GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

SET #14.Question 6

After more than four decades of research and development, a new type of jet engine is being tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help boost cargoes into space at significantly lower costs than current methods permit.

A.tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help
B.tested that could eventually have the capability of propelling aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or to help
C.tested, eventually able to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours, or helping
D.tested, and it eventually could propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or helping
E.tested, and it could eventually have the capability to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help


I chose A mainly by elimination. For or in the underlying phrase both the verbs need to be parallel, so propel and help should be parallel.So B,C and D are out. For E, I thought it is verbose

Correct Answer is E. Could someone explain why is it so?

Thanks in advance

Also, does anyone know where to find the explanations of SET questions.


A. Two functions are mentioned that---- could eventually(adverb) propel (verb) and --(could assumed) (no adverb) help (verb). Also I think when we say it could propel we have to sure about it. Since the sentence says it is being tested capability to propel sounds more appropriate.
E. have the capability-- to propel and --(to assumed) help has a more appropriate parallel structure
A. Two functions are mentioned that---- could eventually(adverb) propel (verb) and --(could assumed) (no adverb) help (verb). Also I think when we say it could propel we have to sure about it. Since the sentence says it is being tested capability to propel sounds more appropriate.
E. have the capability-- to propel and --(to assumed) help has a more appropriate parallel structure


Shiva, don't u think in (A) & (B), "that" immediately following "tested" is wrong.
C is awkward and D is wrong because of "helping".

So E is correct.
Can anybody give the answers of these with explanation?

Q29:

For protection from the summer sun, the Mojave lived in open-sided, flat-topped dwellings known as shades, each a roof of poles and arrowweed supported by posts set in a rectangle.


  1. each a roof of poles and arrowweed
  2. each a roof of poles and arrowweed that are being
  3. with each being a roof of poles and arrowweed
  4. with roofs of poles and arrowweed to be
  5. with roofs of poles and arrowweed that are

Answer:
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Q30:

For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly there-quarters only a decade ago.


  1. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
  2. which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters
  3. and that amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters
  4. amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago
  5. amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters

Answer:

29.The part that follows after comma should logically modify shades
A.correct
B. Wordy
C. use conjunction with is not correct. Shades should be modified
D. same as C
E.same as C

30.
A.which refers to California.illogical
B.Same as A.
C. and that (what?) has no noun referent
D.Correct-- use of participle correctly expresses the effect.
E. wordy--- it has no noun referent.

Shiva, don't u think in (A) & (B), "that" immediately following "tested" is wrong.
C is awkward and D is wrong because of "helping".

So E is correct.
why should that following tested be wrong? that points to new study right? yes C and D are wrong for what you have stated.
Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.

(A) Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(B) Chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with many hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia. (D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.

Can anyone say what is wrong with C&D;?
Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.


(A) Many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries.
(B) Chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with many hundreds of monasteries.
(C) Hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago, are dotting the mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia. (D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of which are chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.
(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, many of them chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.


Can anyone say what is wrong with C&D;?


(C) - "are dotting.." looks very awkward to me..i think better structure wud be "mountainous regions are dotted with..."

(D) - "many of which" is wrongly used...pronoun "them" should be used to refer back to plural "monastries"

In fact all the other answers except A seems to be wrong..
i don't really find anyting wrong with the option A.
Please let me know what is the correct answer....

Answer is E
A.wrong because modifier error ,"them" illogically refers to "mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia ".
B. same misplaced modifier........

Although Ms. Bakara had previously emphasized that she could not speak for other Black people, she ventured to do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree with her.
(A) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree
(B) speak on this one occasion since she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would have agreed
(C) so speak on this one occasion due to her firmly believing that many minority people, even most, would likely agree
(D) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, if not most, would agree
(E) do so on this one occasion since she firmly believed many minority people, and even most, would likely agree


Although Napoleons army entered Russia with far more supplies than they had in their previous campaigns, it had provisions for only twenty-four days.
(A) they had in their previous campaigns
(B) their previous campaigns had had
(C) they had for any previous campaign
(D) in their previous campaigns
(E) for any previous campaign

please xplain d answers...

Although Ms. Bakara had previously emphasized that she could not speak for other Black people, she ventured to do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree with her.
(A) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree
(B) speak on this one occasion since she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would have agreed
(C) so speak on this one occasion due to her firmly believing that many minority people, even most, would likely agree
(D) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, if not most, would agree
(E) do so on this one occasion since she firmly believed many minority people, and even most, would likely agree


Although Napoleon's army entered Russia with far more supplies than they had in their previous campaigns, it had provisions for only twenty-four days.
(A) they had in their previous campaigns
(B) their previous campaigns had had
(C) they had for any previous campaign
(D) in their previous campaigns
(E) for any previous campaign

please xplain d answers...

