GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

The Confederate general Stonewall Jackson led a feared army that idolized him; they all mourned his ironic death from "friendly fire".

a.) him; they all mourned his
b.) him; they mourned his
c.) him; it mourned his
d.) him; it mourned their
d.) him; it mourned his



Dude option C and E are same
Anyways the answer is either c or e. Army is a single unit so " it" will be used that eliminates a and b. d cannot be the answer cause it has the phrase "it mourned their" . Here army is mourning for the general so "his" should be used.
Please provide official answer :grin:

Official answersssssss for my SC SPAM :biggrin:

1)C
4)B
5)D
6)E
7)A
19)B
20)A
21)B
22)E
23)A
24)C
25)E

Thanks kunal for the explanations !!

Many of you have got the answers quite right. Anyways here are my doubts :

ques 1 ) In option C there is a semi colon and whenver we use a semi colon we make sure that the two seperated phrases are independant. Can any one explain that how does the reference made by the word "such" in the second independant clause makes sense ? can an independent clause use a pronoun that refers to a noun which is used in the first independant clause ?

I hope my query is clear here :D


ques 4 ) how can proposing be used ?? shouldn't the word be proposed ??

ques 6) is the idiom correctly used in option E. Not only with.....but also in !!!!

ques 7) what's wrong with option A. it seems correct to me !

ques 20) some one please analyze this question ,i'll do a big __/-\__
well... shouldn't past perfect be used in option A ??

ques 21) Isn't option B missing parallelism ??

ques 22) what's wrong with option B ???

ques 23) why option A is correct ? doesn't the word inner sound ambiguous ?? option B sounds much better !

ques 24) Isn't option E correct or is there ambiguity for the word "were" ??


ques 25) what's wrong with option C ?? i can't figure out..

Someone please care to explain these ? I know the list is BIG
TIA !

Thanks kunal for the explanations !!

Many of you have got the answers quite right. Anyways here are my doubts :

ques 1 ) In option C there is a semi colon and whenver we use a semi colon we make sure that the two seperated phrases are independant. Can any one explain that how does the reference made by the word "such" in the second independant clause makes sense ? can an independent clause use a pronoun that refers to a noun which is used in the first independant clause ?

You can use a pronoun in an independent clause to refer to a previous clause( See the example stated above and congizant has given the right answer).. but in independent clause u NEED to have a verb( this is important)

I hope my query is clear here :D


ques 4 ) how can proposing be used ?? shouldn't the word be proposed ??( parallelism.. reaching and proposing..)

ques 6) is the idiom correctly used in option E. Not only with.....but also in !!!! ( if i understand ur question correctly.. Not only but also is absolutely correct)


ques 7) what's wrong with option A. it seems correct to me !( A is the right answer for sure.. πŸ˜ƒ )

!


Rest i have not done.. as soon as i'll solve rest of the questions .. i will definitely try to help u solve ur doubts.

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During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added to the strain on the countrys debt-ridden economy.

(A) During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added
(B) During the 1980s it is estimated that approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico and added
(C) It is estimated that there was approximately $50 billion in private investment capital that left Mexico during the 1980s and added
(D) It is estimated that during the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico, adding
(E) Approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated as having left Mexico during the 1980s, adding


Dicey one..nd i am pretty sure i'll goof up up this one :D
A) can be coz of past perfect and past tense are properly used
B)both actions in same tense..so cannot be
C)that left...does not sound good
D)can be coz uf cause and effect relationship
E)as having left....adding sounds awkward to me.

So now it is between A and D. I am quite confused now. I'll take a blind guess at A
Contrary to popular opinion, the movement toward a service economy is leading neither to lower standards of living, more of an unequal distribution of income, or displacing the physical production of goods.

