GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

MBA
6572
I have a different sort of doubt.

1) His efforts were successful in eliminating racial practices.
2) His efforts successfully eliminated racial practices.

Which one do you think looks correct ?


Well I'll go with 2. His efforts successfully eliminated racial practices.

My reasoning is :

1. In 1st sentence successful appears to be object of efforts.
2. Usage of eliminat-ed, I feel preferable over were.....in eliminating.

Correct me If I am wrong.
6573
Well I'll go with 2. His efforts successfully eliminated racial practices.

My reasoning is :

1. In 1st sentence successful appears to be object of efforts.
2. Usage of eliminat-ed, I feel preferable over were.....in eliminating.

Correct me If I am wrong.


I'm still not convinced but let me put some eg's:

a) His efforts have been useless ........
b) His efforts were not successful in ........

Here the second part ( adjective ) classifies effort ( noun ). But if we say :-

His efforts successfully eliminated ......... ( this means efforts is doing something, which can't be the case ). Only a person can do something.

4) have not significantly reduced the gap that exists ( effort is doing an activity, which I think is not possible )
5) have not been significant in a reduction of the gaps existing. ( significant classifies effort here, which looks fine )..

Although OA is D, but how bout above reasoning.
6574
I'm still not convinced but let me put some eg's:

a) His efforts have been useless ........
b) His efforts were not successful in ........

Here the second part ( adjective ) classifies effort ( noun ). But if we say :-

His efforts successfully eliminated ......... ( this means efforts is doing something, which can't be the case ). Only a person can do something.

4) have not significantly reduced the gap that exists ( effort is doing an activity, which I think is not possible )
5) have not been significant in a reduction of the gaps existing. ( significant classifies effort here, which looks fine )..

Although OA is D, but how bout above reasoning.

You're missing one more thing here. In option E. There is no verb. Reduction is not a verb. Its run-over sentence. And I think using effort as a subject is fine e.g Team effort helps us to win.
6575
I think Magic is correct here......I also remember having read the same concept on the MGMAT forum.
But I have one query.......if we replace "LIKE" with "AS" in option (D), does it becomes a stronger contender than option (A)???


In my opinion, it would make a correct choice but not the strongest contender because of conciseness. GMAT always prefer the "less words clear meaning" sentences.
6576
I'm still not convinced but let me put some eg's:

a) His efforts have been useless ........
b) His efforts were not successful in ........

Here the second part ( adjective ) classifies effort ( noun ). But if we say :-

His efforts successfully eliminated ......... ( this means efforts is doing something, which can't be the case ). Only a person can do something.

4) have not significantly reduced the gap that exists ( effort is doing an activity, which I think is not possible )
5) have not been significant in a reduction of the gaps existing. ( significant classifies effort here, which looks fine )..

Although OA is D, but how bout above reasoning.


The points raised here are worth the discussion. But i would like to bring the attention towards some rules that we need to keep in mind while answering the question in GMAT.
1. We should select the relatively best choice not the absolute best choice.
2. Drop the wordy choice if same meaning is conveyed in less words in some other availabe choice. Choice E is delivering the same message as choice D, but choice E is too wordy.

i feel that choice E is changing the meaning but am not able to figure out.

We can raise this question in MGMAT forum and can seek some staff member's opinion on this question.
6577
Efforts to equalize the the funds available to school districts, a major goal of education reformers and many states in 1970's,has not significantly reduced the gaps existing between the richest and poorest districts.

1)..
2) has not been significant in reducing the gap that exists
3) has not made a significant reduction in the gap that exists
4) have not significantly reduced the gap that exists
5) have not been significant in a reduction of the gaps existing.


Options 1,2,3 are out as noun is plural
Option 4 seems closest... although "gaps" is now "gap".
This changes the meaning!
Option 5 incorrect because of the usage of reduction (noun form)

the correct option should have been: "have not significantly reduced the gaps that exist"

puys... pls let me know if i m making a mistake here!!
6578
Options 1,2,3 are out as noun is plural
Option 4 seems closest... although "gaps" is now "gap".
This changes the meaning!
Option 5 incorrect because of the usage of reduction (noun form)

the correct option should have been: "have not significantly reduced the gaps that exist"

puys... pls let me know if i m making a mistake here!!


I agree on this

1,2,3 are out and by VAN rule 4 is better than 5
6579
Options 1,2,3 are out as noun is plural
Option 4 seems closest... although "gaps" is now "gap".
This changes the meaning!
Option 5 incorrect because of the usage of reduction (noun form)

the correct option should have been: "have not significantly reduced the gaps that exist"

puys... pls let me know if i m making a mistake here!!

4 is the most appropriate...out of the given options, we are always required to put only the most appropriate choice, even if it may look little abnormal...
6580

Q. It has been estimated that the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year.
a.the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year
b.the annual cost of illiteracy to Country X is at least $ 20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues.
c.illiteracy costs Country X at least $ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues
d.$ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy.
e.lost industrial output and tax revenues cost Country X at least $ 20 billion a year because of illiteracy.

Please post explanation with your answers.

6581
Q. It has been estimated that the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year.
a.the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year
b.the annual cost of illiteracy to Country X is at least $ 20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues.
c.illiteracy costs Country X at least $ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues
d.$ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy.
e.lost industrial output and tax revenues cost Country X at least $ 20 billion a year because of illiteracy.

Please post explanation with your answers.

