GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

[nitiman]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

The answer is E. Its a direct case of violation of the parallelism rule. How items.... should be logically connected with how frequently... In D, we have the 'how..' but the ending is messed up. It goes into a different tense. E puts it correctly. Am i right??

Ya the answer is E. I somehow could not figure out whats wrong with D.

[sandy_venkat]

Originally Posted by nitiman

Ya the answer is E. I somehow could not figure out whats wrong with D.

I dont know how useful this expln is gonna be, but let me put it this way.

just concentrate on these words..keep repeating them in your mind....thats it....it should make sense....

'how items ...blah ..blah..blah...' and 'how inventory.... blah.blah..blah.. ......'

forget the word 'frequently' in the second part....This sound correct rather than...

'how items ...blah ..blah..blah...' and 'how is inventory....blah..blah..blah..'

The verb 'is' between 'how' and the noun messes up the formation.

Hope this helps

[sandy_venkat]

Guys please help me out with these....

1) Scientists have recently discovered what could be the largest and oldest living organism on Earth, a giant

fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized
spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.
(A) extending
(B) extends
(C) extended
(D) it extended
(E) is extending

2) One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest
rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with

3) Proponents of artificial intelligence say they will be able to make computers that can understand English
and other human languages, recognize objects, and reason as an expert does-computers that will be used
to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as
these.
(A) as an expert does--computers that will be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether
to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as these
(B) as an expert does, which may be used for purposes such as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(C) like an expert--computers that will be used for such purposes as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(D) like an expert, the use of which would be for purposes like the diagnosis of equipment breakdowns or
the decision whether or not a loan should be authorized
(E) like an expert, to be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan or
not, or the like

[sandy_venkat]

These are a few more questions:

1) Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will

demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

2) Because of the enormous research and

development expenditures required to survive in the electronics industry, an industry marked by rapid
innovation and volatile demand, such firms tend to be very large.
(A) to survive
(B) of firms to survive
(C) for surviving
(D) for survival
(E) for firms' survival

[mailsatk]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

These are a few more questions:

1) Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will

demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

I would go for D. This is my reasoning...Question to the answer "one of them" would be "one of whom?" Please PM me if this is wrong.

2) Because of the enormous research and

development expenditures required to survive in the electronics industry, an industry marked by rapid
innovation and volatile demand, such firms tend to be very large.
(A) to survive
(B) of firms to survive
(C) for surviving
(D) for survival

(E) for firms' survival

I would go with B here. IMO, A, C and D are out because they dont talk about whose survival...is it of the research or the expenditures? It is unclear. Reading the entire sentence it bcomes clear that the survival has to be of the firms. So, firms must be present in the 1st part of the sentence.
We say Ram requires to work hard or Hardwork is required of Ram.
Similarly, XYZ is required of firms to...
Please PM me if this is wrong.

Cheers!
Satish

[mailsatk]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

Guys please help me out with these....

1) Scientists have recently discovered what could be the largest and oldest living organism on Earth, a giant

fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized
spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.
(A) extending
(B) extends
(C) extended
(D) it extended
(E) is extending

Wll go for C. || with spawned.

2) One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest
rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with

will go for C. Later part of the sentence has singulars. A rally, A weakening. Hence, A lowering is correct. Among B and C, C sounds much better. B does not indicate that the inflation will lower. Use of "Along with" makes that meaning clear.
Please PM if answers are wrong

3) Proponents of artificial intelligence say they will be able to make computers that can understand English
and other human languages, recognize objects, and reason as an expert does-computers that will be used
to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as
these.
(A) as an expert does--computers that will be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether
to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as these
(B) as an expert does, which may be used for purposes such as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(C) like an expert--computers that will be used for such purposes as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(D) like an expert, the use of which would be for purposes like the diagnosis of equipment breakdowns or
the decision whether or not a loan should be authorized
(E) like an expert, to be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan or
not, or the like

I have almost give this up, but if I had to make a choice, it would be E.
Reason: to be used || with to make computers. Also, beacause of comparison, like is more appropriate.

Cheers!
Satish

[Govi]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

Guys please help me out with these....

1) Scientists have recently discovered what could be the largest and oldest living organism on Earth, a giant

fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized
spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.
(A) extending
(B) extends
(C) extended
(D) it extended
(E) is extending

Originally Posted by mailsatk

Wll go for C. || with spawned.

@ satish

by applying parallelism you have overlooked something, even though the use of spawned indicates a past action the part following it (highlighted in blue) indicates a present condition 'Scientists have discovered.......for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan Forest' so C would get ruled out. Isn't it?

