GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

MBA
2539
Lets try out the below
After suffering $2 billion in losses and 25,000 layoffs, the nations semiconductor industry, which makes chips that run everything from computers and spy satellites to dishwashers, appears to have made a long-awaited recovery.
(A) computers and spy satellites to dishwashers, appears to have
(B) computers, spy satellites, and dishwashers, appears having
(C) computers, spy satellites, and dishwashers, appears that it has
(D) computers and spy satellites to dishwashers, appears that it has
(E) computers and spy satellites as well as dishwashers, appears to have
After July, anyone disposing of or servicing refrigerators must capture the chlorofluorocarbons in the refrigerant chemicals.
(A) anyone disposing of or servicing
(B) those who dispose or service
(C) anyone disposing of or who services
(D) the disposal or repair of
(E) someone who disposes or repairs


both A's ..
the sentences are fine..
2540
if green fields is the subject of the verb "surround " , then what is the subject of the verb " bustles" in option A .

IMHO B is better than A


In good years, the patchwork of green fields that surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of them in the area just for the season.
(A) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of them
(B) surrounds the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of whom are
(C) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of who are
(D) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustle with farm workers, many of which(E) surrounds the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many are

on second thoughts B is better , the them in one reference is not correct i feel ..them refers to fields or to workers
2541
Answer A.

its between A and B for obvious reasons .

In our ques, the verbs "said" and "would" in the non-underlined section of the sentence are used in the past tense . In order to indicate that the sales slump occurred prior to this past announcement, the past perfect tense is necessary.

A second approach would have been to focus on the recent/recently split. It is nonsensical that a retailer would INTENTIONALLY extend a sales slump. However, this is exactly what is suggested by the adverb "recently," which modifies the adjective "extended." The sentence should instead include the adjective "recent," which correctly describes the slump. Thus, answer choices B and C are eliminated. From there, the its/their pronoun split is relatively straightforward. Since the subject of the sentence is the singular "retailer," the singular pronoun "its" is correct.


Thanks for the detailed explanation Saurav.
I totally missed the "recently" issue.

But I cannot quite agree with the past perfect thing.
If the slump in sales were not continuing (as suggested by the past perfect) to today, the retailer wouldnt have announced a sale.

I also think that "would" used in the non-underlined part is in future tense, not past. "would put up a sale" - sthg going to happen.

Which option would you have chosen if B had "recent" instead of "recently"
2542
My picks are as follows --

1. D

2. B
Has shows that the problem is persisting.

What are the OAs ?

OAs are CA
2543
Thanks for the detailed explanation Saurav.
I totally missed the "recently" issue.

But I cannot quite agree with the past perfect thing.
If the slump in sales were not continuing (as suggested by the past perfect) to today, the retailer wouldnt have announced a sale.

I also think that "would" used in the non-underlined part is in future tense, not past. "would put up a sale" - sthg going to happen.

Which option would you have chosen if B had "recent" instead of "recently"

hi kingcat,

I followed the same reasoning to choose option B.But I too missed 'recently' I thought it was recent.Had it been recent, I think option B would be most appropriate since the slump started at some time in the past and it is still continuing. hence the retailer wants to host a sale.

thnx,
Raj

thanks,
Raj
2544
both A's ..
the sentences are fine..


yeap,
the answer is both A's.

my take for the first one was 'D' ...
thinking of ..'industry .... it has', how does it A?
2545

Another one...

When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount

2546
It is well known in the supermarket industry that how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers can be crucial to profits
(A) the frequency of inventory turnovers can be
(B) the frequency of inventory turnovers is often
(C) the frequency with which the inventory turns over is often
(D) how frequently is the inventory turned over are often
(E) how frequently the inventory turns over can be


e its becuaseof parallelism and chlarity
2547

B as the subject is the patchwork and many of whom is correctly refering to the farm workers

2548
both A's ..
the sentences are fine..

The answer will D for the 1st one as subject is industry and its singular
2549

I would give with E as well


Originally Posted by nitiman View Post
It is well known in the supermarket industry that how items are placed on shelves and the frequency of inventory turnovers can be crucial to profits
(A) the frequency of inventory turnovers can be
(B) the frequency of inventory turnovers is often
(C) the frequency with which the inventory turns over is often
(D) how frequently is the inventory turned over are often
(E) how frequently the inventory turns over can be

2550

I would go with D, though i first jumped onto E 😃

The modifier "a kiowa matriach" is rightly placed next to 'Aho' and also 'that' is appropriately next to 'festivals' which is described in rest of the sentence.

