or Quantity word (many, few, one, each, either, neither, BOTH, half, one)

Question 23

What are absolute phrases?

Answer 23

Comprised of: Noun + Noun Modifier

e.g., His head (noun) held high (noun modifier), he walked out of the store.

e.g., Scientists have found high levels of iridium around the world, results (noun) THAT suggest high impact of something millions of years ago (noun modifier).

e.g., Tom Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993, an era (noun) DURING WHICH the city was transformed from x to y.
Remember - don’t use “which” to tack on a second thought! (Which refers to the main noun closest to “which”).

Question 24

Noun modifiers placement (e.g. “who”) - dealing with a very short sentences/phrases

e.g., Kelp is a natural fertilizer that has become popular among growers of heirloom tomatoes, who generally are willing to pay a premium for organic products.

Answer 24

“of heirloom tomatoes” is quite short, and “who” refers to growers.

You are allowed to position the relative clause a few words away from growers.

Question 25

Is this correct? She will likely fire some members of the sales and marketing teams.

Answer 25

Parallelism - Yes (sales) and (marketing) teams Teams is the root word. Sales and marketing both modify teams.

Question 26

Correct or not? The blizzard deposited more than a foot of snow on the train tracks, which prompted the transit authority to shut down service temporarily and caused discontent among commuters who were left stranded for hours.

Answer 26

WHICH is wrong --> comma "which" modifies the closest noun (in this case, "train tracks") > does not make sense > CORRECT would be "prompting" > Also change "caused" to "causing" to maintain parallelism

Question 27

Comma who / whose/ whom / that

Answer 27

Whose - modifies things that - modifies things Who/Whom - modifies people Both modify NOUNS right before it. e.g., The Diary of Anne Frank tells the true story of a young girl and her parents WHO were hidden during...

Question 28

Correct or not? At least 30 ft and more

Answer 28

NO --> redundancy - it is redundant to say both "at least" and "more"

Question 29

Correct or not? Heating oil and natural gas futures rose sharply yesterday, as long-term forecasts for much colder temperatures in key heating regions raised fears [of insufficient supplies that are unable to meet] the demand this winter.

Answer 29

WRONG - tenses - Future concerns should not be paired with present tense, "are" BETTER: that supplies would be insufficient to meet

Question 30

How to deal with inverted sentences (verb + subject) e.g., Near those buildings sit a lonely house, inhabited by squatters. e.g., Making things even more difficult has been general market inactivity lately, if not paralysis, which has ­provided little in the way of pricing guidance

Answer 30

Both are WRONG: It is helpful to reorder/flip the subject in the form of: Subject + verb e.g., [A lonely house], inhabited by squatters, [sitS] [near those buildings] e.g., [General market activity] [has been] making things even more difficult lately

Question 31

Is this correct? The rebels demanded the withdrawal of government forces from disputed regions, significant reductions in the overall troop levels, raising the rebel flag on holidays, and a general pardon.

Answer 31

Parallelism "raising the rebel flag" is incorrect --> this is a Simple Gerund Only COMPLEX GERUNDS ("THE raising OF the rebel flag") can be parallel to action nouns (like A/THE withdrawal, reductions, and pardon). e.g., He received a medal for [the sinking of an enemy ship] and [the capture of its crew]. In brief there are 3 categories of nouns: 1) Concrete nouns (e.g., rock, week, holiday) 2) Action nouns and Complex Gerunds 3) Simple gerunds

Question 32

Is this correct? A mastodon carcass, thawed only once and still fresh, is on display.

Answer 32

Yes! Parallelism - "thawed" is a past participle and "fresh" is an adjective - BOTH function as adjectives that modify the noun, "carcass", so it is allowed.

Question 33

Is this correct? Only a few feet wide but spanning a continent, the railroad changed history.

Answer 33

Yes! Parallelism - "wide" and "spanning" both describe/modify the noun, "railroad". Another example: Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal found in the Philippines and resembling a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head

Question 34

"Like" - what is it used for?

Answer 34

"Like" is used to modify NOUNS OR VERBS, specifically, to make a COMPARISON (similarity) *Only NOUNS or PRONOUNS can come after "like" (If a CLAUSE, Subject + VERB, is being compared, then use "AS") e.g., She RAN LIKE the wind (like modifies a verb) e.g., Like her friend, Jenny is a great dancer (modifies a noun). Wrong: Like her brother DID, Ava aced the test. Also: "such as" is used to introduce EXAMPLES (because "like" suggests only similarity)

Question 35

Is this correct? I want to coach divers like Greg Louganis

Answer 35

No - ambiguous! - Is Greg a diver or coach? *Be careful with using "like" at the end of a sentence Resolve using a comma or reposition: I want to coach divers, like Greg Louganis. Like Greg Louganis, I want to coach divers. In this case, "like" is appropriate to indicate similarity (not equality)

Question 36

"As" - what can it function as?

Answer 36

DEPEND ON CONTEXT: A) Conjunction - 1. Duration > e.g., AS I walked in, I waved e.g., He looked down at his phone AS he crossed the street. - 2. Causation (e.g., I will not tell you, AS you already know) --> "AS" = Since, because - 3. Comparison > e.g., You should walk AS she wants you to walk). ---> AS + Clause (verb) > "As X as" --> Indian food is AS SPICY AS Mexican food. B) Preposition (does not mean "similar to") - AS your leader, I am in charge (AS = in the role of) - Equation (e.g., I think of you AS my friend). - e.g., I will jump up AS a clown Can turn preposition into a comparison by using a clause containing a verb - I will jump up AS a clown MIGHT

Question 37

Comparison Idiom: The man is five times (as old as/older than) his grandson

Answer 37

"times" ... "as __ as" - "times" is for RELATING quantities by multiplication. NOT "x times MORE than" But "the NUMBER is x times GREATER THAN" is okay ===> same as * (e.g., a is 3 times greater than b means a = 3b)

Question 38

Comparison Idiom: I am ten years (older than/as old as) you

Answer 38

more than less than older than - For RELATING quantities by addition or subtraction.

Question 39

Higher/Lower versus More/Less

Answer 39

More Than and Less Than are flexible - can be Nouns, Adjectives, or Adverbs - Noun: I spent MORE THAN I should - ADJ: I own MORE SHIRTS than I should - ADV: I SLEPT MORE than I should. Higher/Lower can only be used as ADJECTIVES - Her grades are HIGHER than his.

Question 40

Is this right? We have even more efficient engines than before

Answer 40

Ambiguous --> "More" comes before an Adjective and Noun Reposition to make it less ambiguous: - We have even more engines that are efficient than before. - We have engines that are even more efficient than before.

Question 41

Exceeds or Surpass comparisons Is this right? The incidence of the disease among men exceeds women.

Answer 41

NO - not parallel ---> X exceeds Y - "incidence" cannot logically exceed women. Fix: - The incidence of the disease among men exceeds THE INCIDENCE among women. - The incidence of the disease among men exceeds THAT among women.

Question 42

Example of a complex gerund Example of simple gerund Example of action noun

Answer 42

Complex Gerund - THE raising OF prices Simple Gerund - Raising the prices / detecting new viruses Action Noun - THE withdrawal of the police / A call for nonviolent resistance.

Question 43

What are the comparison markers?

Answer 43

Comparison markers indicate a comparison of two t: things: Like/Unlike: > X, like Y, > Unlike X, Y > X is nothing like Y As: > X is ___, as is Y As__As: > X is AS likely AS Y ___ Regard X As Y (not regard X to be Y) Than: > X is __ than Y > More likely ___ than ___ > Less __ than __ > More __ than __ > Higher ___ than __ > Greater ___ than __ Different from/Similar to In contrast to/with **Look out for key word "OTHER" as well to distinguish two compared objects e.g., some x, OTHERs. any OTHER e.g., growth for one thing exceeds the growth for any OTHER thing (cannot exceed itself)

Question 44

Is this correct? John's hair, like his mother, is red and fiery.

Answer 44

WRONG --> nonsensical comparison between "hair" and "mother" FIX BY: John's hair, like THAT OF his mother, is red and fiery. John's hair, like his MOTHER'S, is red and fiery.

Question 45

Is this correct? I walk faster than Brian.

Answer 45

Comparison - Correct Concept: Permitted omitted words (as long as there is NO AMBIGUITY) > Units (e.g., Where I drink two glasses of milk a day, my friend drinks three [glasses of milk a day]) > Verbs (e.g., I walk faster than Brian [walks]) > Whole clauses (e.g., I walk as fast now as [I walked] when I was younger) > nouns (e.g., My car is bigger than Brian's [car])

Question 46

Is this correct? I like cheese more than Yvette.

Answer 46

No - ambiguous > Do you like cheese more than Yvette likes cheese? > Or do you like cheese more than you like Yvette? Fix by including omitted verbs or appropriate helping verbs (be, do have) e.g., I like cheese more than Yvette DOES. I like cheese more than I DO Yvette. Apples are more healthy to eat than caramels ARE.

Question 47

When do you use "as" versus "like" as comparisons?

Answer 47

1) Only nouns/pronouns can come after "like" Clauses (subject + verb) can come after "as"). e.g., AS her brother DID, Ava aced the test. 2) Like indicates similarity, whereas As indicates equality e.g., "regard slavery as the sole cause" e.g., "most Americans perceived the USSR AS a constant threat" versus "like a constant threat" -----> the USSR was in fact a constant threat.

Question 48

Idiom - "So as to" e.g., He made up an excuse so as to avoid suspicion.

Answer 48

in order to ____

Question 49

When do you use -er when comparing things? (Comparative form of an adj or adverb) e.g., better, shorter, longer

Answer 49

Used when comparing TWO things e.g., Her score is BETTER than his. e.g., He works HARDER than ANYONE else in his class.

Question 50

When do you use -est when comparing things? (Superlative form of an adj or adverb) e.g., best, worst, fastest, greatest, highest, most

Answer 50

Used when comparing 2+ things. e.g., Her score is the HIGHEST in her class.

Question 51

Is this correct? He runs quicker than Jacob.

Answer 51

WRONG!! CONCEPT: Don't convert an -ly adverb into a comparison by forcing an -er ending. Instead, ADD "MORE" to the -ly adverb. He runs MORE QUICKLY than Jacob.

Question 52

Special rules regarding "than" in comparisons

Answer 52

- It is incorrect to drop the "than" --> correct: With winter coming, I will have HIGHER energy bills THAN last year. - Beware of cases where the GMAT incorrectly pairs comparative words with words besides "than" e.g., He is MORE LIKELY (than/as) his brother to run a marathon e.g., His grade is HIGHER (than/over) his brother's. e.g., He has LESS money (than/compared to) his brother.

Question 53

Is this correct? The rapid development of India in the twenty-first century is like England in the eighteenth century.

Answer 53

Wrong --> incorrectly comparing "rapid development of India" to " England" Fix: The rapid development of India in the twenty-first century is like THAT OF England in the eighteenth century.

Question 54

Not trusting themselves to choose wisely among the wide array of investment opportunities on the market, [stockbrokers are helping many people who turn to them to buy stocks that could be easily bought directly] A many people are turning to stockbrokers for help to buy stocks that easily could have been B many people are turning to stockbrokers for help in buying stocks that could easily be

Answer 54

Ans B First error --> subject after the opening modifier should be "many people", not stockbrokers Second error / split --> to buy versus in buying > "to buy" is not idiomatic in this context > Also tense should be present ("could easily be bought" - action has NOT yet happened yet)

Question 55

Is this correct? Some people believe that the benefits of a healthy diet outweigh those of regular exercise.

Answer 55

CORRECT --> "those" instead of "that" (singular antecedent) Antecedent = the benefits

Question 56

How would you test a pronoun? e.g., Television writer Aaron Sorkin is known for writing dialogue that is wittier than that in most real-world interactions

Answer 56

Replace the pronoun with its antecedent e.g., Television writer Aaron Sorkin is known for writing dialogue that is wittier than dialogue in most real-world interactions

Question 57

General Rule of thumb for ____ tense = HAVE/HAS + past participle e.g., She has lived in the house for almost 5 years.

Answer 57

PRESENT PERFECT Action happened in the past but the action or its effect CONTINUES into the present. e.g., the child HAS drawn a cat in the sand. Often paired with "since"

Question 58

General Rule of thumb for _____ verb tense = HAD + past participle e.g., The teacher thought that Jimmy HAD cheated on the exam.

Answer 58

PAST PERFECT Action is an earlier action > normally refers to a time PRECEDING/BEFORE a past time mentioned in the sentence, e.g., the following sentence is ILLOGICAL Although observed by graduate student Jocelyn Bell in the summer of 1967, the discovery of the first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, had not been announced before February 1968 > Illogically states that the announcement did not occur before 1968 or 1967 (the year of the actual observation) > Instead, the announcement should occur AFTER the discovery.

Question 59

Conditional Mood Would versus Will verb tense ?

Answer 59

"Would" - conditional mood (talking about the future in the PAST or hypothetical conditional / unreal / possible actions) "Will" - Future actions Forms: > Present verb + Will e.g., Scientists BELEIVE that the machine WILL be wonderful. e.g., Scientists ARE convinced that the machine WILL be wonderful > Past verb + Would e.g., Scientists BELEIVED that the machine WOULD be wonderful.

Question 60

Is this correct? It has been decided by Jason that he will not attend college next fall.

Answer 60

Yes - Passive voice is acceptable if the sentence is properly constructed Recall: Passive voice is where the SUBJECT has an action PERFORMED ON IT by something or someone else. Additionally, there does not need to be parallel voice throughout a sentence. (but could be a reason to make an answer wrong) > When there are only two answers left and both are grammatically correct, active voice is preferred to passive voice

Question 61

Is this correct? The local government has built the school that was destroyed by the earthquake.

Answer 61

NO - should be "built" or "had built" Why? > The original building no longer exists, so we cannot use present perfect tense (which indicates an action is still in progress). > aka, the government built a new school, rather than building the original school that was destroyed.

Question 62

Is this correct? Last Monday, Mary realized that she will have to spend all of that night rewriting her application because she did not back up her files

Answer 62

WRONG in two areas due to incorrect tenses 1) "Mary realized that she WOULD HAVE to" --> realized is past tense and must be paired with conditional tense, WOULD, instead of WILL --> subjunctive verb form > same with "If something WERE to happen, the result WOULD be X" 2) "Because she HAD NOT BACKED UP her files" --> Mary realized something because of an action that happened EARLIER.

Question 63

Which one is correct? A - Water [freezes if it were] cooled to zero degrees Celsius. B - Water [would freeze if it was] cooled to zero degrees Celsius C - Water [freezes if] cooled to zero degrees Celsius.

Answer 63

C Tip: Reorder the sequence of the verbs to an if-then order > While the statement looks like it is phrased as a conditional/hypothetical, the sentence should imply a GENERAL TRUTH (in which case, simple present tense "freezes" should work) --> "If water is cooled, water freezes" > A is incorrect --> hypothetical (were cooled) > B is incorrect. Reordered - "If it WAS cooled, water would freeze" ---> this is NOT a hypothetical! (statement said if water WAS COOLED)

Question 64

Which one is correct? [Famed for his masterful use of irony, many of Guy de Maupassant's short stories have become classics due to the author slowly revealing at the end of each piece a tragic twist of fate] A - Famed for his masterful use of irony, many of Guy de Maupassant's short stories have become classics due to the author slowly revealing at the end of each piece a tragic twist of fate. B - Many of Guy de Maupassant's short stories have become classics because of the author's famed and masterful use of irony, evidenced in the slow revelation of a tragic twist of fate at the end of each piece. C - Many of Guy de Maupassant's short stories have become classics because of how he famously and masterfully uses irony, evident in the slow revelation of a tragic twist of fate at the end of each piece.