(A) leading neither to lower standards of living, more of an unequal distribution of income, or
(B) leading neither to lower standards of living nor a more unequal distribution of income, or
(C) not leading to either lower standards of living nor to more of an unequal distribution of income, and neither is it
(D) not leading to lower standards of living, more of an unequal distribution of income, and it is not
(E) not leading to lower standards of living or to a more unequal distribution of income, nor is it


What's the official answer for this one ??

Correct answer should be D
u can not use added.. adding should be used

During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added to the strain on the countrys debt-ridden economy.

(A) During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added
(B) During the 1980s it is estimated that approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico and added
(C) It is estimated that there was approximately $50 billion in private investment capital that left Mexico during the 1980s and added
(D) It is estimated that during the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital left Mexico, adding
(E) Approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated as having left Mexico during the 1980s, adding
Correct answer should be D
u can not use added.. adding should be used


Kunal i suppose you are taking coz and effect relation into account ?? well in option A what's the harm
I mean are we taking our frame of reference to 1980's and then making this statement or are we just referring to a time and making statements which say that so and so happened ??

I hope my query is clear
Kunal i suppose you are taking coz and effect relation into account ?? well in option A what's the harm
I mean are we taking our frame of reference to 1980's and then making this statement or are we just referring to a time and making statements which say that so and so happened ??

I hope my query is clear


I think we need to take coz and effect into account.... it is the consequence of earlier action.. as in it says during 1980's apprx 50 billion left.. this effected in adding the strain to the economy.. take a look at it again it will solve ur doubts

During the 1980's approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added to the strain on the country's debt-ridden economy.

the tense here is "is".. if it was "was"... den the story had been different.. :)

and a tip do not "prefer" perfect tense.. if there is only one event..:)
Here's my SC spam ! MODS pardon me if


19. Roughly one-half of the worlds population, including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia also, is wholly dependent on rice to be its staple food.
A. including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia also, is wholly dependent on rice to be
B. including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia, is wholly dependent on rice as
C. virtually all of East and Southeast Asia as well, wholly dependent on rice as
D. which includes virtually all of East and Southeast Asias, being wholly dependent on rice as
E. which includes virtually all of East and Southeast Asia also, is wholly dependent on rice to be.


In sentence A and E "also" is redundant..
In sentence use of "which" is not necessary and "being" unnecessay
In sentence E "to be" is wrong
Correct Answer B



20. After increasing steadily for centuries, the total annual catch of all wild fish peaked in 1989; since that time, the total catch for most species has declined or plateaued, prompting conservation efforts designed to help prevent population crashes and possible extinctions.
A. fish peaked in 1989; since that time, the total catch for most species has declined or plateaued, prompting
B. fish peaked in 1989, but with the total catch since then declining or plateauing in the case of most species, prompting
C. fish had peaked in 1989; since that time, the decline or plateau of the total catch for most species, which prompted
D. fish, which peaked in 1989, and, in the case of most species, it has declined or plateaued since, prompted
E. fish, which peaked in 1989 but has since declined or plateaued for most species, and this prompted



Correct Answer A it correctly uses the participle phrase .. 'prompting...
B looks Awkard
In C it shud not be "had peaked" an even of the past is been described
D and E uses "which" incorrectly
Here's my SC spam ! MODS pardon me if

21. During the eighteenth century, widespread changes in agriculture, known as the agrarian revolution, involving the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields, of new farming techniques and crops, and the substitution of commercial for subsistence farming.
A. revolution, involving the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields, of new farming techniques and crops, and
B. revolution, involved the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields and of new farming techniques and crops, and C. revolution, which involved the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields and of new farming techniques and crops, and
D. revolution involved the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields, new farming techniques and crops, and of
E. revolution that involved the large-scale introduction of enclosed fields and new farming techniques and crops, and of

involving is wrong tense.. "involved" is right... i would have gone wid b.. not sure on this one..


