GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

[shiva1985]

Originally Posted by AnaScott

SET #14.Question 6

After more than four decades of research and development, a new type of jet engine is being tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help boost cargoes into space at significantly lower costs than current methods permit.

A.tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help
B.tested that could eventually have the capability of propelling aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or to help
C.tested, eventually able to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours, or helping
D.tested, and it eventually could propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or helping
E.tested, and it could eventually have the capability to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help


I chose A mainly by elimination. For ‘or’ in the underlying phrase both the verbs need to be parallel, so ‘propel’ and ‘help’ should be parallel.So B,C and D are out. For E, I thought it is verbose

Correct Answer is E. Could someone explain why is it so?

Thanks in advance

Also, does anyone know where to find the explanations of SET questions.

A. Two functions are mentioned that---- could eventually(adverb) propel (verb) and --(could assumed) (no adverb) help (verb). Also I think when we say it could propel we have to sure about it. Since the sentence says it is being tested capability to propel sounds more appropriate.
E. have the capability-- to propel and --(to assumed) help has a more appropriate parallel structure

[anish_goyal]

Originally Posted by shiva1985

A. Two functions are mentioned that---- could eventually(adverb) propel (verb) and --(could assumed) (no adverb) help (verb). Also I think when we say it could propel we have to sure about it. Since the sentence says it is being tested capability to propel sounds more appropriate.
E. have the capability-- to propel and --(to assumed) help has a more appropriate parallel structure

Shiva, don't u think in (A) & (B), "that" immediately following "tested" is wrong.
C is awkward and D is wrong because of "helping".

So E is correct.

[shiva1985]

Originally Posted by AnaScott

Can anybody give the answers of these with explanation?

Q29:

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.

• each a roof of poles and arrowweed
• each a roof of poles and arrowweed that are being
• with each being a roof of poles and arrowweed
• with roofs of poles and arrowweed to be
• with roofs of poles and arrowweed that are

Answer:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q30:

For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly there-quarters only a decade ago.

• which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
• which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters
• and that amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters
• amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago
• amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters

Answer:

29.The part that follows after comma should logically modify shades
A.correct
B. Wordy
C. use conjunction with is not correct. Shades should be modified
D. same as C
E.same as C

[shiva1985]

30.
A.which refers to California.illogical
B.Same as A.
C. and that (what?) has no noun referent
D.Correct-- use of participle correctly expresses the effect.
E. wordy--- it has no noun referent.

[shiva1985]

Originally Posted by anish_goyal

Shiva, don't u think in (A) & (B), "that" immediately following "tested" is wrong.
C is awkward and D is wrong because of "helping".

So E is correct.

why should that following tested be wrong? that points to new study right? yes C and D are wrong for what you have stated.

[ashishjha100]

Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.

(A) Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(B) Chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with many hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia. (D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.

Can anyone say what is wrong with C&D?

[montaqes]

Originally Posted by ashishjha100

Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.

(A) Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(B) Chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with many hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia. (D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.

Can anyone say what is wrong with C&D?

(C) - "are dotting.." looks very awkward to me..i think better structure wud be "mountainous regions are dotted with..."

(D) - "many of which" is wrongly used...pronoun "them" should be used to refer back to plural "monastries"

[ani.jumech]

In fact all the other answers except A seems to be wrong..
i don't really find anyting wrong with the option A.
Please let me know what is the correct answer....

[ashishjha100]

Answer is E
A.wrong because modifier error ,"them" illogically refers to "mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia ".
B. same misplaced modifier........

[ani.jumech]

Although Ms. Bakara had previously emphasized that she could not speak for other Black people, she ventured to do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree with her.
(A) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree
(B) speak on this one occasion since she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would have agreed
(C) so speak on this one occasion due to her firmly believing that many minority people, even most, would likely agree
(D) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, if not most, would agree
(E) do so on this one occasion since she firmly believed many minority people, and even most, would likely agree


Although Napoleon’s army entered Russia with far more supplies than they had in their previous campaigns, it had provisions for only twenty-four days.
(A) they had in their previous campaigns
(B) their previous campaigns had had
(C) they had for any previous campaign
(D) in their previous campaigns
(E) for any previous campaign

please xplain d answers...