Answer 64

B First error - the subject following the opening modifier should be the short stories, not "many" (eliminates A) Second error - the subject of the sentence should be "short stories". Guy de Maupassant modifies "short stories". Therefore, "he" cannot refer to "short stories".

Question 65

Is this correct? Teachers in this country have generally been trained either to approach mathematics like a creative activity or to force students to memorize rules and principles without truly understanding how to apply them.

Answer 65

WRONG "like a creative activity" is incorrect > Even though it is a noun, there could be hidden words that have been omitted. > "approach mathematics as [you approach] a creative activity" > Also, "like a creative activity" sounds off --> "Teachers have been trained to approach math like a creative activity" versus "Teachers have been trained to approach math as a creative activity" > "Like" is used for SIMILARITY, whereas "As" is used for EQUALITY Should be: "To approach mathematics AS a creative activity

Question 66

Is this correct? Though Saturn's main rings may appear smooth and continuous when viewed from a distance, they are in fact composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets when viewed up close. How do you compare "If", "when", and "when...appear" What about: Saturn's main rings, when viewed from a distance, may appear to be smooth and continuous, though when viewed up close they are in fact composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets. What about: When viewed from a distance, Saturn's main rings may appear smooth and continuous, but closer viewing reveals them to be composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets.

Answer 66

WRONG --> this is not a parallelism question. First Error: MEANING ISSUE "they are in fact composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets when viewed up close" --> The fact is, irrespective of your viewing, Saturn's rings are always composed of icy ringlets 1. 'if' you view them up close, they are composed of thousands of icy ringlets 2. 'when' you view them up close, they are composed of thousands of icy ringlets 3. 'when' you view them up close, they appear to be composed of thousands of icy ringlets. Second paragraph has the same meaning error. Should be: When viewed from a distance, Saturn's main rings may appear smooth and continuous, but closer viewing reals them to be composed of thousands of separate icy ringlets.

Question 67

The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one What is wrong with this?

Answer 67

"being one" > seems to modify "the invention" rather than "cotton gin" "an affordable one" is also awkward.

Question 68

Which is better? Levels of atmospheric carbon monoxide increased sufficiently during the 20th century to begin trapping heat radiating from the Earth Carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere increased by enough of a percentage during the 20th century that they began to trap heat radiating from the Earth.

Answer 68

First one --> "Increased sufficiently" Second one is not idiomatic >"increased ENOUGH TO"

Question 69

Which is better? Having lived in Tahiti for several years, where life was slow and relaxed, Paul Gauguin had difficulty readjusting to the hectic pace of Paris upon his return. Having lived for several years in Tahiti, where life was slow and relaxed, Paul Gauguin had difficulty readjusting to the hectic pace of Paris upon his return.

Answer 69

Placement of "where" is the split Second one --> "Tahiti, where" is better (where modifies Tahiti)

Question 70

Which is better? An economic recession can result from [falling employment rates triggered by a drop in investment, causing cutbacks in consumer spending and starting a cycle of layoffs that lead to even lower employment rates] An economic recession can result from [falling employment rates triggered by a drop in investment, which cause cutbacks in consumer spending, starting a cycle of layoffs that lead to even lower employment rates]

Answer 70

Second one > first one has "causing" and "starting" modifying "economic recession" (meaning issue)

Question 71

Congress has enacted legislation forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years. (A) forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years. (B) that forbids state and local governments for the next three years from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet. (C) that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet. (D) forbidding for the next three years to state and local governments the raising of taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet. (E) that forbids for the next three years state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet.

Answer 71

Idiom -> "forbid __ TO" (not from) e.g., You are forbidden to eat that fruit. I forbid you to leave this place. NOT A --> "from" Should be C

Question 72

Is "own" necessary here? At age four, Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his own musical talents. vs. At age four, Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of Europe's capitals, to demonstrate his musical talents.

Answer 72

Own is NECESSARY (and even more preferred to the conciseness of Europe's capitals) Otherwise, it is AMBIGUOUS who possesses the musical talents.

Question 73

Is this correct? The dinosaurs appeared as smart

Answer 73

NO - not idiomatic Should be "dinosaurs APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN smart"

Question 74

Are these the same? Her mom donated money so that Alex could win a scholarship. Her mom donated money so Alex could win a scholarship.

Answer 74

NO - First one is correct (need "that") - idiom SO THAT

Question 75

Which is correct? In the borders of a country Within the borders of a country Inside the borders of a country

Answer 75

Second one - idiom WITHIN THE BORDERS

Question 76

Though formerly considered ill-formed and primitive, Henri Rousseau has become an iconic figure of Post-Impressionism for his dream-like canvases painted like he was naive. A) Henri Rousseau has become an iconic figure of Post-Impressionism for his dream-like canvases painted like he was naive. B) Henri Rousseau's canvases, painted in a naive, dream-like style, later established the artist as an icon of Post-Impressionism. C) Henri Rousseau painted canvases in a naive, dream-like style that has become an icon of Post-Impressionism. D) Henri Rousseau's canvases were painted in a naive, dream-like style that was later iconic of Post-Impressionism. E) the canvases of Henri Rousseau are icons of Post-Impressionism due to being painted in a naive, dream-like style.

Answer 76

B > first error, "canvases" should be the subject of the opening modifier, not "Henri Rousseau" (eliminates A, C) > second is meaning issue --> though considered ill-formed and primitive before, these canvases were painted in a specific way that later made Henri an icon of Post-Impressionism D is wrong > "that was later iconic of Post-Impressionism" modifies STYLE, rather than Henry Rousseau or the artist > "Iconic of" is also unidiomatic E is unidiomatic too ("due to being" is wrong)

Question 77

Only seven people this century have been killed by the great white shark, the man-eater of the [movies—less than those] killed by bee stings. B movies—fewer than have been C movies, which is less than those D movies, a number lower than the people E movies, fewer than the ones

Answer 77

Concept - dash --> modifies SEVEN people "the man-eater of the movies" modifies the "great white shark" "Fewer" is correct for countable things like people. B is correct -- fewer [people] than [the number of people that] have been D actually doesn't make sense > says that "seven (number)" is lower than the people killed by bee stings??

Question 78

Is "because of" automatically unidiomatic? Since February, the Federal Reserve has raised its short-term interest rate target five times, and [because of the economy's continued strength, analysts have been predicting for weeks that the target will] be raised again in November.

Answer 78

NO This sentence is correct on its own > "predicted" (simple past tense) is incorrect (meaning issue)

Question 79

[As the former] chair of the planning board for 18 consecutive years and a board member for 28 years, Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications. [As the] chair of the planning board for 18 consecutive years and a board member for 28 years, Joan Philkill attended more than 400 meetings and reviewed more than 700 rezoning applications.

Answer 79

Second one is correct - cannot attend meetings and review applications as the FORMER chair - also cannot be the former chair of the board for 18 years

Question 80

Because of [differences in the human body's internal pressure and the ocean's, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or they] will suffer a painful condition known as the "bends." [the difference in the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascends slowly or he] [the difference between the internal pressure of the human body and that of the ocean, it is essential that a diver returning to the surface ascend slowly or he]

Answer 80

Last one is correct 1st error - subject/pronoun must agree in number > "a diver" (singular) = "he" (NOT THEY - LGBTQ+ pronouns are not grammatically correct in the GMAT) 2nd error - "in" should be "between" 3rd error - avoid possessive form. "ocean's" should be "that of the ocean" > "that" needs to have an ANTECEDENT, used in parallelism too 4th error - "ascends" should be "ascend" (subjunctive form) > It is essential that a diver ASCEND slowly or he will suffer... > Re-jig such that "a diver must ascend slowly" 5th error - parallelism - BETWEEN X AND Y > should be "difference between the internal pressure of the human body and that of the ocean" > not "difference between the human body's internal pressure and that of the ocean"

Question 81

Because of versus Due to e.g., The number of acres destroyed by wildfires, which have become an ongoing threat [due to/because of] drought and booming population density, has increased dramatically over the past several years, prompting major concern among local politicians.

Answer 81

"Due to" is a phrase that must describe a NOUN. e.g., "The fire was due to drought" is correct, but "There was a fire due to drought" is not. > Sometimes can Test by replacing "due to" with "CAUSED BY" > usually preceded by some form of "to be" (was, is, are due to...) When describing a VERB phrase, "because of" is preferable: "There was a fire because of drought." or "wildfires have become an ongoing threat BECAUSE OF drought"

Question 82

Can versus Could

Answer 82

Could -- hypothetical thing that does not currently exist Can - right now exists

Question 83

In the wake of several serious cases of mercury poisoning caused by tainted fish, the state government ordered that [all lakes and streams should be tested for mercury levels.] What is wrong with this?

Answer 83

Meaning problem --> you cannot test "lakes and streams" for "mercury levels" - suggests that you want to know whether lakes and streams have MERCURY LEVELS (you want to see if they have MERCURY) Instead: ...the mercury levels of all lakes and streams be tested Subjunctive form --> ordered THAT ___ BE tested (to be)

Question 84

What is "subjunctive mood" or verb form

Answer 84

Present subjunctive mood typically follow VERBS expressing a DEMAND or DESIRE > e.g., "ordered THAT", "demand THAT", "vital THAT", "necessary THAT", "on condition THAT" > Tense of the verb - BASE form with no -s on the third person singular The state ordered that the mercury levels of all lakes and streams BE tested. (base verb: to be) I demand that you WORK until midnight (base verb: to work) Is it necessary that he CEASE his studies? (base verb: to CEASE) **the main verb could be in -ing form too e.g., She scandalized many of her most ardent supporters by SUGGESTING that drunkedness BE made sufficient cause for divorce

Question 85

According to the National Science Foundation, in 2003 there were 198,113 female science and engineering graduate students, almost 42% of the graduate students in those fields, [twice as much as 1981.] What are the errors? Which of the following is the best? A twice as many as 1981 B double the figure for 1981 C double what it was in 1981 D a number double that of 1981’s

Answer 85

Modifier for "198,113 female science and engineering students" "Much" should not be used for a COUNTABLE quantity (female students, percents) "as __ as" - incorrect comparison, implying that the figures were 2 times the year 1981. A - meaning issue for "as 1981" B is correct C - "it" is vague (no clear antecedent) and wordy D - "that" is missing an antecedent, 1981's is missing a noun to possess. Similar question: The number of people flying first class on domestic flights rose sharply in 1990, [doubling the increase of the previous year.] NOT "twice as many as the increase in the previous year" (because the modifier is modifying a CLAUSE or action)

Question 86

Which one is better? "controversial education reform proposal" "proposal on controversial reform in education"

Answer 86

Modifiers and Meaning! Controversial should modify PROPOSAL

Question 87

Is this correct? Presenting a comprehensive introduction, the physicist Richard Feynman introduced modern physics in a two-year course designed for undergraduate students.

Answer 87

REDUNDANT --"introduction" and "introduce" Other redundancies: - "consistently remains" - "could possibly" or "can possibly" - "payments to be paid" - "reasons" and "why" - "Today" and "now" and "currently" - "speculation" and "possibly" - "began" and "first"

Question 88

Which one is correct? In 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to “free solo”—climb without the aid of any ropes—Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan in just under four hours, a feat that was once thought to be impossible. In 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to “free solo” Yosemite’s El Capitan—a feat once thought impossible—climbing the 3,000-foot wall without the aid of any ropes in just under four hours.

Answer 88

Split is where to put the dashes first one incorrectly implies that Honnold became the first person to "free solo". In fact, he was the first person to "free solo" El Capitan. > AMBIGUOUS MEANING ISSUE!! > Has El Capitan been free-soloed before, but just not under four hours?

Question 89

Opening modifier: In order to In order to _(convert)____, subject

Answer 89

Subject following "in order to" as an opening modifier must be DOING the action In this case, the subject of the core sentence (beginning after the comma) needs to state whoever (or whatever) is PERFORMING the conversion. For example: In order to convert from analog to digital, the AUDIO ENGINEER must…

Question 90

What is wrong with this sentence? The Anasazi settlements at Chaco Canyon were built on a spectacular [scale, with more than 75 carefully engineered structures, of up to 600 rooms each, were] connected by a complex regional system of roads.

Answer 90

NONESSENTIAL MODIFIERS with COMMAS "With more than 75 carefully engineered structures" is a adverbial modifier of "settlements" "of up to 600 rooms each" modifies "structures" --> so SKIP THE MIDDLE MEN You will notice that "were" is incorrectly placed. Correct sentence: The Anasazi settlements at Chaco Canyon were built on a spectacular [scale, with more than 75 carefully engineered structures, of up to 600 rooms each,] connected by a complex regional system of roads.

Question 91

What does "succeeding" mean in this context? Long overshadowed by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, the more ancient Olmec culture is now being explored by historians for its legacy to succeeding Mesoamerican societies

Answer 91

Adjective --> the Mesoamerican societies that are the SUCCESSORS of the Olmec culture Also - "legacy TO" is idiomatic

Question 92

Because of the sharp increases in the price of gold and silver, the value of Monica Taylor’s portfolio rose [as her daughter-in-law’s dropped.] Because of the sharp increases in the price of gold and silver, the value of Monica Taylor’s portfolio rose [while that of her daughter-in-law’s dropped.]

Answer 92

Second one - "that of" refers to VALUE ---> FIND THE ANTECDENT - It is illogical to say that her daughter-in-law's PORTFOLIO dropped Second one says: ... while [THE VALUE OF] her daughter-in-law's [PORTFOLIO] dropped.

Question 93

What is the error here? Unlike the original National Museum of Science and Technology in Italy, where the models are encased in glass or operated only by staff members, the Virtual Leonardo Project, an online version of the museum, encourages visitors to “touch” each exhibit[, and it will activate] the animated functions of the piece.

Answer 93

"It" has no clear antecedent --> cannot be a verb (touch)

Question 94

Meaning of "emancipation"

Answer 94

to free from restraint, control, or the power of another especially e.g., the slaves were emancipated

Question 95

When should "passive construction" be used? e.g., Since the vine was introduced versus Since introducing the vine

Answer 95

Use passive construction (Y was introduced) when the subject doing the action is unknown. Passive - Y was introduced Active - X introduced Y

Question 96

What is "until" used for?

Answer 96

"Until" is used to indicate TIME, NOT nouns e.g., Until Disraeli in 1868 IS WRONG Better - until 1868... or until Disraeli became prime minster in 1868

Question 97

The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings’ burning of fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds [by harming their habitats as a result of altering the environment.] The World Wildlife Fund has declared that global warming, a phenomenon that most scientists agree is caused by human beings’ burning of fossil fuels, will create havoc among migratory birds [by altering the environment in ways harmful to their habitats.]

