GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

[krajkumar6]

Originally Posted by ashishjha100

In B,C&D pronoun 'it' has no reference.......in GMAT pronoun 'it' should refer to a noun.........

so we are left with
A. looks ok
E.estimated as having ----looks awkward

criticisms are welcome........

the OA for this question is D.

[*arch*]

Hi.. I think the Answer is (C). Is that right?

Options (A), (D) and (E) seem to refer to the wing span of the Quetzalcoatlus as the largest flying creature! Between (B) and (C), the former is awkward, that's why I chose (C).

Plz correct me if I'm wrong!

Originally Posted by Pkabraham

A huge flying reptile that died out with the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago, the Quetzalcoatlus had a wingspan of 36 feet, believed to be the largest flying creature the world has ever seen.
(A) believed to be
(B) and that is believed to be
(C) and it is believed to have been
(D) which was, it is believed,
(E) which is believed to be


Could anyone pls help with this sc... as per me it should be (e).... but wanted to know if it is any other option .. if so pls explain why....

Pls help

[shiva1985]

Originally Posted by anish_goyal

Very good explanation about 3rd.

For 1st, I also think A is fine. But OA given is D.
For 2nd, my answer is also C, OA given is E. here we can reject that.

For 1st, do u think of any possibility that A could be wrong.
May be the use of participle.."sheltering"..?

Q1. Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltering in
igloos, the ice-block domes that are peculiar to north-central Canada,
and in structures made of stones, bones, driftwood, and skins.
A. Until recently, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence, sheltering
B. During recent times, the Inuit people lead a nomadic existence,
sheltering.
C. In the times that are recent, the Inuit people led a nomadic existence,
sheltered.
D. Up until recently, the Inuit people, leading a nomadic existence,
have sheltered.
E. Until recent times, leading a nomadic existence, the Inuit people
were sheltered.

Q2. New items developed for automobiles in the 1997 model year included
a safer air bag , which, unlike previous air bags, eliminated the possibility
that a burst of smoke would appear when the bag inflated, and making an
already terrified passenger think the car was on fire.
A. inflated, and making.
B. Inflated, so that it could make.
C. Inflated and made.
D. Inflated and make.
E. Inflated to make.

1) what is up until recently? I can remove up without changing the meaning of the sentence so up should be redundant (thats what I think ). Until recently means thats no longer the case so the sentence should use had sheltered right why the present have? this is why I didn't select D.
2) the earlier airbags inflates with a burst of smoke. If we say inflated to make then the purpose of airbags was to terrify passengers right? This is illogical.So I chose inflated and made (make is awkward)

[*arch*]

I think "Up Until Recently" is different from "Until Recently". Although it seems like the word "up" doesn't change the meaning, it does and it's very subtle.

The phrase "up until recently" puts more emphasis on the time span.. However, "until recently" doesn't give that kind of an extra focus.

For Example:-

Up until now, he has never spoken a word.
Until now, he has never spoken a word.

I think "up" puts more focus on "now".

Originally Posted by shiva1985

1) what is up until recently? I can remove up without changing the meaning of the sentence so up should be redundant (thats what I think ). Until recently means thats no longer the case so the sentence should use had sheltered right why the present have? this is why I didn't select D.
2) the earlier airbags inflates with a burst of smoke. If we say inflated to make then the purpose of airbags was to terrify passengers right? This is illogical.So I chose inflated and made (make is awkward)

[*arch*]

Can someone plz help me with the reasoning for these questions?!.. Thanks a ton!

1.With its abundance of noun inflections, Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English.
(A) is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English
(B) are compact when they are written, but they can lengthen considerably when they are translated in English
(C) is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when being translated into English
(D) are compact when written but can lengthen considerably in English translation
(E) is compact when it is written but can lengthen considerably when translated in English
The OA is (D) – shouldn’t the verb be “is” instead of “are” ?!

2.With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
The OA is (C) – again I feel the verb must be “is” and not “are”. Kindly clarify!

3.Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits caused by the desire to be as thin as possible.
(A) Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits caused by the desire to be as thin as possible.
(B) Good eating habits sometimes fail to be maintained by young female ballet dancers and gymnasts caused by desiring to be as thin as possible.
(C) Because they desire to be as thin as possible, good eating habits are sometimes not maintained by young female ballet dancers and gymnasts.
(D) Because they desire to be as thin as possible, young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits.
(E) Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits because they desire to be as thin as possible.
The OA is (D) – I chose (E) though. Can someone plz help me understand what’s wrong in (E)?

4.A private house in New York City is a building owned by an individual or individuals having less than eight units and no commercial space.
(A) a building owned by an individual or individuals having less than eight units and no commercial space
(B) one that an individual or individuals own with fewer than eight units and no commercial space
(C) a building with fewer than eight units, no commercial space, and is owned by an individual or individuals
(D) one that has fewer than eight units, no commercial space and it is owned by an individual or individuals
(E) one that has fewer than eight units, is owned by an individual or individuals, and has no commercial space
The OA is (E) – I was more inclined towards (C).