2.Ans is E

"Army" is singular so A,B,C,D are wrong
1.my choice is A

Despite the growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will still use travel agents.
A. growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will
B. growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would
C. growing number of people purchasing plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared to automatic teller machines, many travelers will
D. fact that the number of people purchasing plane tickets online is growing, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would
E. fact that the number of people who purchase plane tickets online are growing, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers compared with automatic teller machines, many travelers would

Pls help me with reasoning......:sarcasm:

Despite the growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will still use travel agents.

A. growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will
B. growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would
C. growing number of people purchasing plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared to automatic teller machines, many travelers will
D. fact that the number of people purchasing plane tickets online is growing, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would
E. fact that the number of people who purchase plane tickets online are growing, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers compared with automatic teller machines, many travelers would


Pls help me with reasoning......:sarcasm:


is the answer (A)? ..

a) is right because it uses proper idioms "just as X, so Y" ("so in this idiom can be omitted) and "prefer X to Y"
b) is wrong because of unidiomatic use of "just as X, that Y'
(C) (D) (E) are wrong because of unidiomatic use of "prefer X as comapered to" etc.
Although Ms. Bakara had previously emphasized that she could not speak for other Black people, she ventured to do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree with her.
(A) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree
(B) speak on this one occasion since she firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would have agreed
(C) so speak on this one occasion due to her firmly believing that many minority people, even most, would likely agree
(D) do so on this one occasion because she firmly believed that many minority people, if not most, would agree
(E) do so on this one occasion since she firmly believed many minority people, and even most, would likely agree


Although Napoleons army entered Russia with far more supplies than they had in their previous campaigns, it had provisions for only twenty-four days.
(A) they had in their previous campaigns
(B) their previous campaigns had had
(C) they had for any previous campaign
(D) in their previous campaigns
(E) for any previous campaign

please xplain d answers...


My take:

1) (D)
2) (E)

will explain the answers if they are correct...
is the answer (A)? ..

a) is right because it uses proper idioms "just as X, so Y" ("so in this idiom can be omitted) and "prefer X to Y"
b) is wrong because of unidiomatic use of "just as X, that Y'
(C) (D) (E) are wrong because of unidiomatic use of "prefer X as comapered to" etc.

ya ans is A
My take
Q 29. A
Q30. D.

Will give my explanations if my response matches with OA.



Yes these are right answers ..could you provide explanation?

Camille Claudet worked continuously through the 1880s and early 1890s with the sculptor Auguste Rodin; since there are very few signed works of hers, the inescapable conclusion seems to be one of Claudet conceiving and executing part of Rodins enormous production of that period.
(A) inescapable conclusion seems to be one of Claudet conceiving and executing part of Rodins enormous production of that period
(B) conclusion of Claudet conceiving and executing part of Rodins enormous production of that period seems inescapable
(C) conclusion seems inescapable that part of Rodins enormous production of that period was conceived and executed by Claudet
(D) conclusion of part of Rodins enormous production of that period having been conceived and executed by Claudet seems inescapable
(E) seemingly inescapable conclusion is that Claudet would have conceived and executed part of Rodins enormous production of that period

Pls help with reasoning........

I would go with E.

A: "one of claudet" - wrong
B: "conclusion of claudet" - was it claudets conclusion ?
C: "conclusion seems inescapable that" - awkward. changes meaning.
D: Is it conclusion of part of Rodin's prodn ?
E: Correctly uses the adverb "seemingly" to describe the adjective "inescapable". The whole sent makes sense.

AnaScott Says
Yes these are right answers ..could you provide explanation?

Shiva has already given the explanation. Its perfect.
Look into the last page.

29. A preferred over B cos of "being" in B. B is much more verbose.
30. Cant give a better explanation than Shiva.

HOpe it helps.
My answer for the 1st one would be 'E'.
Reasoning: A, B, C are not correct due to incorrect parallel construction.
D uses 'are often' which is not the same as 'can be'
E seems to fit in just right.


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

Doode answer is E only but the reason you gave is not accurate.
D is incorrect because it asks a question "how frequently is the inventory turned over" however the phrase tells you that "how items are placed on shelves" which doesnt ask any question and thats why parallelism is violated.
Rest all choices violates parallelism.