Answer 97

Second one Need to explain why global warming will create havoc among birds (altering the environment). Also "as a result" is generally considered wordy (unless it is connecting two independent sentences with "and" preceding it)

Question 98

-ed modifiers e.g., ...., prevented from dissipating...

Answer 98

-ed non-essential modifiers should modify the closest noun phrase

Question 99

Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, [its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by] boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, [its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of] boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities

Answer 99

First one is correct 1st split: "prevented from dissipating" versus "prevented from being dissipated" 2nd split: "dissipating by" versus "dissipated as a result of" Taken together, the second one is ambiguous - is acoustic energy prevented from dissipating BECAUSE of the boundaries OR prevented from dissipation CAUSED BY the boundaries?

Question 100

In 1974 a large area of the surface of Mercury was photographed from varying distances, [revealing a degree of cratering similar to that of the moon]. In 1974 a large area of the surface of Mercury was photographed from varying distances, [and revealed cratering similar to the moon].

Answer 100

First one is correct 1st split: "revealing" versus "comma and revealed" > "revealing" correctly modifies the preceding phrase > "comma and revealed" should not be used to introduce a second clause. (not an independent sentence) 2nd split: COMPARISON!!! > "similar to that of the moon" means "similar to the degree of cratering of the moon" > "cratering similar to the moon" incorrect compares Mercury's cratering to being like the moon itself.

Question 101

[To proceed without the presence of a definite plan for upcoming labor negotiations, as the firm had agreed to last year, would surely have proven disastrous] in the face of the skilled and resolute opposition involved this time. [Proceeding without a definite plan for upcoming labor negotiations, as the firm agreed last year to do, would surely have proven to be a disaster] in the face of the skilled and resolute opposition involved this time.

Answer 101

Second one 1st split: Subject of the sentence > Gerund is preferred (Proceeding...) 2nd split: "had agreed to" versus "agreed" > no need for past participle > also I think "agreed last year to do" is better than 'the firm had agreed to last year" 3rd split: "the presence of" is redundant

Question 102

Which one is the best? A new satellite sweeping over the poles at altitudes of up to 32,000 miles is called POLAR, giving scientists their best look yet at the magnetosphere, the region of space under the invisible influence of Earth's magnetic field. Scientists are getting their best look yet at the magnetosphere, the region of space under the invisible influence of Earth's magnetic field, from a new satellite sweeping over the poles at altitudes of up to 32,000 miles called POLAR. Sweeping over the poles at altitudes of up to 32,000 miles, a new satellite called POLAR is giving scientists their best look yet at the magnetosphere, the region of space under the invisible influence of Earth's magnetic field.

Answer 102

This Q is testing MODIFIERS "called POLAR" should be positioned close to "satellite" Third one

Question 103

[Like any star of similar mass would do, once the Sun has exhausted the hydrogen in its core, it expands into a red giant, eventually ejecting] its outer envelope of gases to become a white dwarf. A) Like any star of similar mass would do, once the Sun has exhausted the hydrogen in its core, it expands into a red giant, eventually ejecting (B) Like any star of similar mass, once the hydrogen in the Sun's core is exhausted, then it expands into a red giant and eventually ejects (C) As in the case of any star of similar mass, once the hydrogen in the Sun's core is exhausted, it will expand into a red giant, and eventually ejecting (D) As any star of similar mass would, once the hydrogen in the Sun's core is exhausted it will expand into a red giant and will eventually eject (E) As would be the case with any star of similar mass, once the Sun exhausts the hydrogen in its core, it will expand into a red giant and eventually eject

Answer 103

Concept #1: Subject must match the opening modifier > "Sun" (not hydrogen) Concept #2: Parallel verbs (will expand... and eventually eject...) Ans E D opens with a sentence fragment (as any start of similar mass would ___)

Question 104

Carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere and helps regulate the planet's surface temperature, is constantly being [exchanged between the atmosphere on the one hand and the oceans and terrestrial plants on the other.] What is being tested here?

Answer 104

BETWEEN X AND Y > cut out "on the one hand" and "on the other" > "Oceans and terrestrial plants" are treated as one entity > so "between" is correct

Question 105

In his Uses of Enchantment (1976), [psychologist Bruno Bettelheim asserted that the apparently cruel and arbitrary nature of many fairy tales is actually] an instructive reflection of a child's natural and necessary “killing off” of successive phases in his or her own development. Should the verb be singular or plural? > "is actually" or "are actually"

Answer 105

Singular > "cruel" and arbitrary modify "nature" > Remove the modifiers to see the correct verb form: "The nature of many fairy tales is actually..." Another example: The happy and lazy cat enjoys sleeping.

Question 106

Around 1900, fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay area landed more than seventeen million pounds of shad in a single year, but by 1920, over-fishing and the proliferation of milldams and culverts [that blocked shad from migrating up their spawning streams had reduced landings to less] than four million pounds. Around 1900, fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay area landed more than seventeen million pounds of shad in a single year, but by 1920, over-fishing and the proliferation of milldams and culverts [that blocked shad from migrating up their spawning streams reduced landings to a lower amount] than four million pounds.

Answer 106

This is an example of an EXCEPTION to two rules: 1) "had" (past participle) usually should be used with the earlier event. > in this question, 1920 happened after 1900 > BUT, 1920 still occurred in the PAST, so it is acceptable to say "had reduced" e.g., I started studying school in 2017 and BY 2021, I had graduated. 2) "less than" is usually associated with uncountable items. We are give four million pounds. > four million pounds is taken as a MASS QUANTITY rather than as countable individual pounds.

Question 107

What are the errors here? When more and more factories move out of the cities each year, manufacturing jobs, historically the first step into the job market for the urban poor, have become fewer and fewer.

Answer 107

1st error: "have become" needs to match the verb tense of "move out" > should be "become" IT IS CORRECT TO USE "fewer and fewer" because manufacturing jobs are COUNTABLE

Question 108

Which comparison is correct? 1) Like Darwin's fruitful voyage on the Beagle, Banks's trip with Captain Cook on the Endeavour inspired and shaped a remarkable career in natural science. 2) Like Darwin and his fruitful voyage on the Beagle, Banks's trip with Captain Cook on the Endeavour inspired and shaped his remarkable career in natural science. 3) Like Darwin's fruitful voyage on the Beagle, Banks sailed with Captain Cook on the Endeavour, which inspired and shaped a remarkable career in natural science.

Answer 108

Parallelism: Like X, Y (both must be nouns) 1st one is correct > Like Darwin's voyage, Bank's trip.... (two parallel nouns) 2nd one is incorrect > Like Darwin and his voyage, Bank's trip... (a trip cannot be compared to a person, Darwin) > also be wary of compound subjects that are not parallel (Darwin and voyage) 3rd one is incorrect > Like Darwin's voyage, Banks ... (voyage cannot be compared to a person, Banks)

Question 109

Common mistakes List:

Answer 109

1. Meaning issues (want a clear AND unambiguous meaning) > read literally - is it confusing? Remember that confusing writing is bad writing; what is the author's intent and is the sentence written clearly to convey that intent? Are the right words used? > Does the SUBJECT and VERB MAKE SENSE together? > determine what the modifier is modifying (clause versus noun) > keep essential and nonessential MODIFIERS CLOSE to the thing they are modifying (double check to see placement) > verb tenses (past/present perfect tense special) > even if the sentence is grammatically correct (e.g., parallel, subject-verb agrees, etc.), the meaning could still be ILLOGICAL! > Redundancy (words that convey the SAME meaning) confuses the meaning and should be removed 2. Subject-verb agreement issues > Singular vs plural (incl. COMPOUND) subjects and verbs (must match in number and in tense) > e.g., Prepositional phrases (OF __, AT __, BY __, FROM __, IN __, WITH __), modifiers (-ed or -ing forms of verbs) try to conceal true subject ----> IGNORE THEM (Noun in a prepositional phrase typically CANNOT be the subject of the sentence, with exception of SANAM indefinite pronouns) > Pronoun-noun must match in number > missing or unclear ANTCEDENT for a pronoun (i.e., "they", 'it") > Sentence fragments (missing working verb, or subordinate clauses) 3. Subject-opening modifier agreement issues 4. Parallelism > Sentences must be parallel in STRUCTURE and MEANING > Stem must make sense with every item in the list > Comparisons must be parallel 5. "which" modifier versus "-ing" modifier

Question 110

Why is the second one preferred to the first one? On Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest indications of sunspot cycles, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks. Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the rate at which trees grow, , as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks.

Answer 110

1st error - "their" is placed close to "CYCLES" in the first one, when it should be modifying "trees" Among the surest indications is SINGULAR > e.g., among the best students is ... Idiom: X is believed to be

Question 111

An archaeological excavation at what might have been a workshop where statues were reproduced yielded 1,532 fragments of human figures, including 7 intact statues What is the error? What about compared to this sentence? An archaeological excavation at the site of a possible workshop where statues were reproduced yielded 1,532 fragments of human figures and 7 intact statutes.

Answer 111

Meaning issue: Cannot have "including" > Intact statutes are not a sub category of fragments! Need to be "and" instead Side note: "What might have been" is preferred to "possible" because it talks about the PAST

Question 112

The budget for education reflects the administration's demand that [the money is controlled by local school districts, but it can only be spent] on teachers, not on books, computers, or other materials or activities. What stands out here?

Answer 112

SUBJUNCTIVE VERB FORM "demand that..." the money BE CONTROLLED" Correct answer: the money be controlled by local school districts, but it allows them to spend the money only

Question 113

Examples of ___ include X, Y, and/or Z Recently documented examples of neurogenesis, the production of new brain cells, include ... 1) mice whose brains grow when they are placed in a stimulating environment or canaries whose neurons increase when they 2) brain growth in mice that are placed in a stimulating environment or an increase in neurons in canaries that

Answer 113

Must be parallel and be EXAMPLES OF ___ 2 is preferred > Examples of the production of new brain cells include BRAIN GROWTH and INCREASE IN NEURONS --> looking for ACTIVITY

Question 114

When to use "past continuous" verb form: ---WAS (earn)-ing...

Answer 114

Two actions are taking place - both in the PAST > Action 1 is in simple past (e.g., "noted") > Action 2 is in past continuous if the action happened AT THE SAME TIME as action 1 and continued to happen for some time after action 1 E.g., The British sociologist once NOTED as a humorous example of income maldistribution that the elephant that gave rides to children at the Whipsnade Zoo WAS EARNING

Question 115

A different variety of tortoise exists on every island, (each/all of them) with (its/their) own unique shell colour and dome shape.

Answer 115

Subject is SINGULAR --> "a different VARIETY" > "each" > "its"

Question 116

When do you use "in" and "for" in conjunction with a time interval? e.g., In three days, I will do X versus Three days before Saturday, I will do X

Answer 116

Difference - whether there is a time interval MODIFIER e.g., Three days BEFORE SATURDAY > ...before.. > ...after... > ....since...

Question 117

Pronoun Ambiguity Exception e.g., Cucumbers cost more than tomatoes in grocery stores in western states, and they also taste like chalk.

Answer 117

This sentence is NOT VAGUE There is PARALLELISM (multiple clauses) > the grammatical subject in the first clause (Cucumbers) is ALSO the grammatical subject in the second clause (they).

Question 118

Which one is correct? A) Tom Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993, [an era during which the city was transformed] from a collection of suburban neighborhoods to the second-largest city in the United States. B) Tom Bradley was mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993, [during which the city was transformed] from a collection of suburban neighborhoods to the second-largest city in the United States.

Answer 118

Noun + Noun Modifier A is correct > "which" needs to have an antecedent, "era" > "which" cannot refer to either 1973 or 1993

Question 119

Which one is correct and why? [Whereas lines of competition are clearly defined in the more established industries, in the Internet industry they are blurred and indistinct, as companies that compete] one day may be partners the next. [Although the lines of competition are clearly defined in industries that are more established, they are blurred and indistinct in the Internet industry, as competing companies] one day may be partners the next.

Answer 119

First one > Whereas X, Y (it is okay that "in the Internet industry" is placed before the subject, "they") Second one has more errors: > "industries that are more established" is WORDIER than "more established industries" > "one day" should modify "compete", not "companies"

Question 120

What is wrong with this one? Greatly influenced by the Protestant missionary Samuel Kirkland, the Oneida was the only one of the five-nation Iroquois League who sided with the colonists during the American Revolution.

Answer 120

"Who" modifier > Appears to modify "Iroquois League" > "who" cannot modify "Oneida" (not a person)

Question 121

Which one is correct? A: The fact of some fraternal twins resembling each other greatly and others looking quite dissimilar highlights an interesting and often overlooked feature of fraternal-twin pairs, namely they vary considerably on a spectrum of genetic relatedness. B: That some fraternal twins resemble each other greatly while others look quite dissimilar highlights an interesting and often overlooked feature of fraternal-twin pairs, namely that they vary considerably on a spectrum of genetic relatedness.

Answer 121

B > First one should be "the fact THAT", "resemble" and "look" > also "namely THAT they vary considerably" "That" can be used at the start of a sentencef

Question 122

The contractor and the engineer agree on the cause of the bridge failure, but ... A) both blame the other. B) each blames the other C) each blames one another

Answer 122

B is correct > "Both" cannot be a subject (unless it is in a subgroup modifier) Other exceptions: "Both cautiously allowed others of the Roosevelt brain trust to take credit for the genesis of historic programs for which the two women were in large measure responsible" > The phrase "one another" is used when there are more than 2 entities involves in the interaction. When there are just 2 entities involved, we use "each other".

Question 123

According to public health officials, in 1998 Massachusetts became the first state in which more babies were born to women over the age of thirty [...] under it. A) Than B) Than born C) Than had been born

Answer 123

A is correct "more babies were born to women over the age of thirty THAN [to women] under [the age of thirty]" Must be VERY LITERAL "more babies were born to women over the age of thirty than BORN under the age of thirty" > incorrectly compares # of babies born to women over the age of thirty TO the # of babies born UNDER the age of thirty.

Question 124

Is news plural?

Answer 124

No, it is considered singular and countable e.g., news of these shots WAS sent by swift messenger... e.g., the news IS GOOD Contrast with MONEY: singular and Uncountable

Question 125

1) The first shots of the American Revolution, fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, were, according to legend, heard around the world, but news of these shots [that were sent by swift messenger took four days to reach New York City and another eleven days] to reach Charleston, South Carolina 2) The first shots of the American Revolution, fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, were, according to legend, heard around the world, but news of these shots [took four days by swift messenger to reach New York City and another eleven days] to reach Charleston, South Carolina

Answer 125

Second one News is SINGULAR - "were" is incorrect

Question 126

Which one is better and why? A) In addition to the increase in hourly wages that were requested last July, the railroad employees are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits. B) In addition to the increase in hourly wages requested last July, the employees of the railroad are now seeking an expanded program of retirement benefits.

Answer 126

B is better First split: "increase in hourly wages THAT WERE requested last July" > "increase" is SINGULAR > "were" is INCORRECT Second split: "railroad employees" versus "employees of the railroad" > Usually the first one is more concise > But in this case, the first sentence has a blatant error

Question 127

One of the students who are studying biology is in my class. Or One of the students who is studying biology is in my class.

