Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 95, 96

95). For members of the seventeenth-century Ashanti nation in Africa, animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, a method to protect
warriors against enemy arrows and spears.

(A) a method to protect

(B) as a method protecting

(C) protecting

(D) as a protection of

(E) to protect

96). Scientists have observed large concentrations of heavy-metal deposits in the upper twenty centimeters of Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent with the growth of industrial activity there.

(A) Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent with the growth of industrial activity there

(B) Baltic Sea sediments, where the growth of industrial activity is consistent with these findings

(C) Baltic Sea sediments, findings consistent with its growth of industrial activity

(D) sediments from the Baltic Sea, findings consistent with the growth of industrial activity in the area

(E) sediments from the Baltic Sea, consistent with the growth of industrial activity there


Answers --

95). C is the best choice.
A, B -- incorrect - subject verb agreement - singular "method" refers to the plural "items of military equipment."
D -- incorrect - "protection" cannot substitute for any prior noun in the sentence. Also this choice ends the sentence with a prepositional phrase which is incorrect.
E -- incorrect - run on sentence - has a comma splice splitting at the end two independent clauses making it a run-on sentence.

96). D is the best choice.
A -- incorrect - relative pronoun "which" incorrectly refers to "Baltic Sea sediments"
B -- incorrect - "these" refers to what?
C -- incorrect - "its" has no clear referrent
E -- incorrect - What is consistent with the growth of
industrial activity there ? The Baltic sea sediments ? The large concentrations of heavy metal deposits?

Gmat SEntence Correction 93, 94

93). As a baby emerges from the darkness of the womb with a rudimentary sense of vision, it would be rated about 20/500. or legally blind if it were an adult with such vision.

(A) As a baby emerges from the darkness of the womb with a rudimentary sense of vision, it would be rated about 20/500, or legally blind if it were an adult with such vision.

(B) A baby emerges from the darkness of the womb with a rudimentary sense of vision that would be rated about 20/500, or legally blind as an adult

(C) As a baby emerges from the darkness of the womb, its rudimentary sense of vision would be rated about 20/500; qualifying it to be legally blind if an adult

(D) A baby emerges from the darkness of the womb with a rudimentary sense of vision that would be rated about 20/500; an adult with such vision would be deemed legally blind.

(E) As a baby emerges from the darkness of the womb, its rudimentary sense of vision, which would deemed legally blind for an adult, would be rated about 20/500.

94). The cameras of the Voyager II spacecraft detected six small, previously unseen moons circling Uranus, which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting the distant planet

(A) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting

(B) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known to orbit

(C) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known in orbit around

(D) doubling to twelve the number of satellites now known as orbiting

(E) which doubles to twelve the number of satellites now known that orbit


Answers --

93). D is the best choice.
A -- incorrect - seems to state that the newborn baby, rather than its sense of vision, would be rated 20/500.
B, E -- incorrect - use awkward and ambiguous phrasing that suggests that the sense of vision, rather than an adult with 20/500 vision, would be considered legally blind.
C -- incorrect - incorrectly uses the semicolon, which should separate independent clauses, to set off a verb phrase. The phrase if an adult in C is also illogical, since it states that a baby could also be an adult.

94). B is the best choice.
A, C, E -- incorrect - "which" wrongly refers to "Uranus"
D -- incorrect - "known to": when we want to talk about some fact that people have learned "known as": when we want to talk about the name of somebody or something or its definition ... hence D is wrong.

Gmat Sentence Correction 91, 92

91). Since 1981, when the farm depression began, the number of acres overseen by professional farm-management companies have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, an area that is about Colorado's size.

(A) have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, an area that is about Colorado's size

(B) have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, about the size of Colorado

(C) has grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, an area about the size of Colorado

(D) has grown from 48 million up to nearly 59 million, an area about the size of Colorado's

(E) has grown from 48 million up to nearly 59 million, about Colorado's size


92). Some bat caves, like honeybee hives, have residents that take on different duties such as defending the entrance, acting as sentinels and to sound a warning at the approach of danger, and scouting outside the cave for new food and roosting sites.