My take is C

Option A: Idiom error; to X of Y
Option B: Idiom error corrected but use of because is not appropriate here, as illiteracy is cause not vice-versa.
Option C: Correct
Option D: Idiom error, too indirect, usage of singular is although subject is plural "industrial output and tax revenues".
Option E: Grammatically looks Ok, but change of meaning as subject is changed from illiteracy to ost industrial output and tax revenues.

HTH
6582
Q. It has been estimated that the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year.
a.the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year
b.the annual cost of illiteracy to Country X is at least $ 20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues.
c.illiteracy costs Country X at least $ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues
d.$ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy.
e.lost industrial output and tax revenues cost Country X at least $ 20 billion a year because of illiteracy.

Please post explanation with your answers.


Should be (C), easy one.
6583
Q. It has been estimated that the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year.
a.the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy in lost industrial output and tax revenues is at least $ 20 billion a year
b.the annual cost of illiteracy to Country X is at least $ 20 billion a year because of lost industrial output and tax revenues.
c.illiteracy costs Country X at least $ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues
d.$ 20 billion a year in lost industrial output and tax revenues is the annual cost to Country X of illiteracy.
e.lost industrial output and tax revenues cost Country X at least $ 20 billion a year because of illiteracy.

Please post explanation with your answers.



Answer option c.

a. subject is plural... usage of is inappropriate
b. same as above, also usage of 'because' inappropriate
c. CORRECT!
d. same as for option a
e. usage of 'because' inappropriate
6584

Please share 1000 SR Question series

6585
gmatismydestiny Says
Please share 1000 SR Question series


If I am not mistaken its against PG rules to post the link to 1000 CR and SC series.
6586

Yes absolutely right.....the links cannot be shared here but there are forums such as "TotalGadha" from where you can download all these documents.

Cheers

homersimpson Says
If I am not mistaken its against PG rules to post the link to 1000 CR and SC series.
6587

Need some help with this :

In 1713, Alexander Pope began his translation of the
Iliad, a work that, taking him seven years until
completion, and that literary critic Samuel Johnson,
Popes contemporary, pronounced the greatest
translation in any language.




(A) his translation of the

Iliad, a work that, taking
him seven years until completion, and that
literary critic Samuel Johnson, Popes
contemporary, pronounced
(B) his translation of the


Iliad, a work that took him
seven years to complete and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced
(C) his translation of the


Iliad, a work that had taken
seven years to complete and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced it as
(D) translating the


Iliad, a work that took seven
years until completion and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced it as
(E) translating the


Iliad, a work that had taken seven
years to complete and literary critic Samuel

Johnson, Popes contemporary, pronounced it

I understood the common explanations like :


The appositive phrase a work incorrectly

refers to the Iliad; for the Options -> D & E

The pronoun it is incorrect in the option ->C


But Here what I feel is that :

The use of THAT before literary critic Samuel Johnson seems to be awkward .But THAT is given in all the options here except E ,so I chose E , but it was the wrong option....
What I think is THAT here describes literary critic Samuel Johnson & it seems pretty awkward to me !!!

By the way
The correct option is : B

Can someone help ....

Thanks :p

6588
Need some help with this :

In 1713, Alexander Pope began his translation of the
Iliad, a work that, taking him seven years until
completion, and that literary critic Samuel Johnson,
Popes contemporary, pronounced the greatest
translation in any language.




(A) his translation of the

Iliad, a work that, taking
him seven years until completion, and that
literary critic Samuel Johnson, Popes
contemporary, pronounced
(B) his translation of the


Iliad, a work that took him
seven years to complete and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced
(C) his translation of the


Iliad, a work that had taken
seven years to complete and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced it as
(D) translating the


Iliad, a work that took seven
years until completion and that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Popes contemporary,
pronounced it as
(E) translating the


Iliad, a work that had taken seven
years to complete and literary critic Samuel

Johnson, Popes contemporary, pronounced it

I understood the common explanations like :


The appositive phrase a work incorrectly

refers to the Iliad; for the Options -> D & E

The pronoun it is incorrect in the option ->C


But Here what I feel is that :

The use of THAT before literary critic Samuel Johnson seems to be awkward .But THAT is given in all the options here except E ,so I chose E , but it was the wrong option....
What I think is THAT here describes literary critic Samuel Johnson & it seems pretty awkward to me !!!

By the way
The correct option is : B

Can someone help ....

Thanks :p

That is used to describe some essential attribute of a noun. Here second that is used to describe the work.
if you read it like this
Iliad, a work that had taken seven years to complete and a work that literary critic
Samuel Johnson, Pope's contemporary,
pronounced it as.

So, that here is modifying Work.
Rule for that is that it modify noun preceding it, not succeeding one.

HTH!
6589
Q.As the honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing the bee to sustain a fatal injury.


A. As the honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed, staying where it is inserted, this results in the act of stinging causing

B. As the heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes

C. The honeybee's stinger, heavily barbed and staying where it is inserted, results in the fact that the act of stinging causes

D. The heavily barbed stinger of the honeybee stays where it is inserted, and results in the act of stinging causing

E. The honeybee's stinger is heavily barbed and stays where it is inserted, with the result that the act of stinging causes
6590

(E) sounds logical...Man!!! what is "stinging causing" 😃

6591

(E) sounds logical...Man!!! what is "stinging causing"