5.A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose, was recently discovered, is not only a natural sweetener but also prevents tooth decay.
(A) A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose, was recently discovered
(B) A substance, which was recently discovered, from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose,
(C) A substance from the licorice plant, which was recently discovered to be 50 times sweeter than sucrose,
(D) A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose , which was recently discovered
(E) A recently discovered substance, 50 times sweeter than sucrose from the licorice plant,
The OA is (B) – I chose (C) and I can’t find anything wrong with it!

[anish_goyal]

Originally Posted by *arch*

I think "Up Until Recently" is different from "Until Recently". Although it seems like the word "up" doesn't change the meaning, it does and it's very subtle.

The phrase "up until recently" puts more emphasis on the time span.. However, "until recently" doesn't give that kind of an extra focus.

For Example:-

Up until now, he has never spoken a word.
Until now, he has never spoken a word.

I think "up" puts more focus on "now".

I have found this sentence as it is on NYTimes website. (A) is correct.

[Amar_08]

Originally Posted by shiva1985

1) what is up until recently? I can remove up without changing the meaning of the sentence so up should be redundant (thats what I think ). Until recently means thats no longer the case so the sentence should use had sheltered right why the present have? this is why I didn't select D.
2) the earlier airbags inflates with a burst of smoke. If we say inflated to make then the purpose of airbags was to terrify passengers right? This is illogical.So I chose inflated and made (make is awkward)

1) I guess here the focus is on description of igloos/housing in the rest of the sentence. So, the sentence we

2) Here 'i feel make' would be correct as we have a 'would' calling this part of sentence

[Amar_08]

Originally Posted by *arch*

Can someone plz help me with the reasoning for these questions?!.. Thanks a ton!

1.With its abundance of noun inflections, Icelandic is one of several Germanic languages that is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English.
(A) is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when translated into English
(B) are compact when they are written, but they can lengthen considerably when they are translated in English
(C) is compact when written but can lengthen considerably when being translated into English
(D) are compact when written but can lengthen considerably in English translation
(E) is compact when it is written but can lengthen considerably when translated in English
The OA is (D) – shouldn’t the verb be “is” instead of “are” ?!

2.With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
(E) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
The OA is (C) – again I feel the verb must be “is” and not “are”. Kindly clarify!

3.Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits caused by the desire to be as thin as possible.
(A) Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits caused by the desire to be as thin as possible.
(B) Good eating habits sometimes fail to be maintained by young female ballet dancers and gymnasts caused by desiring to be as thin as possible.
(C) Because they desire to be as thin as possible, good eating habits are sometimes not maintained by young female ballet dancers and gymnasts.
(D) Because they desire to be as thin as possible, young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits.
(E) Young female ballet dancers and gymnasts sometimes fail to maintain good eating habits because they desire to be as thin as possible.
The OA is (D) – I chose (E) though. Can someone plz help me understand what’s wrong in (E)?

4.A private house in New York City is a building owned by an individual or individuals having less than eight units and no commercial space.
(A) a building owned by an individual or individuals having less than eight units and no commercial space
(B) one that an individual or individuals own with fewer than eight units and no commercial space
(C) a building with fewer than eight units, no commercial space, and is owned by an individual or individuals
(D) one that has fewer than eight units, no commercial space and it is owned by an individual or individuals
(E) one that has fewer than eight units, is owned by an individual or individuals, and has no commercial space
The OA is (E) – I was more inclined towards (C).

5.A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose, was recently discovered, is not only a natural sweetener but also prevents tooth decay.
(A) A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose, was recently discovered
(B) A substance, which was recently discovered, from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose,
(C) A substance from the licorice plant, which was recently discovered to be 50 times sweeter than sucrose,
(D) A substance from the licorice plant, 50 times sweeter than sucrose , which was recently discovered
(E) A recently discovered substance, 50 times sweeter than sucrose from the licorice plant,
The OA is (B) – I chose (C) and I can’t find anything wrong with it!

1) & 2) the 'several Germanic languages' and the 'large number of communities ' are referred here and so we need a plural in both cases.

3) i am not sure about this but i guess 'they' in D clearly referred to BOTH 'ballet dancers and gymnasts' while we cant exactly say the same about E. Here in E, 'they' could be either the group of dancers, or the group of gymnasts, or both. There is scope for ambiguity.

4)In C, in the commercial space part, parallelism is missing

5) In C, the part of sentence after the comma refers to licorice plant whereas it should be referring to the substance in licorice plant.

[ani.jumech]

As part of their therapy, young polio victims learning to live with their disabilities were helped to practice falling during the 1950s, so that they could learn to fall without being hurt.
(A) As part of their therapy, young polio victims learning to live with their disabilities were helped to practice falling during the 1950s
(B) As part of their therapy, young polio victims learning to live during the 1950s with their disabilities were helped to practice falling
(C) Young polio victims learning to live during the 1950s with their disabilities were helped to practice falling as part of their therapy
(D) Young polio victims learning to live with their disabilities were helped to practice falling during the 1950s as part of their therapy（E）
(E) During the 1950s, as part of their therapy, young polio victims learning to live with their disabilities were helped to practice falling


Guys pl xplain the answer...

[ani.jumech]

1.Astronomers at the Palomar Observatory have discovered a distant supernova explosion, one that they believe is a type previously unknown to science.
(A) that they believe is
(B) that they believe it to be
(C) they believe that it is of
(D) they believe that is（E）
(E) they believe to be of


Guys pl xplain....