(A) acting as sentinels and to sound

(B) acting as sentinels and sounding

(C) to act as sentinels and sound

(D) to act as sentinels and to sound

(E) to act as a sentinel sounding


Answers --

91). C is the best choice.
A, B -- incorrect - subject verb agreement - plural verb "have" does not agree with singular subject "number".
D, E -- incorrect - unidiomatic - "up to" is wrong, correct idiom is "from x to y"


92). B is the best choice -- maintaining parallelism required among and within the three main verb phrases - defending, acting... sounding, and scouting
A, C, D, E -- incorrect - violating parallelism.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 89, 90

89). John Smith provides information on the conditions that lead women to a gynecologist, and he notes that these conditions can, and sometimes are, used in the promotion of surgery which is not needed.

(A) and he notes that these conditions can, and sometimes are, used in the promotion of surgery which is not needed

(B) noting that these conditions can be, and sometimes are, used to promote needless surgery

(C) and notes that they could and sometimes are used unnecessarily in promoting surgery

(D) sometimes promoting needless surgery

(E) which they use sometimes to promote unnecessary surgery

90). Machines replacing human labor, there was wide anticipation that the workweek would continue to become shorter.

(A) Machines replacing human labor, there was wide anticipation that

(B) When machines replaced human labor, there was wide anticipation

(C) As machines replaced human labor, it was widely anticipated that

(D) Insofar as machines replaced human labor, it was widely anticipated

(E) Human labor being replaced by machines, there was wide anticipation that


Answers --

89). B is the best choice.
A - incorrect - wordy...Further "can be (used) and sometimes are used"..omits "be"
C, E - incorrect - ambiguous "they"
D - incorrect - who promotes needless surgery ?...not clear....Conditions or John Smith?


90). Best choice C - only choice to use past tense correctly throughout.
Why It is right in this choice, the link below explains ...


http://gmat-grammar.blogspot.com/2006/07/it-as-subject-of-sentence.html


Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 87, 88

87). It takes a deft balance between savings discipline, investment knowledge, risk taking, luck, and time to raise a million dollars through investments.

(A) It takes a deft balance between

(B) Deft balancing is needed between

(C) Deftly balanced, it takes

(D) It takes a deft balance of

(E) A deft balance is what one needs among

88). Last year, land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did outside the pinelands.

(A) so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did

(B) so fast, and in some parts even faster than, those

(C) as fast, and in some parts even faster than, those

(D) as fast as, and in some parts even faster than, those

(E) as fast as, and in some parts even faster than what they did



Answers --

87). D is the best choice.
A, B - incorrect - usage of between is wrong here...."between" is used when we consider only two objects. Further correct idiom is "balance of"
C - incorrect - Awkward.....Deftly balanced seems to modify the full sentence
E - incorrect - Changes the meaning (deft balance among a, b and c ) ---"among" incorrect here, we need "of" here.

"Deft balance of" is not same as "Deft balance among"
E suggests that "Deft balance" is the only required object among all the other objects "savings discipline, investment knowledge, risk taking, luck and time" ...which is incorrect.


88). D - correct - idiomatic
Comparison in this sentence is between the most parts of pineland and parts outside the pineland.
A, B, C - incorrect - correct idioms are "as...as" and "so..that"
E - incorrect - "they" referring to what ?

Monday, November 06, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 85, 86

85). Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients' misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested, but in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy, the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.

(A) in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy

(B) if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food

(C) in attributing behavior that is criminal or delinquent to an allergy to some food

(D) if some food allergy is attributed as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior

(E) in attributing a food allergy as the cause of criminal or delinquent behavior

86). The voluminous personal papers of Thomas Alva Edison reveal that his inventions typically sprang to life not in a flash of inspiration but evolved slowly from previous works.

(A) sprang to life not in a flash of inspiration but evolved slowly

(B) sprang to life not in a flash of inspiration but were slowly evolved

(C) did not spring to life in a flash of inspiration but evolved slowly

(D) did not spring to life in a flash of inspiration but had slowly evolved

(E) did not spring to life in a flash of inspiration but they were slowly evolved


Answers --

85). B is the correct answer.
A, C, E - incorrect - "in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior" is modifying perpetrators which is not correct because the defense attorneys are attributing behavior to food allergies.
D - incorrect - doesn't identifies the attributors at all.