22. More than fifty years after the Second World War, a number of African American soldiers were awardedsome of them posthumouslywith the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nations highest military award, and which was long overdue in recognition of their outstanding bravery.
A. with the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nations highest military award, and which was long overdue in
B. with the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award for long- overdue
C. the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was the nations highest military award, long-overdue in
D. the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award for long- overdue
E. the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nations highest military award, in long- overdue




hmm tricky one.. but i do not think that GMAT will test on idioms so vigorously..
anyways.. it shud be "E"(best choice).. ( was confused among B,D and E)
"awarded with" is wrong
now d and e are tricky
here "long-overdue" is just an extra word remove it and den read "in recognition of" is correct
Hence correct answer is E..

Good analysis kunal. Will be posting another sc spam

Here's my SC spam ! MODS pardon me if

23. The discovery that Earth's inner core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth's outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth's magnetic field.
A. core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth's outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth's magnetic field
B. core rotates independently of and more quickly than Earth's outer layers is responsible for advancing studies of how heat from the inner core flows through the outer planet, and the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth's magnetic field
C. core rotates independently and more quickly than Earth's outer layers are responsible for advancing studies of how heat from the inner core flows through the outer planet, and how Earth's magnetic field forms and the periodic reversal of its direction
D. core, rotating independently and more quickly than Earth's outer layers, are responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet, and the formation and periodic reversal in direction of Earth's magnetic field
E. core, rotating independently of and more quickly than Earth's outer layers, is responsible for advancing studies of the flow of heat from the inner through the outer planet and of how Earth's magnetic field forms and the periodic reversal of its direction.


It has to be in present tense.. a discovery leads to a fact..( facts are always in present tense)
now we have A,B and C
it shud be independently of ... earth's outer layer
C out
now we are left with A and B
of how heat from the inner core flows through.. seems awkward,wordy.. and passive
Best possible answer is "A"


24. Until a few centuries ago, any large bones discovered in the fields or caves of Europe, now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be the remains of giants and were often displayed as curiosities in castles, palaces, town halls, churches, and monasteries.
A. now known to be large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be
B. presently known as from large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as
C. bones now known to be those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be
D. bones known at present as of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed as those of
E. currently known as those of large prehistoric animals, were usually assumed to be those of


A and B compares bone with prehistoric animals.. wrong..
again a tricky idiom question.. i choosed C.. but was not sure.. had to go through some books..
Here "known to be" is the right idiom
"known as" is wrong..
eg..
Sachin Tendulkar is known as "God of Cricket"( named as)
Moon is known to be the only satellite of earth. ( fact.. hence acknowledged)

so u have to remove D and E
that leaves us with C. the best possible choice..




25. The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions that the company hopes will help merchants confirm a check's authenticity, which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view the watermark while holding the check to the light.

A. which includes reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view
B. which include reminders for watching the endorsement, to compare signatures and view
C. by including reminders for watching the endorsement, comparing signatures, and viewing
D. including reminders to watch the endorsement, comparing signatures and viewing
E. including reminders to watch the endorsement, compare signatures, and view


Use of "which" is wrong
that leaves us with C, D and E
Let us analyze the question carefully..
"The principal feature of the redesigned checks is a series of printed instructions"
this sentence tells us that the principal feature is a series of printed instructions.. . rest are less important , extra things provided..
hence choice C is out..
which includes "by" distorts the meaning of the sentence..
between D and E
parallelism..
reminders, compares, view..
hence E is the right choice. :)

Any different views or doubts or discussion.. will be entertained..
During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added to the strain on the countrys debt-ridden economy.


(A) During the 1980s approximately $50 billion in private investment capital is estimated to have left Mexico and added
whytodomba Says
Good analysis kunal. Will be posting another sc spam


Eagerly waiting..