Answer 127

First one Figure out what the modifier is modifying!! "who _ studying biology" modifies STUDENTS (plural) One ... IS Another example: The ants do not engage in the kind of fierce intercolony struggles THAT LIMIT the spread of this species in its native Argentina > "That ___" modifies STRUGGLES, not "the kind"

Question 128

With [its network and its customers' patience strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of new initiatives to try relieving] the congestion that has led to at least four class-action lawsuits and thousands of complaints from frustrated customers. A) the patience of its customers and with its network strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of new initiatives trying to relieve (B) the patience of its customers and its network strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of new initiatives that try to relieve (C) its network and the patience of its customers strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of new initiatives to try to relieve (D) its network and with the patience of its customers strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of initiatives to try relieving (E) its network and its customers’ patience strained to the breaking point, the on-line service company announced a series of new initiatives to try relieving

Answer 128

C Split 1: Idiom: TO try TO relieve (not "that try to relive" or "to trying to relieve") > indicates a purpose > "that try to" and "trying to relieve" incorrectly modifies "initiatives" when it should be modifying "announced" (the initiatives themselves are not trying to relieve to relieve the congestion. Rather, the action of the company is trying to relieve the congestion). Split 2: Order of "its network" and "the patience of its customers" > AND signals parallelism > stem is "strained to the breaking point" > however, "the patience of its customers and its network" seems to suggest the company's network has a patience, which is wrong > additionally, "with its network and with the patience of its customers" seems to imply that "strained to the breaking point" only modifies "patience" and not "network", making the sentence illogical Split 3: "To try to relieve" vs "To try relieving" > between C and D, there is NO OTHER MEANINGFUL SPLIT > GMAT has a preference for infinitive form "To try to relieve"

Question 129

A. Some anthropologists believe that the genetic homogeneity evident in the world's people is the result of a “population bottleneck”—[at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers] and thus our genetic variation. B. Some anthropologists believe that the genetic homogeneity evident in the world's people is the result of a “population bottleneck”— [that at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event that greatly reduced their numbers] and thus our genetic variation.

Answer 129

B is correct Parallelism! The stem for "That at some time..." is "Some anthropologists believe..." > so the [] is simply a PARAPHRASE Notice the split is better written in B > "suffered an event THAT greatly reduced their numbers and thus our genetic variation"

Question 130

Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used [more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than] four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each. Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used [as a substitute for four quarters more than for the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than] four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

Answer 130

Second one 1st split: placement of "more" > MEANING issue -> the Sacagawea dollar coin will likely be a replacement for four quarters, not the dollar bill > Correct: "will be used as a substitute for four quarters MORE than FOR the dollar bill" 2nd split: "far lighter than" versus "far less than" > "it weighs" FAR LESS THAN --> correct idiom

Question 131

When viewed from the window of a speeding train, [the speed with which nearby objects move seems faster than that of] more distant objects. When viewed from the window of a speeding train, [nearby objects seem to move at a faster speed than do] more distant objects

Answer 131

Second one Opening modifier's subject should be "NEARBY OBJECTS", not speed Speed CANNOT be described as "faster" > should be objects seem to move at a "faster speed"

Question 132

In the six-month period that ended on September 30, the average number of Sunday papers sold by the company was 81,000 less than the comparable period a year ago. > Should it be "less" or "fewer"

Answer 132

FEWER --> papers are countable (only money and masses are uncountable, including water) Also missing "in" --> in the comparable period a year ago CORRECT: "... the company sold an average of 81,000 fewer Sunday papers than in"

Question 133

Starfish, with anywhere from five to eight arms, have a strong regenerative ability, and if [one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating] and growing an extra one or two. What rule can be learned in this example?

Answer 133

If x, (then) y should be parallel or at least share the same structure Since "one arm is lost" is passive, it is correct to use another passive clause ("it is quickly replaced")

Question 134

To attract the most talented workers, some companies are offering a wider range of benefits and let employees pick the most important to them.

Answer 134

THERE IS A VERB TENSE ERROR Correct: Some companies ARE OFFERING ... and ARE LETTING ... Cannot be "let" (simple present)

Question 135

Analysts and media executives predict [ that the coming year will be no less challenging than the previous one had been] for the company's CEO. Analysts and media executives predict [ that the coming year will be no less challenging than the previous one] for the company's CEO.

Answer 135

Split - is "had been" necessary? > NO > figure out what you are comparing the COMING YEAR will be no less challenging than THE PREVIOUS [YEAR] for the company's CEO.

Question 136

Australian embryologists have found evidence [to suggest that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved] as a kind of snorkel. [suggesting that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal with its trunk originally evolved]

Answer 136

First one "is descended" IS CORRECT (versus "had descended") Follows parallel structure well "that the elephant...AND that its trunk..." "with" cannot be followed by an independent clause.

Question 137

Nobody knows exactly how many languages there are in the world, partly because of the difficulty of distinguishing between a language [and the sublanguages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found] about five thousand. Nobody knows exactly how many languages there are in the world, partly because of the difficulty of distinguishing between a language [and the sublanguages or dialects within it, but those who have tried counting it typically find] about five thousand.

Answer 137

First one 1st split: second "it" > not necessary > also incorrectly refers to a plural antecedent, "languages" (..."but those who have tried counting THE LANGUAGE typically find" is off) 2nd split: "have found" versus "find" > better to match the previous tense, "who have tried"

Question 138

Among the Tsonga, a Bantu-speaking group of tribes in southeastern Africa, dance teams represent their own chief at [the court of each other, providing entertainment in return for] food, drink, and lodging. A. the court of each other, providing entertainment in return for B. the court of another and provide entertainment in return for

Answer 138

B "each other" is used when there are only 2 entities "another" is for multiple entities Also "another [chief]" has a better meaning than "each other" (which could incorrectly refer to the dancers)

Question 139

As criminal activity on the Internet becomes more and more sophisticated, not only are thieves able to divert cash from company bank accounts, [they can also pilfer valuable information such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans, and sell the data to competitors.] As criminal activity on the Internet becomes more and more sophisticated, not only are thieves able to divert cash from company bank accounts, [ but also pilfer valuable information such as business development strategies, new product specifications, and contract bidding plans to sell]

Answer 139

Exception to "not only x but also y" > you don't need to have "but also" after "not only" if the two items being compared are CONTRASTS First one is correct > parallel > not only are THIEVES able to ...., THIEVES can also pilfer .... (need to have parallel SUBJECTS) We have both a subject and a verb in the first one, whereas the second one lacks a subject.

Question 140

[Rather than ignore a company that seems about to fail], investment analysts should recognize that its reorganization and recent uptick in revenue, combined with its dynamic new leadership, indicate that the firm's prospects must be taken seriously. What can be learned in this example?

Answer 140

Parallelism RATHER THAN X, investment analysts should Y NOT: Rather than ignoring...

Question 141

[Dinosaur tracks show that they walked with their feet directly under their bodies, as do] mammals and birds, not extended out to the side in the manner of modern reptiles. [The tracks that dinosaurs left show that they walked with their feet directly under their bodies, as do] mammals and birds, not extended out to the side in the manner of modern reptiles.

Answer 141

Second one 1) "as do mammals and birds" is CORRECT (not "like mammals and birds" > comparison is that Dinosaurs walked in the same way that mammals and birds WALK (clause = as) 2) Subject different > "Dinosaur tracks show that THEY" --> vague subject (tracks or dinosaurs) > "The tracks that dinosaurs left show that THEY" --> subject is dinosaurs

Question 142

A) As an actress and, more importantly, as a teacher of acting, [Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, who trained several generations of actors including] Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. B) Stella Adler, one of the most influential artists in the American theater, trained several generations of actors who include C) Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theater, training several generations of actors whose ranks included

Answer 142

C Meaning is appropriate to say As an actress..., Stella Adler was one of the most influential artists in the American theatre First one has a modifier issue - "who" is placed too far from Stella Adler and there is no need for a comma Second one "who" is strange too > "generations" is NOT a person --> cannot use who > Meaning has a problem --> she didn't train several generations of actors WHILE as both an actress and teacher of acting > also the two actors named are NOT types of generations of actors, but rather they BELONG to one of these generations of actors (so you cannot directly use "generations of actors including x and y") Third one fixes both errors > modifier "training" explains WHY Stella was one of the most influential artists in the American theater > "whose" correctly modifies generations of actors

Question 143

Under high pressure and intense heat, graphite, the most stable form of pure carbon, changes into the substance commonly referred to as diamond and [remains this way although] the heat and pressure are removed. Under high pressure and intense heat, graphite, the most stable form of pure carbon, changes into the substance commonly referred to as diamond and [remains thus even when] the heat and pressure are removed.

Answer 143

Second one Don't be thrown off by "thus" -- secondary meaning "in this way" First one has a meaning issue: > "remains this way" is vague (graphite remains this way =/ remains as a diamond) > "even when" is better than "although"

Question 144

By 1999, astronomers [had discovered 17 nearby stars that are orbited by planets about the size of Jupiter] By 1999, astronomers [had discovered that there were 17 nearby stars that were orbited by planets]

Answer 144

First one Meaning issue What VERB TENSE of the modifier makes the most sense: "that are orbited" or "that were orbited" > present tense reflects how the stars are orbited by planets, not that they had previously been orbited by planets > Second one alters the meaning that the planets are not any more orbiting the stars Past tense versus present tense can both be grammatically correct, but the MEANING can differ: e.g., A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities ARE allowed to dump into the Great Lakes. ----> municipalities are CURRENTLY allowed to dump into the Great Lakes

Question 145

Because property values sometimes fluctuate in response to economic conditions beyond the purchaser’s control, [an investment in a home may underperform compared with other widely available classes of investments.] Because property values sometimes fluctuate in response to economic conditions beyond the purchaser’s control, [an investment in a home may underperform when compared with other widely available classes of investments.]

Answer 145

Idiom: NOT "when" with "compared"

Question 146

Like the grassy fields and old pastures that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas, [the bird itself is vanishing in the northeastern United States as a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in] farming practices. Like the grassy fields and old pastures that the upland sandpiper needs for feeding and nesting when it returns in May after wintering in the Argentine Pampas, [the sandpipers vanishing in the northeastern United States is a result of residential and industrial development and of changes in] farming practices.

Answer 146

First one Comparison between "grassy fields and old pastures" and "the bird" > shows that both the habitat and the bird are DISAPPEARING for similar reasons "the sandpipers vanishing" would be an illogical comparison to "grassy fields and old pastures" > also missing apostrophe ("the sandpipers' vanishing")

Question 147

In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as [did its return in 1910-1911.] In no other historical sighting did Halley's comet cause such a worldwide sensation as [in its return of 1910–1911] In no other historical sighting did Halley's Comet cause such a worldwide sensation as [its return of 1910–1911 did]

Answer 147

Second one Parallel comparisons > Whenever you see a COMPARISON question on the GMAT, PARALLELSIM is a great place to start. Properly invert the sentence: Halley's comet caused such a worldwide sensation IN no other historical sighting AS IN its return of 1910-1911 > comparing TIMES when the comet was seen (need preposition "in") Also "return OF 1910-1911" is correct

Question 148

Experts estimate that ten times as much petroleum exists in [such sources as tar sands, heavy oil, and perhaps even in shale as are] in conventional reservoirs Experts estimate that ten times as much petroleum exists in [such sources as tar sands, heavy oil, and perhaps even shale as] in conventional reservoirs.

Answer 148

Second one Parallel comparisons > Whenever you see a COMPARISON question on the GMAT, PARALLELSIM is a great place to start. Comparing petroleum that exists IN tar sands, heavy oil and shale to petroleum that exists IN conventional reservoirs

Question 149

Although [people in France and the United States consume fatty foods at about the same rate, the] death rates from heart disease are far lower in France Although [the rate of fatty foods consumed in France and the United States is about the same, the] death rates from heart disease are far lower in France.

Answer 149

First one > two clauses with subjects and verbs Second one has a meaning issue > "rate of fatty foods consumed" is unidiomatic > should be "rate of consumption"

Question 150

Leaching, the recovery of copper from the drainage water of mines, [was a well-established method of mineral extraction] as early as the eighteenth century, but until about 25 years ago miners did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process. Leaching, the recovery of copper from the drainage water of mines, [had been a method of mineral extraction, well established] as early as the eighteenth century, but until about 25 years ago miners did not realize that bacteria take an active part in the process.

Answer 150

First one "was" versus "had been" > in the second one, the sentence does not explain what happens to leaching now (meaning issue) Also misplaced modifier of "well established" -- is it modifying "mineral extraction" or "leaching"

Question 151

So dogged were Frances Perkins’ investigations of the garment industry, [her lobbying for wage and hour reform persistent, that] Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt recruited Perkins to work within the government, rather than as a social worker. So dogged were Frances Perkins’ investigations of the garment industry, [so persistent her lobbying for wage and hour reform, that] Alfred E. Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt recruited Perkins to work within the government, rather than as a social worker.

Answer 151

Second one Both correctly use "so...that" Second one maintains PARALLELISM > There is also an ELLIPSIS (omission of text thought to be understood - set by the structure of the FIRST item) > "so persistent [ was ] her lobbying for wage and hour reform, that..."

Question 152

The Quechuans believed that all things participated in both the material level and the mystical level of reality, and many individual Quechuans claimed to have [contact with the last directly through] an ichana (dream) experience. The Quechuans believed that all things participated in both the material level and the mystical level of reality, and many individual Quechuans claimed to have [direct contact with the latter by means of] an ichana (dream) experience.

Answer 152

Second one Function of "contact" --> it is a NOUN, not a verb, in this context > so the first one is incorrect Also "the last" is vague

Question 153

The state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, [rules intended to ensure that at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients put through triage in a hospital emergency room.] The state has proposed new rules that would set minimum staffing levels for nurses, [rules intending to ensure at least one nurse is assigned for every four patients in a hospital emergency room put through triage]

Answer 153

First one Noun + noun modifier Second one is missing THAT > Subect-verb-THAT-subject-verb

Question 154

When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today [there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount] When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950's, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today [there are fewer than one-quarter as many]

Answer 154

Second one It's okay that it is missing a second "as" when saying "as many" (can omit it --> already introduced in the preceding clause) FEWER is correct (# of drive-ins is countable) AMOUNT is not used for countable nouns; instead use NUMBER

Question 155

[Not only did the systematic clearing of forests in the United States create farmland (especially in the Northeast) and gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it also] caused erosion and very quickly deforested whole regions. [The systematic clearing of forests in the United States created farmland (especially in the Northeast) and gave consumers relatively inexpensive houses and furniture, but it also] caused erosion and very quickly deforested whole regions.

Answer 155

Second one VERB tense problem in the first one: "gave" is wrong (should be give) It is okay to have "but also" without not only. ---> x but y

Question 156

A mixture of poems and short fiction, Jean Toomer’s Cane has been called one of the three best novels ever written by [a Black American—the others being Richard Wright's Native Son and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man] A mixture of poems and short fiction, Jean Toomer’s Cane has been called one of the three best novels ever written by [Black Americans—including Native Son by Richard White and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison]

Answer 156

First one "Including" indicates a few examples of many > since we are talking about only 3 novels, "including" is incorrect "written by a Black American" is idiomatic

Question 157

Over 75 percent of the energy produced in France derives from nuclear power, [whereas nuclear power accounts for just over 33 percent of the energy produced in Germany] Over 75 percent of the energy produced in France derives from nuclear power, [whereas just over 33 percent of the energy comes from nuclear power in Germany]

Answer 157

First one Subtle difference - "over 33 percent of the energy" is vague in the second statement (seems to imply that a portion of the energy produced in France comes from Germany!) X whereas Y is still parallel (independent sentences)

Question 158

For protection from the summer sun, the Mojave lived in open-sided, flat-topped dwellings known as shades, [each a roof of poles and arrowweed] supported by posts set in a rectangle. For protection from the summer sun, the Mojave lived in open-sided, flat-topped dwellings known as shades, [with roots of poles and arrowweed that are] supported by posts set in a rectangle.