86). C is the correct answer - Parallelism - ...not...but..
A, B - incorrect - violating parallelism - right form...not in....but in...
D - incorrect - wrong tense
E - incorrect - passive

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 83, 84

83). 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

84). An array of tax incentives has led to a boom in the construction of new office buildings; so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that investors regularly scour the country for areas in which to build.

(A) so abundant has capital been for commercial real estate that

(B) capital has been so abundant for commercial real estate, so that

(C) the abundance of capital for commercial real estate has been such,

(D) such has the abundance of capital been for commercial real estate that

(E) such has been an abundance of capital for commercial real estate,


Answers --

83). D is the best answer.
A - incorrect - referent of "they" is not present or in other words is unclear
B - incorrect - Aho, a Kiowa matriarchs home, makes it wrong as Aho is Kiowa matriarch and not the home
C - incorrect - is unnecessarily wordy -- "who was" part
E - incorrect - ambiguous - not clear whether the festival or the home featured the preparation.


84). Choice A is the correct answer.
B - incorrect - there is repetition of "so" as such it is illogical,

C, E - incorrect - "that" has been omitted which makes both the choices grammatically incorrect.
D - incorrect - seperation of "has" and "been" is vague and incorrect.
C, D ,E - incorrect - "such" seems to convey the meaning "of a kind" and it is not stressing "abundant" as it should do otherwise.

Gmat Sentence Correction 81, 82

81). Despite the recent election of a woman to the office of prime minister, the status of women in Pakistan is little changed from how it was in the last century.

(A) is little changed from how it was

(B) is a little change from how it was

(C) has changed little

(D) has changed little from how it has been

(E) is little changed from the way it was

82). Although the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, control of them is necessary only in the South.

(A) the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, control of them is

(B) widely distributed, measures to control the lesser cornstalk borer are

(C) widely distributed, lesser cornstalk borer control is

(D) the lesser cornstalk borer is widely distributed, measures to control it are

(E) it is widely distributed, control of the lesser cornstalk borer is

Answers --

81). C is the best choice.
A, B, D, E - incorrect - "it" referring to what? is it the status of women in the last century or something else in the last century that we compare the current women status with.
A, B, E - incorrect - "little changed" is incorrect..(little changed means changed to some extent but not

much....whereas...changed little implies did not changed at all)
B - incorrect - use of "is" (present tense) is incorrect
D - incorrect - sentence says "last century" so "how it has been" is unnecessary to state.


82). D is the best choice.
A - incorrect - "them" is refering to "lesser cornstalk borer" so must be singular.
B - incorrect - "widely distrbuted" is modifying "measures" , should modify "the lesser cornstalk borer".
C - incorrect - changing the meaning - suggests that lesser cornstalk borer control is widely distributed instead of lesser cornstalk borer.
E - incorrect - "it" referring to what ? "lesser cornstalk borer"or "control"

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 79, 80

79). Federal incentives now encourage investing capital in commercial office buildings despite vacancy rates in existing structures that are exceptionally high and no demand for new construction.

(A) investing capital in commercial office buildings despite vacancy rates in existing structures that are exceptionally high and

(B) capital investment in commercial office buildings, even though vacancy rates in existing structures are exceptionally high and there is

(C) capital to be invested in commercial office buildings even though there are exceptionally high vacancy rates in existing structures with

(D) investing capital in commercial office buildings even though the vacancy rates are exceptionally high in existing structures with

(E) capital investment in commercial office buildings despite vacancy rates in existing structures that are exceptionally high, and although there is


80). A large and increasingly influential sector of publishing, 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards since 1950 have gone to university-press books.

(A) A large and increasingly influential sector of publishing, 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards since 1950 have gone to university-press books.

(B) A large and increasingly influential sector of publishing, university-press books have won 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards since 1950.

(C) Increasingly influential as a large sector of publishing, 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards since 1950 have gone to university-press books.

(D) Since 1950, a large and increasingly influential sector of publishing, 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards have gone to university-press books.