Can you please tell the OA?



Aho, a Kiowa matriarch, held festivals in her home, they featured the preparation of great quantities of ceremonial food, the wearing of many layers of colorful clothing adorned with silver, and the recounting of traditional tribal jokes and stories.
(A) Aho, a Kiowa matriarch, held festivals in her home, they featured
(B) Festivals were held in Aho, a Kiowa matriarchs home, which featured
(C) Aho, who was a Kiowa matriarch in her home, held festivals featuring
(D) In her home, Aho, a Kiowa matriarch, held festivals that featured
(E) Aho, a Kiowa matriarch, held festivals in her home that featured



Lets discuss the answers..
2551

i think D will be the answer
as features are of festival not home (E), also modifiers or pronuoun should refer to the exact subject

2552

According to some experts, carbon dioxide is accumulating in the atmosphere so rapidly, largely because of the burning of fossil fuels, that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison will double by the end of the next century.

(A) that should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison
(B) should the present rate of buildup continue, the global concentration of this poison
(C) should the present rate of buildup be continued, the global concentration of this poison
(D) the global concentration of this poison, were the present rate of buildup continue,
(E) that the global concentration of this poison, if the present rate of buildup did continue,

2553

A
but not very sure....
As So rapidly should be followed by THAT....and parts should be as close as possible to the refernts

2554

The OA is (A).

A
but not very sure....
As So rapidly should be followed by THAT....and parts should be as close as possible to the refernts
2555
Another one...

When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount



Is the answer C by any chance ..feeling very sleepy right now .. would post my explanation if required
2556
saurav_chat1234 Says
Is the answer C by any chance ..feeling very sleepy right now .. would post my explanation if required


Yes the OA is C.

I also chose C, but was uncomfortable calling 4000 "the amount"
2557
Another one...

When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount


We will consider a sentence correction question ,today and try to understand the difference between less and fewer.
example
When drive-ins were at the height of their popularity in the late 1950s, some 4,000 existed in the United States, but today there are less than one-quarter that many.
A. there are less than one-quarter that many
B. there are fewer than one-quarter as many
C. there are fewer than one-quarter of that amount
D. the number is less than one-quarter the amount
E. it is less than one-quarter of that amount

well fewer is to be used in case of count nouns and less in case of mass nouns
now ,you might ask me what are they ,or might say this is more complicated than i expect and close the window,trust me i was one of those who used to close the window but now i realise that the human mind is the only thing that grows when used more.
Mass nouns vs Count Nouns
"10 items or fewer" vs "ten items or less"
TIP 1: whenever you can count use fewer

all of you must love to have coffee ,well i do so i will use it as an example
"coffee " is what is a mass noun ,you say bring me coffee i use it as a mass noun.
less coffee please while you pour it but if the waiter comes with 10 coffees and you are only 4 then you might ask him to get fewer coffees next time.what you have done here is converted a mass noun into a count noun.

here it goes what's the difference between them
i have score less than yours vs i have a score fewer than yours ..
which one is correct
exceptions
time, distance and money , in these its customary to use less.
eg:I hope is costs less than 20$ rather than saying fewer than 20$.


References :Grammar Girl :: Less Versus Fewer
really nice tip about the fewer fish and less water.

AUE: FAQ excerpt: "less" vs "fewer"
"less" vs "fewer"
fewer" helps to distinguish "fewer successful professionals" (fewer professionals who are successful) from "less successful professionals" (professionals who are less successful)
2558
1. The lack of complete historical records from the mid-to-late 1800s have made some Black inventions difficult to trace to their originators.
(A) have made some Black inventions difficult to trace to their originators
(B) have made for difficulties in tracing some inventions by Blacks to their originators
(C) have made it difficult to trace some inventions by Blacks to their originators
(D) has made it difficult to trace some inventions to their Black originator
(E) has made it difficult in tracing some Black inventions to their originators


OA: D. But since records is plural it should be C
Can anyone please explain.

Thanks
MM