Answer 158

First one Trying to modify the "dwellings" > "each" modifies "shade" (each shade [is] a roof of poles and arrowweed) > appositive structure (modifies and describes the noun RIGHT NEXT TO IT) e.g., I bought a cat, a Persian cat ("a Persian cat" describes cat) e.g., Edision, the inventor of lightbulbs, grew up in Europe. ("the inventor of lightbulbs" describes Edison)

Question 159

"What", "who", "whoever" pronoun - is it plural or singular? e.g., [Paleontologists have found huge fossil bones from what appears to be] the second most massive dinosaur that ever lived.

Answer 159

Look at the non-underlined portion for hints Is the antecedent singular or plural? In this example, "what" refers to "dinosaur" (singular) --> so "appears" is correct > Inverted: the second most massive dinosaur that ever lived appears to be ...

Question 160

Is media singular or plural?

Answer 160

Plural

Question 161

Despite the growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are [convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would] still use travel agents. Despite the growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are [convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will] still use travel agents.

Answer 161

Second one First split: Placement of "that" > "convinced that" should be together and not separated by the comparison clause > comparing the continued use of human tellers with the continued use of travel agents Second split: "will" versus "would" > "are convinced" is PRESENT tense ---> "will"

Question 162

The single-family house constructed by the Yana, a Native American people who lived in what is now northern California, was conical in shape, its framework of poles overlaid with slabs of bark, either cedar or pine, and [banked with dirt to a height of three to four feet]. The single-family house constructed by the Yana, a Native American people who lived in what is now northern California, was conical in shape, its framework of poles overlaid with slabs of bark, either cedar or pine, and [was banked with dirt as high as three to four feet].

Answer 162

First one FIGURE OUT WHAT IS BEING MODIFIED *I thought it was the house* SHOULD be "its framework of poles" > "banked" means "piled up" > the framework of poles was banked with dirt -- not the entire house

Question 163

In Hungary, [as in much of Eastern Europe, an overwhelming proportion of women work, many of which are in] middle management and light industry. In Hungary, [as in much of Eastern Europe, an overwhelming proportion of women work, many of them in] middle management and light industry.

Answer 163

Second one First take note of "an overwhelming proportion of women WORK" (plural) > similar to "a number of students ARE hardworking" Second, "many of which" versus "many of them" > never use "which" to refer to PEOPLE Third, "are" versus no verb > sub-group modifier > memorize: "some of them only in ...." (no need for verb)

Question 164

In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice [as many trucks themselves] came off the assembly lines. In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice [the number of trucks alone] came off the assembly lines. In 1914 a total of 469,000 cars and trucks were produced in the United States, but in 1929 almost twice [that number of trucks alone] came off the assembly lines.

Answer 164

Last one Comparison between 469,000 cars and trucks and 2*469,000 trucks. "Alone" is preferred to "themselves" Need "that" to refer back to 469,000 (otherwise it is vague how many trucks were produced in 1929)

Question 165

More than three times as many independent institutions of higher education charge tuition and fees of under $8,000 a year [than are charging] over $16,000. More than three times as many independent institutions of higher education charge tuition and fees of under $8,000 a year [as charge] over $16,000. More than three times as many independent institutions of higher education charge tuition and fees of under $8,000 a year [as those charging] over $16,000.

Answer 165

Second one Parallel comparisons > Whenever you see a COMPARISON question on the GMAT, PARALLELSIM is a great place to start. Comparing # of schools that charge fees of under $8000 a year to the # of schools that charge fees of over $16,000 a year. Idiom: # times as many x AS y > there are more than three times as many [schools charging] tuition and fees of under $8000 a year AS [schools charging] over $16,000 > More than three times as many [schools] charge tuition and fees of under $8000 AS CHARGE over 16,000 ---> parallel verbs > three times as many institutions do X as do Y.

Question 166

Florida’s Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, a mixed-use recreation trail paved over an old rail bed, is a curious paradox: it is [not only completely man-made but also designed exclusively for human use, yet is] classified as a state park. Florida’s Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, a mixed-use recreation trail paved over an old rail bed, is a curious paradox: it is [completely man-made but also designed exclusively for human use, yet] classified as a state park.

Answer 166

First one Parallelism > both have correct parallelism in the first clause (complete...designed) > is X YET is Y ---> parallelism too FIRST CLAUSE, YET SECOND CLAUSE > need to have verb "is"

Question 167

Sleeping pills [have been showing up with regularity as a factor in traffic arrests], sometimes involving drivers who later claim that they have no memory of getting behind the wheel after ingesting the pills. Sleeping pills [have been showing up with regularity in traffic arrests], sometimes involving drivers who later claim that they have no memory of getting behind the wheel after ingesting the pills.

Answer 167

MEANING ISSUE First one > meant to say that sleeping pills are ONE of MANY FACTORS in traffic arrests > Second one implies that the pills SHOW UP during traffic arrests

Question 168

When shown boards [for just a few seconds from previous chess games, grandmaster chess players display an impressive ability to recall the exact position of all of the pieces on the board, but when shown a board with randomly placed pieces, grandmasters perform just as well as the average person does at this task] When shown boards [from previous chess games for just a few seconds, grandmaster chess players display an impressive ability to recall the exact position of all of the pieces on the board, but when they are shown a board with randomly placed pieces, grandmasters perform no better at this task than the average person]

Answer 168

Second one MEANING ISSUE > "grandmasters perform just as well as the average person does" is not as good as "grandmasters perform no better at this task than the average person" Also placement of the modifier "for just a few seconds" > should be placed AFTER "previous chess gamse"

Question 169

In their latest press release, [the company's new management stated a plan for expansion of its operations] into the global software market via a series of acquisitions in Asia and Latin America. A) the company's new management stated a plan for expansion of its operations B) the new company's management stated that they planned on expanding its operations C) the company's new managers stated their plan to expand its operations D) the new company managers stated their plan for its operations, expanding E) the company's new management stated that they planned to expand its operations

Answer 169

Ans C "their" is plural -- is management or managers plural? > managers are plural > management is singular "its" is singular and should correspond to "company" "plan TO", not "plan for" Also notice the placement of "new" > should be "company's NEW managers", not "new company"

Question 170

Policy makers [remain concerned about the prospect of inflation, although there are few signs of increasing energy prices driving up the cost of other goods so far.] Policy makers [remain concerned about the prospect of inflation, despite the dearth of signs thus far that increasing energy prices are driving up the cost of other goods]

Answer 170

Second one MEANING "despite" is better than "although" The placement of "so far" is also ambiguous "few signs of increasing energy prices driving up" is incorrect > cannot have Noun + verbing construction as its object "Still remain" is redundant btw

Question 171

Studies of test scores show that watching television has a markedly positive effect on children whose parents speak English as a second language, as compared to those whose native language is English. to those whose native language is English with children whose native language is English with those who are native English speakers to children whose parents do not with children whose parents are native English speakers

Answer 171

E D is vague: "children whose parents do not [speak English as a second language] > do these parents speak English as a third language or their native language?

Question 172

The [standard framework of cap and trade is fundamentally conservative, in which a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price a company must pay to pollute.] A) standard framework of cap and trade is fundamentally conservative, in which a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price a company must pay to pollute B) standard framework of cap and trade, a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price that companies must pay to pollute, is fundamentally conservative C) standard framework of cap and trade—a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price a company must pay to pollute—is, fundamentally, a conservative one D) fundamentally conservative standard framework of cap and trade is: a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price that a company must pay to pollute E) fundamentally conservative standard framework of cap and trade, in which a central body generally establishes a limit on the total amount of pollution that can be produced, allocates a certain number of permits, and then allows market forces to dictate the price that companies must pay to pollute

Answer 172

Ans C A is incorrect because of the placement of "in which" DON'T CHOOSE BLATANTLY WRONG ANSWERS --> RELOOK AT THE ANSWER CHOICES

Question 173

At the end of the Na Pali Coast Trail in Kauai is a gorgeous beach, which stretches on for a mile, and a waterfall that provides fresh water for the many people who camp there. A) is a gorgeous beach, which stretches on for a mile, and a waterfall that provides fresh water for the many people B) is a gorgeous beach, which stretches on for a mile, beside a waterfall that provides fresh water for the many C) there is a gorgeous beach stretching on for a mile and a waterfall that provides fresh water for many of the people D) there is a gorgeous beach stretching on for a mile and a waterfall providing fresh water for the many E) there is a gorgeous beach that stretches on for a mile beside a waterfall, providing fresh water for many of the people

Answer 173

B "at the end of the trail IS A" > no need for "there is" Should be SINGULAR object > "a gorgeous beach BESIDE" versus "a gorgeous beach AND a waterfall" "for the many" is okay

Question 174

The Emperor Augustus, it appears, commissioned an idealized sculptured portrait, the features of which are [so unrealistic as to constitute] what one scholar calls an “artificial face.” The Emperor Augustus, it appears, commissioned an idealized sculptured portrait, the features of which are [so unrealistic that they have constituted] what one scholar calls an “artificial face.”

Answer 174

First one Example of when "so...as to..." is correct Verb should be "constitute" (not "have constituted" - suggests the statute no longer has artificial features)

Question 175

The gyrfalcon, an Arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's. . a) extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than b) extinction; its numbers are now five times more than c) extinction, their numbers now fivefold what they were d) extinction, now with fivefold the numbers they had e) extinction, now with numbers five times greater than

Answer 175

Ans A: Comparison - comparing the gyrfalcon's numbers NOW to in the 1970s its numbers NOW are five times greater than WHEN... in the early 1970s Also singular "its" matches singular "gyrfalcon"

Question 176

At an orientation meeting, the travelers were told that [a visa, a landing card, and evidence of inoculation against typhoid fever would be needed by each of them.] At an orientation meeting, the travelers were told that [they would each need a visa, a landing card, and evidence of inoculation against typhoid fever .]

Answer 176

Second one Both are grammatically correct, however, active voice is preferred to passive voice Also "each of them" is redundant

Question 177

For the farmer who takes care to keep them cool, [providing them with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing] an average of 2,275 gallons of milk each per year. 700 level A. providing them with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing B. providing them with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, the Holstein cow produces C. provided with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing D. provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, the Holstein cow produces E. provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, Holstein cows will produce

Answer 177

Ans E > "will" is correct > "for the farmer who takes care to keep them cool, Holstein cows WILL produce ...." Split #1) Identify the subject of the opening modifier > should be PLURAL because of "them" Split #2) Structure of the modifier --> which is actually a LIST of actions done by the farmer > modifies Holstein cows > ensure parallelism > For the farmer who takes care to keep them: 1) cool; 2) provided with high-energy feed; 3) and milked regularly *Spot the list because of the COMMAS (comma and in this case is not the start of an independent sentence)

Question 178

Building large new hospitals in the bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources, on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone. A. on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone B. on the grounds of avoiding duplicated facilities alone C. solely in that duplicated facilities should be avoided D. while the duplication of facilities should be avoided E. if only because the duplication of facilities should be avoided

Answer 178

ANS E: > need an answer that would possibly explain why building large new hospitals in the area would constitute a wasteful use of resources >>> b/c a duplication of facilities should be avoided 1st stem: "duplicated facilities" < "duplication of facilities" > we care about the ACTION duplicating facilities, not duplicatED facilities (facilities that have already been duplicated) 2nd stem: is "while" correct? > no --> there is no contrast

Question 179

Several financial officers of the company spoke on condition that they not be named in the press reports. A. that they not be named B. that their names will not be used C. that their names are not used D. of not having their names E. of not naming them

Answer 179

Ans A > subjunctive tense is correct due to an element of MANDATE ("condition") + "that" > other answers (b and c) have a shift in verb tense (should be simple past)

Question 180

For many people, household labor remains demanding even if able to afford household appliances their grandparents would find a miracle. A. even if able to afford household appliances their grandparents would find a miracle B. despite being able to afford household appliances their grandparents would find a miracle C. even if they can afford household appliances their grandparents would have found miraculous D. although they could afford household appliances their grandparents would find miraculous E. even if they are able to afford household appliances which would have been a miracle to their grandparents

Answer 180

Ans C "would have found" is the best "can" is better than "are able to" "That" is not necessary (it is understood)

Question 181

Research during the past several decades on the nature of language and the processes that produce and make it understandable has revealed great complexity instead of underlying simplicity. A. that produce and make it understandable has revealed great complexity instead of underlying simplicity B. of producing and understanding it have revealed not underlying simplicity but great complexity C. by which it is produced and understood has revealed not underlying simplicity but great complexity D. by which it is produced and understood have revealed great complexity rather than underlying simplicity E. by which one produces and understands it have revealed great complexity instead of underlying simplicity

Answer 181

Ans A "instead of" is not automatically incorrect (two nouns here is ok) "understandable" versus "understood" "not underlying simplicity but great complexity" is vague "by which [the nature of language] is produced and understood" is illogical > INVERT "by" statement: the nature of language is produced and understood by processes

Question 182

In recent years cattle breeders have increasingly used crossbreeding, [in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics] and partly because crossbreeding is said to provide hybrid vigor. (A) in part that their steers should acquire certain characteristics (B) in part for the acquisition of certain characteristics in their steers (C) partly because of their steers acquiring certain characteristics (D) partly because certain characteristics should be acquired by their steers (E) partly to acquire certain characteristics in their steers

Answer 182

Ans E Parallelism - special type We need partly x and partly y > x and y need to be parallel in structure AND MEANING > unfortunately, ans C is not parallel in meaning, so it is wrong (despite the "because" parallelism) E is better and still maintains parallelism because of "party...partly" MEANING is to explain why cattle breeders have increasingly used crossbreeding Also "acquired by" is off (steers or cattle cannot acquire certain characteristics on their own).

Question 183

Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends on whether the changes that their management has proposed will be fully implemented. (A) Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends on whether the changes that their management has proposed will be fully implemented. (B) Whether they scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or whether they discontinue their business with us altogether depends on the changes their management has proposed, if fully implemented or not. (C) Their either scaling back their orders in the future to pre-2003 levels, or their outright termination of business with us, depends on their management’s proposed changes being fully implemented or not. (D) Whether they will scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels or stop doing business with us altogether depends if the changes that their management has proposed become fully implemented. (E) They will either scale back their orders to pre-2003 levels, or they will stop doing business with us altogether dependent on whether the changes their management has proposed will be fully implemented, or not.