I would go with Option A

[Govi]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

2) One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest
rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with

Originally Posted by mailsatk

will go for C. Later part of the sentence has singulars. A rally, A weakening. Hence, A lowering is correct. Among B and C, C sounds much better. B does not indicate that the inflation will lower. Use of "Along with" makes that meaning clear.

Parallelism leads to options B and C

Inconsistencies in C - use of 'along with' alienates 'fears about inflation' from 'lowering of interest rates'. The sentence given presents the effects of a large drop in oil prices viz
a lowering of interest rates and fears of inflation
a rally in stock and bonds
a weakening of the dollar

use of 'along with fear of inflation' indicates that 'fears of inflation' is an independent effect but the fact is it's in combination with 'lowering of interest rates' and is best put as a lowering of interest rates and fears of inflation

Option B

[nitiman]

@Sandy: Hey where the hell did u get these questions? Whats the source??

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

Guys please help me out with these....

1) Scientists have recently discovered what could be the largest and oldest living organism on Earth, a giant

fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized
spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.
(A) extending
(B) extends
(C) extended
(D) it extended
(E) is extending

My choice B.
The subject is a giant fungus. So the verb should be extends.
Also I think it parallels the part before the AND.
A giant fungus that is bla bla bla and extends...

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

2) One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest
rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with

Again I feel B is the answer.

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

3) Proponents of artificial intelligence say they will be able to make computers that can understand English
and other human languages, recognize objects, and reason as an expert does-computers that will be used
to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as
these.
(A) as an expert does--computers that will be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether
to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as these
(B) as an expert does, which may be used for purposes such as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(C) like an expert--computers that will be used for such purposes as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(D) like an expert, the use of which would be for purposes like the diagnosis of equipment breakdowns or
the decision whether or not a loan should be authorized
(E) like an expert, to be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan or
not, or the like

I am confused between D and E.
the use of which in D looks ambiguous and I kinda didnt like the ending of E!
Still would go with E!

@Sandy : Please give out the answers!

[sandy_venkat]

Originally Posted by sandy_venkat

Guys please help me out with these....

1) Scientists have recently discovered what could be the largest and oldest living organism on Earth, a giant

fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized
spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.
(A) extending
(B) extends
(C) extended
(D) it extended
(E) is extending

2) One view of the economy contends that a large drop in oil prices should eventually lead to lowering interest
rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation, a rally in stocks and bonds, and a weakening of the dollar.
(A) lowering interest rates, as well as lowering fears about inflation,
(B) a lowering of interest rates and of fears about inflation,
(C) a lowering of interest rates, along with fears about inflation,
(D) interest rates being lowered, along with fears about inflation,
(E) interest rates and fears about inflation being lowered, with

3) Proponents of artificial intelligence say they will be able to make computers that can understand English
and other human languages, recognize objects, and reason as an expert does-computers that will be used
to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as
these.
(A) as an expert does--computers that will be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether
to authorize a loan, or other purposes such as these
(B) as an expert does, which may be used for purposes such as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(C) like an expert--computers that will be used for such purposes as diagnosing equipment breakdowns or
deciding whether to authorize a loan
(D) like an expert, the use of which would be for purposes like the diagnosis of equipment breakdowns or
the decision whether or not a loan should be authorized
(E) like an expert, to be used to diagnose equipment breakdowns, deciding whether to authorize a loan or
not, or the like

These questions are from the OG 10. These are the OA with official explanations:

1) A

Choice A, the best answer, preserves grammatical parallelism while allowing for logical expression of temporal
relationships; A employs the parallel participial phrases

spawned... and extending ... to modify filigree. Other
choices present different grammatical constructions that are not participial modifiers and thus not parallel to

spawned: extends

in B is a present-tense verb; it extended in D begins a new clause; and is extending in E
ungrammatically introduces a new predicate. In C, extended is nonparallel if it is assumed to be a past tense

195

verb form; if it is assumed to be a past participle, it illogically states, as does D, that the filigree extended only in
the past.

2) B

At issue is the need for logical and formal parallelism in a coordinate series. B, the best choice, clearly and
correctly uses parallel noun phrases to list three effects of a drop in oil prices:

a lowering of..., a rally in ..., and
a weakening of.... In place of the correct lower before/ears, choice A uses an incorrect participial adjective,

lowering,

that could cause confusion by seeming at first to function as a verb. A also violates parallelism. In C
and D, the use of along with confuses meaning by making fears about inflation an independent effect, not an
object of lowering. D and E violate parallelism by substituting an awkward gerund clause for the first noun
phrase.

3) C

A correct sentence must maintain parallel structure. In choice A, the three-part series

(to diagnos