(E) Since 1950, university-press books, a large and increasingly influential sector of publishing, won 20 percent of all the National and American Book awards from then on.

Answers --

79). Best choice is B - Federal incentives now encourage (capital investment) (noun) in commercial office buildings, even though vacancy rates in existing structures are exceptionally high and there is no demand for new construction(maintains parallelism)
A, E - incorrect - suggest structures are high and not the vacancy rates C -awkward - passive voice
D - incorrect - it should be and instead of with, further word that follows encourage must be a noun and not a verb.

80). B is the best choice
A, C, D - incorrect - dangling modifier ( Book awards is modifying sector of publishing)
E - incorrect - Wrong tense..it should be present perfect tense -1950 --- till date.

Also from then on is redundant.

Gmat Sentence Correction 77, 78

77). Oberlin College in Ohio was a renegade institution at its 1833 founding for deciding to accept both men and women as students.

(A) at its 1833 founding for deciding to accept

(B) for the decision at its 1833 founding to accept

(C) when it was founded in 1833 for its decision to accept

(D) in deciding at its founding in 1833 to accept

(E) by deciding at its founding in 1833 on the acceptance of


78). In feudal Europe, urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived and commuted to farmlands in the countryside, unlike homesteading policies in the American West that required residency on the land itself in order to obtain eventual ownership.

(A) In feudal Europe, urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived and commuted to farmlands in the countryside, unlike homesteading policies in the American West that

(B) In feudal Europe, urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived and from which they commuted to farmlands in the countryside, but in the American West homesteading policies

(C) Unlike feudal Europe where urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived and commuted to farmlands in the countryside, the American West's homesteading policies

(D) Unlike feudal Europe where urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived and commuted to farmlands in the countryside, the homesteading policies of the American West

(E) Urban areas developed from clusters of houses where peasants lived from which they commuted to farmlands in the countryside in feudal Europe, unlike the American West where homesteading policies


Answers --

77). Best choice is D

A -- incorrect -- implies - as if Oberlin College was a renegade institution specifically at its founding which was for a very short duration.
B -- incorrect -- implies - as if there were more than one founding.
C -- incorrect -- implies - as if it was founded for the decision to accept men and women
E -- incorrect -- wordy - "on the acceptance of."

78). The best choice is B -- Correctly comparing fuedal Europe to American West
A, C, D -- incorrect -- comparing Europe to policies.
E -- incorrect -- awkward.

Gmat Sentence Correction 75, 76

75). It is an oversimplified view of cattle raising to say that all one has to do with cattle is leave them alone while they feed themselves, corral them and to drive them to market when the time is ripe.

(A) all one has to do with cattle is leave them alone while they feed themselves, corral them, and to

(B) all one has to do with cattle is to leave them alone to feed themselves, to corral them, and

(C) all one has to do with cattle is leave them alone while they feed themselves and then corral them and

(D) the only thing that has to be done with cattle is leave them alone while they feed themselves, corral them, and

(E) the only thing that has to be done with cattle is to leave them alone while they feed themselves, to corral them, and

76). Although dozens of New York's small museums are either devoted to local history of various ethnic groups, there are many one-of-a-kind museums from Manhattan to the Bronx that are open for exploration on summer weekends.

(A) Although dozens of New York's small museums are either devoted to local history or various ethnic groups, there are

(B) Although dozens of New York's small museums are devoted to local history or various ethnic groups,

(C) Dozens of New York's small museums are devoted to local history or various ethnic groups, but there are

(D) Dozens of New York's small museums are devoted to local history or various ethnic groups, and there are also

(E) Devoted to local history or various ethnic groups, dozens of New York's small museums and also


Answers --

75). C is the best answer .
A, B -- incorrect -- parallelism "to leave them, to corral them and to drive them" would be the correct form.
D, E -- incorrect -- use of "the only thing" is wrong as talking about more than one action.

76). Best answer is D.
A, B -- incorrect -- use of although incorrect, it is used to show contrast, but there is no contrast here.
C -- incorrect -- use of "but" wrong as sentence does not have a contrast
E -- incorrect -- awkward

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 73, 74

73). Building large new hospitals in the bistate area would constitute a wasteful use of resources, on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone.