Answer 183

Ans A Whether X or Y ---> parallelism Idiom: Depends ON > don't need to repeat whether (becomes redundant)

Question 184

Medicare, the United States government’s health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, covers the full cost of home health care, but not with other nonhospital services where 20 percent of the costs must be paid by beneficiaries. A. but not with other nonhospital services where 20 percent of the costs must be paid by beneficiaries B. but not of other nonhospital services, making beneficiaries pay 20 percent of the costs C. but not of other nonhospital services, for which beneficiaries must pay 20 percent of the costs D. which is unlike other nonhospital services in that 20 percent of the costs must be paid by beneficiaries E. which is unlike other nonhospital services that make beneficiaries pay 20 percent of the costs

Answer 184

Ans is C Between B and C (both maintain parallelism: "covers the full cost of x, but not of y") "making beneficiaries pay 20 percent of the costs" modifies the entire previous clause, "Medicare covers the full cost..." > meaning is illogical > what "makes" beneficiaries pay 20 percent of the costs? Medicare or the action Medicare engages in? "which" modifies "nonhospital services" (relative pronoun can be used to refer to both plural and singular subjects.

Question 185

Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) was unprecedented in its firsthand accounts of the indignities suffered by women and because it was eloquent and passionate in exposing and criticizing these indignities. A. and because it was eloquent and passionate in exposing and criticizing B. and in that it was eloquent and passionate when exposing and criticizing C. as well as the eloquence and passion it had in exposing and criticizing D. and in the eloquence and passion with which it exposed and criticized E. but also its eloquent and passionate exposure and criticism of

Answer 185

Ans D First split: Parallelism > "...was unprecedented IN x and IN y" > x and y are nouns Between C and D: > "as well as" is incorrect because there is no leading verb in the stem: "...was unprecedented" has no leading verb An example of a correct use of "as well as": The speculative bubbles INCLUDE x, y, and z, AS WELL AS w. "with which" --> "which" refers to "eloquence and passion" > the author used eloquence and passion to expose and criticize these indignities. e.g., I need a reliable car with which I can get to work every day. > The pronoun "which" refers back to "a reliable car

Question 186

For many revisionist historians, Christopher Columbus has come to personify [devastation and enslavement in the name of progress that has decimated native peoples of the Western Hemisphere.] For many revisionist historians, Christopher Columbus has come to personify [the devastation and enslavement in the name of progress that have decimated native peoples of the Western Hemisphere.]

Answer 186

Second one Meaning problem Identify the correct subject that gets modified by "that has/have decimated the native peoples..." > you need "the" > Columbus has come to personify THE X and Y THAT HAVE decimated... "In the name of progress" is just a prep phrase and is NOT the main subject "progress" did not decimate the native peoples; "the devastation and enslavement" decimated native peoples.

Question 187

Species - Plural or Singular

Answer 187

Can be both - depending on the context (see non-underlined verb) e.g., "a rare species of mistletoe PRODUCES x..."

Question 188

Trans World Entertainment Corporation, which owns the Record Town and Saturday Matinee retail chains, announced [that since sales of up to one-fourth of its stores are poor, they will be closed] [it was closing up to one fourth of its stores because of poor sales.]

Answer 188

Second one Exception to the rule that we need "that" First one has too many other problems: > ambiguity ("they" refers to what?) > "sales of up to one-fourth of its stores" is odd and unclear

Question 189

More than fifty years after the Second World War, a number of African American soldiers were awarded ― some of them posthumously ― [with the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nation’s highest military award, and which was long overdue in] recognition of their outstanding bravery. A. with the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nation’s highest military award, and which was long overdue in B. with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for long-overdue C. the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nation’s highest military award, long-overdue in D. the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for long-overdue E. the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, in long-overdue

Answer 189

Ans E Between C and D: First split: modifier of the Honor > "which WAS the nation's highest military award" suggests that the award is NO LONGER in existence > better to say "the nation's highest military award" Second split: placement of "long-overdue" > correct idiom is: IN recognition of > "long-overdue" should modify RECOGNITION (and be placed right before recognition)

Question 190

Providing initial evidence that airports are a larger source of pollution than they were once believed to be, environmentalists in Chicago report that the total amount of pollutant emitted annually by vehicles at O’Hare International Airport is twice [as much as that which is being emitted annually by all] motor vehicles in the Chicago metropolitan area. A. as much as that which is being emitted annually by all B. as much annually as is emitted by the C. as much compared to what is annually emitted by all D. that emitted annually by all E. that emitted annually compared to the

Answer 190

Ans D Between B and D: The placement of "annually" in B is awkward. It should be: > "the total amount of pollutant emitted annually by vehicles at the airport is TWICE AS MUCH AS is emitted ANNUALLY by the motor vehicles in Chicago" "that" correctly refers to "the amount of pollutant"

Question 191

The discovery that Earth’s inner [core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth’s magnetic field.] (A) core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth’s magnetic field (B) core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of how heat from the inner core flows through the outer planet, and the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth’s magnetic field (C) core rotates independently and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers are responsible for advancing studies of how heat from the inner core flows through the outer planet, and how Earth’s magnetic field forms and the periodic reversal of its direction (D) core, rotating independently and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers, are responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet, and the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth’s magnetic field (E) core, rotating independently of and more quickly than Earth’s outer layers, is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of how Earth’s magnetic field forms and the periodic reversal of its direction

Answer 191

Ans A Between A and B: correct singular verb "is" to match "discovery" Parallelism: And versus Comma And > better in A: "is responsible for advancing studies OF x AND OF y" > B has "comma and" which suggests a new independent clause, but one does not exist.

Question 192

The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft will orbit the asteroid Eros for a year, slowly moving closer to the surface of the object [to make ever more precise measurements that scientists hope will enable them] to understand how the solar system formed some four billion years ago. (A) to make ever more precise measurements that scientists hope will enable them to (B) to make ever more and more precise measurements, which scientists are hoping to enable them (C) for making ever more precise measurements, and scientists hope that they will be able to (D) with the purpose of making more precise measurements than ever, and which scientists hope will enable them to (E) in order to make more precise measurements than it ever did, and scientists are hoping they will be able to

Answer 192

First one "ever more" is an acceptable idiomatic expression = "more and more" = "increasingly" "comma and" is inappropriate here because there are NOT two separate things going on.

Question 193

In 1850 Lucretia Mott published her Discourse on Women, [arguing in a treatise for women to have equal political and legal rights] and for changes in the married women’s property laws. A. arguing in a treatise for women to have equal political and legal rights B. arguing in a treatise for equal political and legal rights for women C. a treatise that advocates women’s equal political and legal rights D. a treatise advocating women’s equal political and legal rights E. a treatise that argued for equal political and legal rights for women

Answer 193

E 1st split Parallelism: For X AND for Y 2nd split: placement of "treatise" > better used in a noun + noun modifier than in -ing modifier ---> right after the name of the work > "in a treatise" is AMBIGUOUS

Question 194

According to recent studies comparing the nutritional value of meat from wild animals and meat from domesticated animals, [wild animals have less total fat than do livestock fed on grain and more of a kind of fat they think is] good for cardiac health. (A) wild animals have less total fat than do livestock fed on grain and more of a kind of fat they think is (B) wild animals have less total fat than livestock fed on grain and more of a kind of fat thought to be (C) wild animals have less total fat than that of livestock fed on grain and have more fat of a kind thought to be (D) total fat of wild animals is less than livestock fed on grain and they have more fat of a kind thought to be (E) total fat is less in wild animals than that of livestock fed on grain and more of their fat is of a kind they think is

Answer 194

Ans B Between B and C: (no pronoun error, correct "thought to be") "more of a kind of fat" is better than "more fat of a kind" > e.g., "have more of a TYPE of fat" Comparison is better in B: B compares "wild animals" to "livestock fed on grain" C compares "wild animals" to "the total fat" > also might imply that wild animals have less total fat than THE TOTAL FAT OF livestock fed on grain (do wild animals have the same type of fat as livestock fed on grain?) Alternative way to say this: the total fat in wild animals is less THAN THAT OF (the total fat) livestock fed on grain.

Question 195

In his experiments with gravity, Isaac Newton showed how the motion of each planet in the solar system results from the combined gravitational pull of the Sun and of all the other planets, each contributing according to their mass and distance from the others. (A) of all the other planets, each contributing according to their (B) of all the other planets, with each of them contributing according to their (C) all the other planets, each of which contributing according to its (D) all the other planets, each contributing according to its (E) all the other planets, each of which contribute according to their

Answer 195

Ans D Between A and D > both have parallelism > however, "each" is SINGULAR and should have "its", not "their" "each of them" is redundant C is missing a working verb - "each of which CONTRIBUTED according to its"

Question 196

Most of Portugal's 250,000 university students boycotted classes in a one-day strike to protest a law that requires them to contribute $330 a year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year. A. year toward the cost of higher education, previously paying $7 per year B. year toward the cost of higher education, for which was previously paid $7 per year C. year, compared to the previously $7 per year, toward the cost of higher education D. year toward the cost of higher education, instead of the $7 per year required previously E. year as opposed to the $7 per year required previously for the cost of higher education

Answer 196

Ans D Comparisons "previously" is an ADVERB that should modifies anything OTHER THAN NOUN > "previously paid", "required previously" x instead of y IS CORRECT if x and y are nouns (including noun modifiers) B is missing a subject in the modifier > who previously paid $7 a year?

Question 197

Most insomnia is not [an illness or a physical condition so much as a symptom of another problem that may simply be a reaction to certain medications,] anxiety about travel, or stress before a job interview. A. an illness or a physical condition so much as a symptom of another problem that may simply be a reaction to certain medications B. an illness or a physical condition so much as symptomatic of another problem that may be a simple one, like a reaction caused by certain medications C. so much an illness or a physical condition but a symptom of another problem that may be as simple as when certain medications cause a reaction D. so much an illness or a physical condition, but it is a symptom of another problem, maybe a simple one like certain medications causing a reaction E. so much an illness or a physical condition but symptomatic of another problem, maybe simply a reaction to certain medications

Answer 197

Ans A Parallelism in the LIST: Nouns > "a symptom of another problem that may simply be A REACTION to certain medications, ANXIETY about travel, or STRESS before a job interview" Idiom: Not X But y --> THIS IS NOT THIS TYPE Correct idiom: "Not SO MUCH x AS y"

Question 198

[Rising rents in the neighborhood have forced nearly half of the small independent businesses to cease operations there, with some relocating to other parts of the city and others simply going] out of business. [Relocating to other parts of the city, nearly half of the small independent businesses have been forced by the neighborhood's rising rents to cease operations there or to go] out of business.

Answer 198

First one MEANING issue Both sentences are grammatically correct > Parallelism maintained: "with some RELOCATING to other parts of the city and others simply GOING out of business" > "forced...TO CEASE operations there OR TO GO out of business" However, the second statement changes the meaning > implies that nearly half of the businesses have either ceased operations or went out of business, and BOTH such businesses have relocated to the city > This is incorrect --> nearly half of the small independent businesses have CEASED OPERATIONS in the neighborhood (there) - some of which relocated to other parts of the city and others went out of business.

Question 199

One study found that although government policy and the industrial sector in which a company operates can influence its productivity and financial strength, [management decisions have at least as great an impact] on a company’s performance. (A) management decisions have at least as great an impact (B) decisions by management have a great impact (C) manager decisions impact greatly (D) decisions by a company’s management impact greatly (E) what a company’s management decides has a greater impact

Answer 199

Ans A Between A and B MEANING > The text seeks to state that management decisions have at least AS great an impact AS other factors (follow the meaning of the original sentence) Do we need : As...As? > in this case, the second "as" is IMPLIED in answer A. > so we don't need the second as because we ALREADY INTRODUCED the comparison items (government policy and the industrial sector)

Question 200

The three women, liberal activists who strongly support legislation in favor of civil rights and environmental protection, [have consistently received labor’s unqualifying support.] A. have consistently received labor’s unqualifying support B. are consistently receiving the unqualifying support of labor C. have consistently received the unqualified support of labor D. receive consistent and unqualified support by labor E. are receiving consistent and unqualified support by labor

Answer 200

Ans C Split #1) by labor vs of labor vs labor's > "by labor" is awkward > e.g., "I have received the support of the student body" Split #2) Unqualifying vs unqualified > "qualified" = weakened or diminished > "unqualified" = unconditional > "unqualifying" is wrong Split #3) Are vs Have > Have consistently received makes the most sense (meaning) --> follow the original sentence's meaning

Question 201

Researchers agreed that the study of new treatments for heart attack patients was extremely important but [more research was needed to determine that balloon angioplasty preceded with ultrasound was or was not any better for heart attack patients than] the balloon procedure by itself (A) more research was needed to determine that balloon angioplasty preceded with ultrasound was or was not any better for heart attack patients than (B) more research was needed for determining whether or not balloon angioplasty preceded by ultrasound is any better for heart attack patients than is (C) that more research was needed to determine whether balloon angioplasty preceded by ultrasound is any better for heart attack patients than (D) that more research was needed to determine that balloon angioplasty preceded with ultrasound was any better for heart attack patients than (E) that more research was needed for determining that balloon angioplasty preceded by ultrasound is or is not any better for heart attack patients than is

Answer 201

Ans C Between B and C > both have correct parallelism (x but y) ---> "that" is better though > comparisons are both OK ("is" isn't necessary) B is redundant -> do not need "whether OR NOT" "Determine That" changes the meaning of the sentence (we do not know whether one procedure is better than another procedure) "Preceded by" is correct (not "preceded with") "For determining" is weird

Question 202

[By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them] disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco. (A) By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them (B) With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are (C) Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are (D) Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them (E) Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

Answer 202

Ans C Opening modifier's subject = "researchers" Between C and E MEANING problem > Ans C is very clear what the techniques are - the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants > E is off - suggests that the researchers used the same techniques ON genetically enhanced plants > "them" is also vague - techniques or the plants? > should be "same techniques used TO GENETICALLY ENHANCE" e.g., employing the same techniques for high school courses, I memorized flash cards in university. --> suggests that someone is using the same strategies for BOTH high school courses and university courses.

Question 203

Written in ink or engraved by stylus, more than 2,000 letters and documents on wooden tablets excavated at the site of the old roman fort at Vindolanda in northern England are yielding a historical account of the military garrison in the first and second centuries that [are so vivid in their details about personal life as they are] from Pompeii (A) are so vivid in their details about personal life as they are (B) are as vivid in their details of personal life as those gathered (C) is as vivid in their detail about personal life as that gathered (D) is as vivid in its details of personal life as that gathered (E) is so vivid in its details of personal life as is that

Answer 203

Ans D Subject-verb agreement in number "a historical account" is modified by "that..." ---> SINGULAR SUBJECT (ignore the -Of phrase) > "is as vivid" > "its" > "that" = "the historical account" "as...as" is correct comparison marker

Question 204

According to a recent survey of municipal services, the city`s streets could be cleaner, its fire code [be better enforced, and its crime rate reduced] if the current administration improved its management practices. A. be better enforced, and its crime rate reduced B. better enforced, and its crime rate reduced C. could be better enforced, and it could reduce its crime rate D. better enforced, and its crime rate could reduce E. could be better enforced, and its crime rate reduced

Answer 204

Ans B > best maintains parallelism > omissions of "could be" is OK "the city's streets could be cleaner, its fire [could be] better enforced, and its crime rate [could be] reduced" > the first item in the list SETS THE STRUCTURE

Question 205

[More than 300 rivers drain into Siberia's Lake Baikal, which holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water, more than all the North American Great Lakes combined.] (A) More than 300 rivers drain into Siberia's Lake Baikal, which holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water, more than all the North American Great Lakes combined. (B) With 20 percent of the world's fresh water, that is more than all the North American Great Lakes combined, Siberia's Lake Baikal has more than 300 rivers that drain into it. (C) Siberia's Lake Baikal, with more than 300 rivers draining into it, it holds more of the world's fresh water than all that of the North American Great Lakes combined, 20 percent. (D) While more than 300 rivers drain into it, Siberia's Lake Baikal holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water, which is more than all the North American Great Lakes combined. (E) More than all the North American Great Lakes combined, Siberia's Lake Baikal, with more than 300 rivers draining into it, holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water.