And here is my SC spam 2 . Again, I have the official answers but not the explanations :nono:

1. Elk now live almost solely in the Rocky Mountains, which would make it seem that elk are mountain dwellers, while they once ranged over virtually all of the continental United States except for a small strip in the extreme Southwest.
A. Elk now live almost solely in the Rocky Mountains, which would make it seem that elk are mountain dwellers, while
B. The fact that elk now live almost solely in the Rocky Mountains would make it seem that they are mountain dwellers, but
C. It would seem that elk would be mountain dwellers because of their living now solely almost in the Rocky Mountains, but still
D. Now living almost solely in the Rocky Mountains, it would seem that elk were mountain dwellers, although
E. It seems that elk would be mountain dwellers from the fact that they now live solely almost in the Rocky Mountains, since


2. As Charles Darwin observed, natural selection operates whenever individuals of one genetic composition are better at reproducing than that of others.
A. that of others
B. the other
C. another
D. those of another
E. that of the next

4)
By merging its two publishing divisions, the company will increase their share of the country's $21 billion book market from 6 percent to 10 percent, a market ranging from obscure textbooks to mass-market paperbacks.

A. their share of the country's $21 billion book market from 6 percent to 10 percent, a market ranging
B. from 6 percent to 10 percent its share of the $21 billion book market in the country, which ranges
C. to 10 percent from 6 percent in their share of the $21 billion book market in the country, a market ranging
D. in its share, from 6 percent to 10 percent, of the $21 billion book market in the SC Test 6 3
country, which ranges
E. to 10 percent from 6 percent its share of the country's $21 billion book market, which ranges

6. The 32 species that make up the dolphin family are closely related to whales and in fact include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is famous for its aggressive hunting pods.
A. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is
B. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing as big as 30 feet long and
C. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing up to 30 feet long and being
D. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow as big as 30 feet long and is
E. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and it is


7. Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been



9. Rivaling the pyramids of Egypt or even the ancient cities of the Maya as an
achievement, the army of terra-cotta warriors created to protect Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor, in his afterlife is more than 2,000 years old and took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete them.
A. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete them
B. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete it
C. took 700,000 artisans more than 36 years to complete
D. 700,000 artisans took more than 36 years to complete
E. to complete them too 700,000 artisans more than 36 years

11.
Past assessments of the Brazilian rain forest have used satellite images to tally
deforested areas, where farmers and ranchers have clear-cut and burned all the trees, but such work has not addressed either logging, which is the removal of only selected trees, as well as surface fires, burning down individual trees but do not denude the forest.
A. which is the removal of only selected trees, as well as surface fires, burning
B. which removes only selected trees, or surface fires that burn
C. which removes only selected trees, along with surface fires that burn
D. removing only selected trees, or surface fires, burning
E. removing only selected trees, as well as surface fires that burn

13. Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast.

A. Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places
have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast.
B. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places,

a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted.
C. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates.
D. A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election.
E. A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast.


14. The ancient Anasazi harvested such native desert vegetation as the purple-flowered bee

plant, what they now commonly call wild spinach in northern Arizona and other parts of the southwestern United States.
A. what they now commonly call
B. a plant that they now commonly call
C. now commonly called
D. and is now commonly called
E. which it is now commonly called


15. To develop more accurate population forecasts, demographers have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic determinants of fertility.
A. have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic
B. have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
C. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
D. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economic
E. would have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economical


16. Although people in France consume fatty foods at a rate comparable to the United States, their death rates from heart disease are far lower in France.
A. people in France consume fatty foods at a rate comparable to the United States, their
B. people in France and the United States consume fatty foods at about the same rate, the
C. fatty foods are consumed by people in France at a comparable rate to the United States's, their
D. the rate of fatty foods consumed in France and the United States is about the same, the
E. the rate of people consuming fatty foods is about the same in France and the United States, the


24. Possible long-term consequences of the "greenhouse effect," the gradual warming of the
Earth's climate, may include melting the polar ice caps and a rising sea level.
A. may include melting the polar ice caps and a rising sea level
B. may include the melting of polar ice caps and the rising sea level
C. may include polar ice caps that are melting and sea levels that are rising
D. include melting the polar ice caps and sea levels that are rising
E. include melting of the polar ice caps and a rise in sea level