(A) on the basis of avoidance of duplicated facilities alone

(B) on the grounds of avoiding duplicated facilities alone

(C) solely in that duplicated facilities should be avoided

(D) while the duplication of facilities should be avoided

(E) if only because the duplication of facilities should be avoided

74). Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during two decades, stringent rationing and planned distribution have allowed the People’s Republic of China to ensure nutritional levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population.

(A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during

(B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in

(C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over

(D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during

(E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for


Answers --

73). Passive constructions are not always wrong on GMAT
E - correct - if only because is correct idiomatic usage -- the main clause needs to be followed logically by because hence if only because is absolutely correct here.
A - incorrect - wordy and illogical
B,C - incorrect - duplicated facilities .... duplication should be avoided and not the facilities...
C - incorrect - in that unidiomatic
D - incorrect - Usage of while not right

74). B is the best answer.
OE - In choice A, the simple past tense hardly increased does not match the present perfect have allowed; consequently, it seems that two different time periods are being discussed. In B, the best choice, has hardly increased parallels have allowed to indicate that the events described took place at the same time. Also in is the best word here for making a comparison between the beginning and the end of the twenty-year period. Choices C and D are awkward and unidiomatic, and choice E fails to specify where there was no increase in per capita food supply.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 70, 71, 72

70). Unlike a typical automobile loan, which requires a fifteen- to twenty-percent down payment, the lease-loan buyer is not required to make an initial deposit on the new vehicle.

(A). the lease-loan buyer is not required to make

(B). with lease-loan buying there is no requirement of

(C). lease-loan buyers are not required to make

(D). for the lease-loan buyer there is no requirement of

(E). a lease-loan does not require the buyer to make

71). . In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings. which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis.

(A). mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis

(B). mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis ,

(C). between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis

(D). between mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis

(E). genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease

72). Paleontologists believe that fragments of a primate jawbone unearthed in Burma and estimated at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of a crucial step along the evolutionary path that led to human beings.

(A). at 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of

(B). as being 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of

(C). that it is 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was

(D). to be 40 to 44 million years old provide evidence of

(E). as 40 to 44 million years old provides evidence of what was

Answers -

70). Choice E, the best answer - correctly uses a parallel construction to draw a logical comparison: Unlike a typical automobile loan,... a lease-loan....

A - incorrect - illogically compares an automobile loan, an inanimate thing, with a lease-loan buyer, a person.

C - incorrect - buyers makes the comparison inconsistent in number as well as illogical.

B, D - incorrect - are syntactically and logically flawed because each attempts to compare the noun loan and a prepositional phrase: with lease-loan buying in B and/or the lease-loan buyer in D. These choices are also imprecise and awkward.

71). The best choice is C - uses the idiomatically correct expression distinguishes between x and y and because it provides a structure in which the relative clause beginning "which may be violent" clearly modifies "mood swings".

A, B, D, E - incorrect - use distinguishes in unidiomatic constructions. Additionally, their in A is intrusive and unnecessary, and the modifier of mood swings in B and D (perhaps violent) is awkward and less clear than the more developed clause which may be violent.

72). D, the best choice - correctly follows estimated with to be. The other choices present structures that are not idiomatic when used in conjunction with estimated.

A - incorrect - unidiomatic

B, C, E - incorrect - all mismatch the singular verb "provides" with its plural subject "fragments" .Further in C and E, what was is unnecessary and wordy. In choice C, the use of the verb phrase estimated that it is produces an ungrammatical sentence.

Gmat Sentence Correction 67, 68, 69

67). Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2, 000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.

(A) as old as any of their supposed

(B) older than any of their supposed

(C) as old as their supposed

(D) older than any of their supposedly

(E) as old as their supposedly

68). The only way for growers to salvage frozen citrus is to process them quickly into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns.