Answer 205

Meaning Problem - multiple MODIFIERS Ans A: > "which holds 20 percent of the world's fresh water" correctly modifies Lake Baikal > "more than all the North American Great Lakes combined" should modify "20 percent" (saying the percentage of fresh water in Lake Baikal is greater than all the fresh water in North American Great Lakes combined) NOT E > Lake Baikal is NOT more than all the North American Great Lakes combined

Question 206

The Acoma and Hopi are probably the two oldest surviving Pueblo communities, [both dating] back at least a thousand years. (A) both dating (B) both of which have dated (C) and each has dated (D) and each one dating (E) each one of which date

Answer 206

Subgroup modifiers Ans A NOT "and each has dated" (C) > independent clause (comma and) > subject: each [community] > Error: "has dated back at..." --> should be "WAS dated" or "has BEEN dated"

Question 207

[The United States petroleum industry’s cost to meet environmental regulations is projected at ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum by the end of the decade.] (A) The United States petroleum industry’s cost to meet environmental regulations is projected at ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum by the end of the decade. (B) The United States petroleum industry’s cost by the end of the decade to meet environmental regulations is estimated at ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum. (C) By the end of the decade, the United States petroleum industry’s cost of meeting environmental regulations is projected at ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum. (D) To meet environmental regulations, the cost to the United States petroleum industry is estimated at ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum by the end of the decade. (E) It is estimated that by the end of the decade the cost to the United States petroleum industry of meeting environmental regulations will be ten percent of the price per barrel of refined petroleum.

Answer 207

Meaning and idioms Ans E > "estimated TO BE" or "projected TO BE" (not AT) > "will" correctly implies FUTURE TENSE > similar to: "It is expected that..will" A problem: > "by the end of the decade" is placed at an ambiguous spot B problem: > "cost" is TOO FAR AWAY from "environmental regulations" D has an opening modifier subject problem

Question 208

A consortium of historically Black colleges in the United States, [capitalizing on such schools' traditionally rich relationships with African nations,] integrates African concerns into an international business study. A. capitalizing on such schools' traditionally rich relationships with African nations B. while capitalizing on the traditionally rich relationships of such schools and African nations C. through capitalizing on such schools' and African nations' traditionally rich relationships D. which capitalize on the traditionally rich relationships of such schools and African nations E. in capitalizing on such schools' and African nations' traditionally rich relationship

Answer 208

Ans A "such schools' traditionally rich relationships with African nations" makes the most sense and is the clearest > "such" = these > relationshipS (plural because we have multiple schools and nations) > "with" signals that there is only ONE relationship to focus on (rather than "and") Also concise - no "in capitalizing" or "through capitalizing"

Question 209

In 1994 the white house named Dr Ruth R. Faden chairperson of the federal advisory committee of experts [they assigned to do] a report on the history and ethics of the government’s radiation experiments on humans in the 1950’s and 1960’s . (A) they assigned to do (B) to be assigned doing (C) that was being assigned doing (D) assigned for doing (E) it assigned to do

Answer 209

Ans E Noun + Noun Modifier: "committee of experts ASSIGNED TO do" (not "for doing") "It" matches "the white house" (not "committee") > "it" is NOT AMBIGUOUS because of parallelism --> the white house NAMED ... and IT ASSIGNED

Question 210

Unearthed in China, fossils of feathered dinosaurs [offer the most dramatic evidence yet discovered of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds.] A. offer the most dramatic evidence yet discovered of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds B. offer evidence more dramatic than what has yet been discovered of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds C. offer more dramatic evidence of the close evolutionary relationship than any yet discovered between dinosaurs and birds D. have offered the most dramatic evidence of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds that have yet been discovered E. have offered more dramatic evidence than any that has yet been discovered of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds

Answer 210

Ans A "Yet discovered" is correct > "Yet" can mean: "So far" or "even still" Modifiers should be placed nearby "of the close evolutionary relationship between dinosaurs and birds" "offer" (simple present tense) is the clearest

Question 211

So called green taxes, which exact a price for the use of polluting or nonrenewable fuels, are having a positive effect on the environment and natural resource base of countries [as varied as] China, the Netherlands, and Hungary. (A) as varied as (B) as varied as are (C) as varied as those of (D) that are as varied as (E) that are varied as are

Answer 211

Ans A MEANING - what are you COMPARING? > modifying "COUNTRIES" Countries as varied as ___ (should be countries) A is more concise than D "as varied as x,y,z" = provides examples of varied things e.g., I like fruits as varied as apples, bananas, and oranges --> examples of varied fruits

Question 212

A study on couples' retirement transitions found that women who took new jobs after retiring from their primary careers reported high marital satisfaction, [more so than those who retired] completely. (A) more so than those who retired (B) which was more than if they had retired (C) more than when retiring (D) more than if they were to retire (E) which was more so than those retiring

Answer 212

Ans A Comparisons Satisfaction among women who took new jobs after retiring vs among women who retired completely B, C, D are all hypotheticals E has incorrect placement of "more so" and verb tense (retiring)

Question 213

[The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.] (A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate. (B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. (C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. (D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. (E) Scientists’ ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.

Answer 213

Ans C GENERALLY meaning in A is correct HOWEVER this an exception to that rule (first get rid of CLEAR GRAMMAR VIOLATIONS) What is being more accurate? Scientists' ability or models? > models

Question 214

Diesel engines burn as much as 30% less fuel than gasoline engines [of comparable size, as well as emitting far less carbon dioxide gas and far fewer of the other gasses that have been] implicated in global warming. (A) of comparable size, as well as emitting far less carbon dioxide gas and far fewer of the other gasses that have (B) of comparable size, as well as emit far less carbon dioxide gas and far fewer of the other gasses having (C) of comparable size, and also they emit far fewer carbon dioxide and other gasses that have (D) that have a comparable size, and also they emit far fewer of the other gasses having (E) that have a comparable size, as well as emitting far fewer of the other gasses having

Answer 214

Ans A "less" = carbon dioxide (uncountable) "fewer" = counts number of the other gasses WE NEED "that have" to modify "other gasses", NOT "having" (missing cause-effect) "As well as" can take a noun or -ing verb ** Need to mention "carbon dioxide" in order to say "other gasses" "and also" is redundant.

Question 215

First discovered more than 30 years ago, Lina's sunbird, a four-and-a-half-inch animal [found in the Philippines and that resembles] a hummingbird, has shimmering metallic colors on its head; a brilliant orange patch, bordered with red tufts, in the center of its breast; and a red eye. (A) found in the Philippines and that resembles (B) found in the Philippines and that, resembling (C) found in the Philippines and resembling (D) that is found in the Philippines and it resembles (E) that is found in the Philippines, resembling

Answer 215

Ans C We need to find the correct modifier of "sunbird" > try to invert and place the modifier at the opening position e.g., Found in the Philippines and resembling a hummingbird, Lina's sunbird .... (both "found" and "resembling" modify/describe sunbird --> parallelism is maintained in meaning!) A is incorrect --> "that resembles" is NOT parallel > would have been "animal that is found in the Philippines and that resembles a hummingbird"

Question 216

Because she knew many of the leaders of colonial America and the American Revolution personally, Mercy Otis Warren was continually at or near the center of political events from 1765 to 1789, [a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make her] one of the most valuable historians of the era. (A) a vantage point combining with her talent for writing to make (B) a vantage point, when combined with her talent for writing, that made (C) a vantage point that combined with her talent for writing, and it made (D) and this vantage point, which combined with her talent for writing to make (E) and this vantage point, combined with her talent for writing, made

Answer 216

Ans E NOT B because of a meaning problem "When combined" seems to present a CONDITION, distorting the meaning "this vantage point" is not vague because it clearly refers to the preceding CLAUSE Parallelism is maintained in E (comma and to introduce an independent clause)

Question 217

Employment costs rose 2.8 percent in the 12 months that ended in September, slightly [less than they did] in the year that ended in the previous quarter. A. less than they did B. less than it did C. less than they were D. lower than E. lower than they were

Answer 217

Ans A Comparisons and modifiers > we are modifying the PERCENT BY WHICH EMPLOYMENT COSTS ROSE [Employment costs rose] slightly LESS THAN [they = employment costs] did [rose] in the year that ended in the previous quarter It is incorrect to say "employment costs rose...slightly lower"

Question 218

A recently published report indicates that the salaries of teachers continue to lag far behind [other college-educated professionals, because they make an average of nearly $8,000 a year less at the start of their careers and almost $24,000 less a yea]r by the time they reach the age of 50. A. other college-educated professionals, because they make an average of nearly $8,000 a year less at the start of their careers and almost $24,000 less B. other college-educated professionals, by an average of nearly $8,000 a year at the start of their careers, to almost $24,000 C. what other college-educated professionals are paid—making an average of nearly $8,000 a year less at the start of their careers and almost $24,000 less D. those of other college-educated professionals—by an average of nearly $8,000 a year at the start of their careers to almost $24,000 less E. those of other college-educated professionals—by an average of nearly $8,000 a year at the start of their careers, and by almost $24,000

Answer 218

Ans E Comparison --> salaries vs salaries --> need relative pronoun "those" Between D and E: > "to" is incorrect (missing From x to y structure) > "less" is redundant when we have already specified "lag"

Question 219

[As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful], since it is primarily prescriptions that attract the customers, who then also buy other health-related items. (A) As it is with traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful (B) As with the case of traditional pharmacies, on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to have success (C) As is the case with traditional pharmacies, prescriptions are the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore (D) As traditional pharmacies, so on-line drugstores rely on prescriptions to be successful (E) Like traditional pharmacies, the cornerstone of a successful on-line drugstore is prescriptions

Answer 219

Ans C "As is the case with traditional pharmacies" indicates SIMILARITY > parallelism in verbs is maintained (is...area) A has a vague pronoun "it" (refers to an entire clause rather than a noun) B isn't a clause ("with" is prep phrase)

Question 220

The use of chemical pesticides in this country is [equally extensive or more so than ten years ago.] (A) equally extensive or more so than ten years ago (B) equal to or more extensive than ten years ago (C) as extensive as ten years ago or more (D) equal to, if not more, than ten years ago (E) as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more so

Answer 220

Comparisons ("than") Comparing the USE of chemicals currently versus the USE of chemicals tens years ago. A, B, C, D have improper comparison E is correct "So" is a clausal substitution (presuppose an entire clause) e.g., ... as extensive as it was ten years ago, if not more [extensive than it was tens years ago]

Question 221

Since the end of the [recently extended recession, prices for all of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including niche agricultural goods such as orange juice and cheese, have been rising to five-year high levels.] A. recently extended recession, prices for all of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including niche agricultural goods such as orange juice and cheese, have been rising to five-year high levels. B. recently extended recession, prices for each of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including niche agricultural goods such as orange juice and cheese, rose to five-year highs. C. recent, extended recession, prices for all of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including that of such niche agricultural goods as orange juice and cheese, have risen to five-year high levels. D. recent, extended recession, prices for each of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including niche agricultural goods such as orange juice and cheese, rose to five-year highs. E. recent, extended recession, prices for each of the major commodities sold at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, including such niche agricultural goods as orange juice and cheese, have risen to five-year highs.

Answer 221

Ans E Testing: > modifiers > subject-verb agreement and tenses 1st split: "recently extended" versus "recent, extended" > Meaning matches "recent, extended" --> the most recent recession was long > "recently extended" incorrectly suggests that the recession that is going on had been extended. However, the non-underlined portion says the recession had "ended" > "-ly" is an adverb that modifies NON-NOUNS, such as ADJECTIVES ("extended") 2nd split: "all" versus "each" > better to use "each", however there is not really a big difference (not the subject) > if unsure, see third split 3rd split: "including..." versus "including that of" > "that of" is singular and incorrectly refers to prices or commodities (unclear) > without pronoun, "such as" provides examples of the nearest plural noun = "commodities" 4th split: "have risen" versus "rose" > "since..." + "have risen" works best (present perfect tense - indicates that an action continues into the present) > "rose" is past tense

Question 222

Among the objects found in the excavated temple were small terra-cotta effigies left by supplicants who were either asking the goddess Bona Dea's aid [in healing physical and mental ills or thanking her for such help] (A) in healing physical and mental ills or thanking her for such help (B) in healing physical and mental ills and to thank her for helping (C) in healing physical and mental ills, and thanking her for helping (D) to heal physical and mental ills or to thank her for such help (E) to heal physical and mental ills or thanking her for such help

Answer 222

Ans A Split #1: Either X OR Y Split #2: "aid in healing" vs. "aid to heal" Idiom > Preferred idiom: "aid IN -ing"; "help IN -ing" > "aid/help TO verb" is not the preferred idiom

Question 223

Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand [that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.] (A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character (B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid (C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics (D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid (E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

Answer 223

Ans B Between A and B ("so saturated...as to acquire" vs. "so saturated...that it acquires") > both are idioms "So...as to acquire" could mean LIKELY TO BE TRUE ABOUT THE PRECEDING SUBJECT (vs. "so...that" = an action that actually happens) > in this case, sand is so saturated with water THAT it actually acquires the character of a liquid Also "to acquire" suggests INTENTION on the subject (sand) to acquire character of a liquid - this is wrong C is wrong > implies that sand is saturated with water that acquires liquid characteristics (literal meaning) D is wrong > "so as to acquire" = "in order to" E is wrong > wrong idiom

Question 224

The yield of natural gas from Norway's Troll gas field is expected to increase annually until the year [2005 and then to stabilize at six billion cubic feet a day, which will allow such an extraction rate at least for] 50 years' production. A. 2005 and then to stabilize at six billion cubic feet a day, which will allow such an extraction rate at least for B. 2005 and then to stabilize at six billion cubic feet a day, an extraction rate that will allow at least C. 2005 and then stabilizing at six billion cubic feet a day, with such an extraction rate at the least allowing D. 2005, then stabilizing at six billion cubic feet a day, allowing such an extraction rate for at least E. 2005, then stabilizing at six billion cubic feet a day, which will allow such an extraction rate for at least

Answer 224

Ans B Question: Should the meaning be based off of the original sentence (e.g., stable extraction rate for at least 50 years' production) or change meaning (e.g., extraction rate will allow at least 50 years' production)? > usually the original meaning is correct, UNLESS the meaning doesn't make any sense (like in this case) Split #1: Parallelism > "The yield...is expected TO INCREASE ... AND then TO STABILIZE" --> A or B Split #2: Meaning > extraction rate is expected to increase annually until 2005 > From 2005 onwards, the extraction rate will stabilize, lasting for 50 years > B best captures this meaning > "which" refers to "six billion cubic feet a day". It is incorrect to say the extraction rate will allow such an extraction at least for 50 years' production > better to use noun + noun modifier

Question 225

Which one is correct? (even though both are wrong in the context of the question) There was one-third of mothers with young children in 1997. There were one-third of mothers with young children in 1997

Answer 225

Second one > subject is the NOUN = "mothers" = plural = "were" > subject is NOT "one-third" (modifier)

Question 226

Prairie dogs live in tight-knit colonies, called coteries, [of roughly a dozen of them, that consist of several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that tend to switch coteries frequently, and their new pups.] (A) of roughly a dozen of them, that consist of several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that tend to switch coteries frequently, and their new pups. (B) of roughly a dozen animals, each with several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that switch coteries frequently, and their new pups. (C) that have roughly a dozen of them, with several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that tend to switch coteries frequently, and the females’ new pups. (D) of roughly a dozen, consisting of several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that tend to switch coteries frequently, and the females’ new pups. (E) with roughly a dozen animals, each coterie includes several breeding females that often stay together for their entire lives, one or two breeding males that tend to switch coteries frequently, and the females’ new pups.

