GMAT Problem Solving Discussions

[mailsatk]

Originally Posted by nairpraveenk

Sorry Satish, the correct answer is 'A'. I dont know the analysis .

Hmm...wonder what is the explanation for B being incorrect...

[nairpraveenk]

Analysis for these guys......

1) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.

(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like


2) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,
(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations
(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and


163) Because Halley’s comet changes orbit slightly during the seventy-six-year interval between passing close to Earth, it may veer onto a collision course with a planet sometime in the distant future.

(A) between passing
(B) of passing
(C) between its passes
(D) of its passes
(E) as it passes

[mucool]

Originally Posted by nairpraveenk

159) Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century B.C., worshipped a goddess known in Latin as Bona Dea, “the good goddess.”

(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers
(B) Basing it on various ancient writers’ accounts
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
(D) By the accounts of various ancient writers they used
(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers

What should be the answer????

Okay...i agree with satish on the answer...i think its E...but the explanation is not a great one...
my try...
Based on accounts of various ancient writers is the modifier. So it can be placed before or after the object, but it has to be close...rite??
now if i shift it to:

Scholars, Based on accounts of various ancient writers, blah blah...
it shud sound correct. ok??

But this one doesnt...because scholars are not based on anything!!
A gone!!
basing is wrong usage...B gone!!
C is awkward and wordy....gone!!
D is awkward...i cant explain whats wrong...but its totally ridiculous..Gone!!
E...fits like it shud!! Scholars, using accounts of various ancient writers, have painted a sketchy picture.....

So for mmodifiers...try placing after...makes more sense and u can see the error!

cheers!!

[mucool]

Originally Posted by nairpraveenk

Analysis for these guys......

1) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.

(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like

Same like last one...based on...scientists are not based on anything...the conclusions are based upon the findings....
so A, C, E gone!!

B & D left...on vertical scanning...i find that the fight is between like vs such as...
i will go for such as...cuz they are examples of reptiles...
on the othyer hand like is similarity...which is not the case here..
so i will go for B...
praveen tell the answers..

2) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, capitalized on her keen observation and love of the natural world.

(A) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives,
(B) In her book illustrations, carefully coordinating them with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(C) In her book illustrations, which she carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter
(D) Carefully coordinated with her narratives, Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations
(E) Beatrix Potter, in her book illustrations, carefully coordinated them with her narratives and

D and E are gone on first look...they are ridiculous!!
here i wud see what does carefully coordinating them refer to?? illustrations i guess...rite?? so i wud see which choice refers to it most accurately...
A and B use of them is not clear....i think C is clear ...uses which.
Not so sure...but i wud go for C.
again...tell the answers..

163) Because Halley’s comet changes orbit slightly during the seventy-six-year interval between passing close to Earth, it may veer onto a collision course with a planet sometime in the distant future.

(A) between passing
(B) of passing
(C) between its passes
(D) of its passes
(E) as it passes

this is tuff!! interval between sounds gud...i dunno... i wud choose C and move ahead!!

where are my thanx prav??

[mucool]

Originally Posted by nairpraveenk

As well as heat and light, the Sun is the source of a continuous stream of atomic particles known as the solar wind.

(A) As well as heat and light, the Sun is the source of a continuous stream
(B) Besides heat and light, also the Sun is the source of a continuous stream
(C) Besides heat and light, the Sun is also the source of a continuous streaming
(D) The Sun is the source not only of heat and light, but also of a continuous stream
(E) The Sun is the source of not only heat and light but, as well, of a continuous streaming

Answer is 'A'. Why is the answer not 'E'? Can some one help me please?

D should be the answer...not only...but also...is correctly used...
A B C are awkward and unidomatic...parallelism is wrong.
in E its wordy..as well as...

At a recent session, the French government has decided that Paris needs a second, larger opera house to complement the famous Paris Opera.

(A) has decided that Paris needs
(B) decided that Paris needs
(C) has decided that Paris will need
(D) decided that Paris has a need of
(E) has decided that Paris needed

Answer is 'B'

B is the shortest and correct...so i wud go for B ....most concise.....see vertically!!

[mailsatk]

Originally Posted by mucool

D and E are gone on first look...they are ridiculous!!
here i wud see what does carefully coordinating them refer to?? illustrations i guess...rite?? so i wud see which choice refers to it most accurately...
A and B use of them is not clear....i think C is clear ...uses which.
Not so sure...but i wud go for C.
again...tell the answers..


this is tuff!! interval between sounds gud...i dunno... i wud choose C and move ahead!!

where are my thanx prav??

hmm...I somehow feel D should be good. Prav, pls post answers!

[nairpraveenk]

Originally Posted by mucool

Same like last one...based on...scientists are not based on anything...the conclusions are based upon the findings....
so A, C, E gone!!

B & D left...on vertical scanning...i find that the fight is between like vs such as...
i will go for such as...cuz they are examples of reptiles...
on the othyer hand like is similarity...which is not the case here..
so i will go for B...
praveen tell the answers..


D and E are gone on first look...they are ridiculous!!
here i wud see what does carefully coordinating them refer to?? illustrations i guess...rite?? so i wud see which choice refers to it most accurately...
A and B use of them is not clear....i think C is clear ...uses which.
Not so sure...but i wud go for C.
again...tell the answers..


this is tuff!! interval between sounds gud...i dunno... i wud choose C and move ahead!!

where are my thanx prav??

All are correct. You are really good in SC. And nice analysis too . Well how did you come 'C' for the last problem? Please psot the analysis.
Those were some toughies I guess .

[nairpraveenk]

Originally Posted by mucool

D should be the answer...not only...but also...is correctly used...
A B C are awkward and unidomatic...parallelism is wrong.
in E its wordy..as well as...


B is the shortest and correct...so i wud go for B ....most concise.....see vertically!!

Affirmative. Man, you are good mukul .

[mucool]

Originally Posted by nairpraveenk

All are correct. You are really good in SC. And nice analysis too . Well how did you come 'C' for the last problem? Please psot the analysis.
Those were some toughies I guess .

Thanx...

for the third one....interval between sounds rite to me...so i wud see only A and C

now...between passing is not so gud...i wont go for a verb here...if it were between its passing...it still wud make some sense...between its passes is more clear...
thats how C

and hey...i am not getting thanx for explantions...that too long ones....and u gettin thanx for posting questions!!

JK

carry on the gud work...
cheers

[mucool]

Guyzz!!

check out my refracted reality blog....my other passion is arts...hope u all will like it!!

and comments are most welcome...

satish!! u can hav a look...i told u that day!!