Answer 226

BETWEEN D and E, ans is D > if something is BLATANTLY wrong (e.g., comma splice), then eliminate the answer choice > if something is meh, keep it in as a contender Split #1: Ambiguous pronoun "them" > could refer to colonies (makes no sense) or prairie dogs Split #2: Ambiguous pronoun "their" in "their new pups" > could refer to "males" or "coteries" Split #3: "of roughly a dozen" vs " with roughly a dozen animals" > "of ..." is preferred to "with ..." (idiom) > it is OK that D is missing "animals" Split #4: Comma splice in ans E > "each coteries includes ..." is an independent sentence > different from "each of which includes..." = sub group modifier

Question 227

[There are no legal limits, as there are for cod and haddock, on the size of monkfish that can be caught, a circumstance that contributes to their depletion through overfishing.] (A) There are no legal limits, as there are for cod and haddock, on the size of monkfish that can be caught, a circumstance that contributes to their depletion through overfishing. (B) There are no legal limits on the size of monkfish that can be caught, unlike cod or haddock, a circumstance that contributes to depleting them because they are being overfished. (C) There are legal limits on the size of cod and haddock that can be caught, but not for monkfish, which contributes to its depletion through overfishing. (D) Unlike cod and haddock, there are no legal size limits on catching monkfish, which contributes to its depletion by being overfished. (E) Unlike catching cod and haddock, there are no legal size limits on catching monkfish, contributing to their depletion because they are overfished.

Answer 227

Comparisons and modifiers E is WRONG: Opening modifier subject must match > "Unlike catching cod and haddock, CATCHING MONKFISH ...." Ans A: > "as there are for cod and haddock" = "as the legal limits for cod and haddock" > "their" = plural = "monkfish"

Question 228

During the past 50 years, the number of farms in the United States [has plummeted from well over six million to little more than a third of that.] A) has plummeted from well over six million to little more than a third of that B) has plummeted from well over six million farms to little more than a third of that number of farms C) has plummeted from well over six million to a little more than a third of six million farms D) have plummeted from well over six million to little more than one third of it E) have plummeted from well over six million to a little bit more than one third of it

Answer 228

Ans A Split #1) "has" vs "have" > "the number of farms" = singular = "has" Split #2) "six million" vs " six million farms" > "farms" is not necessary because we are discussing the NUMBER OF FARMS (e.g., six million) Split #3) "to little more than a third of that" vs "to a little more than a third of..." > first one is more concise ("that" replaces singular "six million" figure)

Question 229

[A proposed law would require citizens to bring photo ID to polling places when they vote to curb potential fraud.] (A) A proposed law would require citizens to bring photo ID to polling places when they vote to curb potential fraud. (B) To curb potential fraud, a proposed law would require citizens to bring photo ID to polling places when they vote. (C) A proposed law will require citizens to curb potential fraud by bringing photo ID to polling places when they vote. (D) A proposed law will curb potential fraud by requiring citizens to vote at polling places with photo ID. (E) To curb potential fraud, a proposed law requires citizens to bring photo ID to polling places when they vote.

Answer 229

Ans B > question is about modifiers, specifically opening modifiers > make sure LITERAL MEANING is logical !!! > Typically opening modifier with "To + verb" is PREFERRED when the subject follows immediately! > unsure about "would require" vs "will require" vs "requires" ----> since the proposed law has NOT YET been implemented, the CONDITIONAL form works best = "would require" NOT D - meaning problem > suggests that the proposed law would require citizens to vote USING PHOTO ID or at polling place that have photo ID NOT C - meaning problem > suggests that the proposed law would REQUIRE CITIZENS TO CURB POTENTIAL FRAUD, vs the intent of the law is to curb potential fraud ** NOT A - meaning problem > "when they vote to curb potential fraud" could suggest that citizens are voting on a policy whether to curb potential fraud or not Between B and E: "would require" is better than "requires" > the law has NOT YET been implemented yet, so you cannot use present tense "requires"

Question 230

Many experts regarded the increase in credit card borrowing in March not as a sign that households were pressed for cash and forced to borrow, [rather a sign of confidence by households that they could safely handle new debt] A. rather a sign of confidence by households that they could safely B. yet as a sign of households' confidence that it was safe for them to C. but a sign of confidence by households that they could safely D. but as a sign that households were confident they could safely E. but also as a sign that households were confident in their ability safely to

Answer 230

Ans D: NOT x BUT y parallelism ...not AS a sign, but AS a sign > you don't need to insert "that" between two independent clauses when it is not imperative for the meaning > typically only need "that" is needed for subordinate clauses (e.g., a sign THAT ....) Parallelism error is much more severe than omitting "that"

Question 231

During the tenure of Steve Jobs, [which was memorable as much for his dictatorial management style as for his groundbreaking product innovations, the growth of Apple exceeded any] large technology company in the world. (A) which was memorable as much for his dictatorial management style as for his groundbreaking product innovations, the growth of Apple exceeded any (B) memorable both for his dictatorial management style and his groundbreaking product innovations, the growth of Apple was exceeded by that of no other (C) who was memorable for his dictatorial management style and his groundbreaking product innovations, the growth of Apple exceeded that of any (D) who was memorable as much for his dictatorial management style as for his groundbreaking product innovations, Apple exceeded every other (E) which was memorable as much for his dictatorial management style as for his groundbreaking product innovations, the growth of Apple exceeded that of any other

Answer 231

Ans E > exception to the "touch rule" --> "which" can reach behind prep phrases (-of) Split #1: "which" vs "who" > "which" modifies "tenure", NOT Steve Jobs Split #2: "growth of Apple exceeded any" vs "growth of apple exceed that of any" > comparisons - need "that of" to compare growths Split #3: "any large technology company" vs "any other" > when comparing two things, need "other"

Question 232

[The nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus.] (A) The nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus. (B) To the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote two letters, being the only eyewitness accounts of the great eruption of Vesuvius. (C) The only eyewitness account is in two letters by the nephew of Pliny the Elder writing to the historian Tacitus an account of the great eruption of Vesuvius. (D) Writing the only eyewitness account, Pliny the Elder’s nephew accounted for the great eruption of Vesuvius in two letters to the historian Tacitus. (E) In two letters to the historian Tacitus, the nephew of Pliny the Elder wrote the only eyewitness account of the great eruption of Vesuvius.

Answer 232

Modifiers Ans E Between A and E, the placement of "in two letters to the historian Tacitus" differs Ideally the modifier is CLOSE to the "thing" (in this case, it is an ACTION / prepositional phrase) it is modifying E is better because it is closer to "wrote the only eyewitness account"

Question 233

Concept: Verb tenses

Answer 233

1) Past tense (for actions that already happened): - Simple Past - Past Progressive: describes an ongoing activity IN THE PAST; includes verb "to be" (was, were) + -ing form; often used to set the background for another action that interrupted the action or happened at the same time e.g., Because Cole was wearing a helmet WHEN he was struck by a car, he escaped serious injury. - Past Perfect: When two actions occurred at DIFFERENT times IN THE PAST (past of the past) and needs clarification on sequence of events; includes verb had + Past form > Not necessary for obvious time sequence with no relation/impact to each other (e.g., She drove to the store and bought some ice cream) ---> GMAT prefers simplicity 2) Present tense (for actions that are happening right now OR are continuous) - Simple Present: expresses eternal states or frequent events e.g., Sally plays well with her friends - does not mean Sally is playing right now but is a general rule - Present Progressive: emphasizes ongoing nature of an action (happening RIGHT NOW); includes verb "to be" (am, is, are) + -ing form e.g., Sally is playing soccer - describes what Sally is DOING RIGHT NOW - Present Perfect: for actions that STARTED in the past but CONTINUE to the present (continued action or continued effect); includes verb have/has + Past form e.g., Sally has drawn a square in the sand; since 1986, no one has broken the world record. > "Since" is commonly used with present perfect > Any time marker that includes the present ("within X minutes", "in the last 10 days" etc.) can be used with present perfect > But any time marker that DOES NOT include the present ("in 2007", "last month") cannot be used with present perfect - use simple past instead > Can often be used to clarify ambiguous meanings in subordinate clause (e.g., She will pay you WHEN YOU HAVE cleaned the garage vs She will pay you when you clean the garage) 3) Future tense (for actions occurring in the future): - Simple Future: Will + verb e.g., Future generation WILL remember him as ___ - Future Progressive: includes verb "to be" (will be) + -ing form > indicates a future event that will be continuous How to use verb tenses across time: - Ensure verb tense matches the correct PERIOD OF TIME of the action (check for time markers like "future", "ago") - General rule of thumb in REPORTING sentences: Present + Future, OR Past + Conditional e.g., The scientists BELIEVE that the machine WILL BE wonderful The scientists BELIEVED that the machine WOUD be wonderful

Question 234

Concept: Verb Mood (Indicative and subjunctive)

Answer 234

The form of the verb conveys whether it is a FACT (indictive), COMMAND/WISH, possible CONDITION etc. (subjunctive) Two situations we use subjunctive mood: 1) Wish, command, request: Command Subjunctive > Bossy verb (or "it" + adjective)+ "that" + subject + Bare Form Verb > Bare form verb is the infinitive form without the "to" and no -s on the end > for "to be", the bare form is always "be" (not is, are, am) > examples of bossy verb that take the command subjunctive: demand, request, propose, insist, dictate, recommend, stipulate, suggest > e.g., I demand THAT he BE there tonight. > e.g., It is essential THAT he be there tonight. Note: Some bossy verbs can take EITHER command subjunctive or the infinitive, such as: Ask, beg, require, order, urge, prefer > e.g., We require THAT he BE here; We require HIM TO BE here > e.g., It is essential FOR him TO BE there tonight > just always pay attention to MEANING and whether the sentence should be bossy or not > e.g., Her presence suggests THAT she IS happy (not command subjunctive) 2) Hypothetical situations (usually after "if", "as though", "as if") > Need to have some UNCERTAINTY or UNREAL CONDITION (without this, then verb should be indicative mood) > Don't need to follow "if ... then" construction > use Simple PAST verb tense, with one exception for "to be" --> always use "were" > e.g., To overcome my fear of germs, I will treat disease AS THOUGH it WERE harmless (unreal condition: I do not actually believe disease is actually harmless) > e.g., If Sophie ATE pizza tomorrow, then she would become ill (Sophie is UNLIKELY to eat pizza tomorrow) ---> "would" is a conditional Note: helping verbs "would" and "should" should NEVER go in the "if" part of the sentence according to the GMAT

Question 235

Concept: Verb Voice (Active voice and passive voice)

Answer 235

Active Voice - Subject performs the action > e.g., The students ATE the pizza Passive Voice - Subjective has an action performed on it by SOMEONE or SOMETHING ELSE > verb form "to be" + past participle [+ by object performing the action] > e.g., The pizza WAS EATEN by the students > Often used to de-emphasize the subject and emphasize the action being performed > Certain verbs can be written in passive voice (must be able to take direct objects) Note: > Passive voice is STILL grammatically correct, BUT in two grammatically correct sentences, Active is preferred to Passive > You do NOT have to make active or passive voice parallel throughout a sentence e.g., The shuttle TOOK place flawlessly and WAS SEEN on television (both verbs are in past tense)

Question 236

If- clause

Answer 236

Concept: Sentences that use the word "if" DO NOT always use the hypothetical subjunctive There are multiple tense/mood patterns for If...Then constructions: > depends on if the situation is a GENERAL rule or Particular instance, as well as degree of uncertainty 1) General Rule, no uncertainty Present, Present e.g., If Sophie eats pizza, then she becomes ill 2) General Rule, some uncertainty Present, Can or May or Might e.g., If Sophie eats pizza, then she MIGHT become ill 3) Particular case in the future, no uncertainty Present, Future e.g., If Sophie eats pizza, then she WILL become ill e.g., Helen WILL feel better if she swallows this pill. 4) Unlikely particular case in the future Hypothetical Subjunctive (simple past), Conditional (would) e.g., If Sophie ate pizza, then she WOULD become ill e.g., Helen would feel better if she swallowed this pill. 5) Case that never happened in the past Past Perfect, Conditional Perfect e.g., If Sophie HAD EATEN pizza yesterday, then she WOULD HAVE become ill

Question 237

Meaning of sentences: Should you follow the default meaning? e.g., [No matter how much work it may require], getting an MBA turns out to be a wise investment for most people [Even though it requires much work], getting an MBA turns out to be a wise investment for most people

Answer 237

YES, unless the default underlined sentence makes zero sense and a change of meaning is justified e.g., In this example, the original meaning conveys some UNCERTAINTY with regards to HOW MUCH work an MBA requires, whereas the second sentence DOES SAY that an MBA requires a lot of work. The change of meaning is UNJUSIFIED.

Question 238

Cost OF X vs Cost TO X e.g., Rising costs TO raw materials may impel us to raise prices further Rising costs OF raw materials may impel us to raise prices further

Answer 238

Cost TO X --> X has to PAY a cost Cost OF X --> What it costs to BUY X

Question 239

Is something wrong with this statement: She is the most dedicated gardener on the block, [every day watering the more than 50 plants in her yard.]

Answer 239

No > Testing meaning > "the more than 50..." is correct as it modifies "plants" > also can read as "every day watering THE PLANTS in her yard"

Question 240

Hector remembers San Francisco [as it was when he left ten years ago] or Hector remembers San Francisco [as though he had left ten years ago]

Answer 240

A > Testing meaning (Hector remembers what SF is like 10 years ago when he was last there] > Second option distorts the meaning since "as though" conveys that something is HYPOTHETICAL and removes connection to San Francisco > Recognize the idiom: "as it was..." Recall Harry Styles' new song: You know it's not the same AS IT WAS

Question 241

Concision - what to keep in mind?

Answer 241

1) Active voice is often more concise than passive voice 2) Verbs, adjectives and adverbs are often more concise than nouns and modifiers 3) Cut out redundant words and modifiers Be ware of shortening TOO MUCH that it compromises meaning e.g., Studies have shown THAT ...