(A) to process them quickly into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns

(B) if they are quickly processed into juice concentrate before warmer weather returns to rot them

(C) for them to be processed quickly into juice concentrate before the fruit rots when warmer weather returns

(D) if the fruit is quickly processed into juice concentrate before they rot when warmer weather returns

(E) to have it quickly processed into juice concentrate before warmer weather returns and rots the fruit

69). Some bat caves, like honeybee hives, have residents that take on different duties such as defending the entrance, acting as sentinels and to sound a warning at the approach of danger, and scouting outside the cave for new food and roosting sites.

(A) acting as sentinels and to sound

(B) acting as sentinels and sounding

(C) to act as sentinels and sound

(D) to act as sentinels and to sound

(E) to act as a sentinel sounding


Answer -

67). B is the best choice – “older than” makes the point of comparison clear. B also uses the adjective "supposed" correctly.

A, C, E – incorrect – Illogical comparison - The expression as old as indicates equality of age, but the sentence indicates that the monuments by Brittany monuments predate the Mediterranean 2,000 years

D, E – incorrect – adverb “supposedly” used to modify the noun phrase “Mediterranean predecessors”.

68). The best choice is E - has parallel infinitives and uses “to” to refer unambiguously to citrus fruit. The cause-and-effect also expresses the relationship between the return of warmer weather and the rotting of the fruit. For parallelism, the linking verb “is” should link two infinitives : The only way to salvage. . . is to process.

A – incorrect - the plural pronouns “them” and “they” do not agree with the singular noun “citrus”.

B, C, D – incorrect - do not begin with an infinitive. and all present pronoun errors : the plural pronouns “them” and “they” grammatically refer to citrus or fruit and doesnot/cannot refer to farmers.

69). B is the best choice - Because the verb phrases used to describe the bats' duties are governed by the phrase different duties such as, they should each be expressed in the present participial (or "-ing") form to parallel “defending” and “scouting”. Only B uses the correct idiom, and observes parallelism.

A, C, D, E - incorrect - all violate parallelism by employing infinitives (to. . . ) in place of participial destinations.

Gmat Sentence Correction 65, 66

65). The Wallerstein study indicates that even after a decade young men and women still experience some of the effects of a divorce occurring when a child.

(A) occurring when a child

(B) occurring when children

(C) that occurred when a child

(D) that occurred when they were children

(E) that has occurred as each was a child


66). Since 1981, when the farm Journal began, the number of acres overseen by professional farm-management companies have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million. an area that is about Colorado 's size.

(A) have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, an area that is about Colorado 's size

(B) have grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, about the size of Colorado

(C) has grown from 48 million to nearly 59 million, an area about the size of Colorado

(D) has grown from 48 million up to nearly 59 million, an area about the size of Colorado 's

(E) has grown from 48 million up to nearly 59 million, about Colorado 's size

Answers -

65). Choice D is best. The phrasing “a divorce that occurred when they were children” correctly uses the relative clause that occurred to modify a divorce and includes a pronoun and verb (they were) that refer unambiguously to their antecedent. men and women.

A – incorrect - the singular child does not agree with the plural men and women. Further this choice incorrectly introduces the when... phrase with occurring [occurring is a progressive verb indicating continuity in present, however we are concerned with the divorce that occured when men or women(now) were children], thus illogically making divorce the grammatical referent of when a child.

B – incorrect - replaces child with children but otherwise fails to correct a 's structure and errors of logic.

C – incorrect – corrects only the error created by occurring.

E – incorrect - includes an incorrect verb tense (has occurred) and replaces wrongly “when” with “as”. Further “each was” improperly refers to men and women.

66). C is the best answer - An area about the size of Colorado clearly describes a rough equivalence between the area of Colorado and the area overseen by the companies.

A, B – incorrect - the plural verb “have” does not agree with the singular subject “number”.

D, E – incorrect - unidiomatic; the correct expression is "from x to y".


Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 63, 64

63). Among lower- paid workers, union members are less likely than non union members to be enrolled in lower- end insurance plans imposing stricter limits on medical services and requiring doctors to see more patients, and spend less time with each.

A). imposing stricter limits on medical services and requiring doctors to see more patients, and spend

B). imposing stricter limits on medical services , requiring doctors to see more patients, and spending

C). that impose stricter limits on medical services, require doctors to see more patients, and spend

D). that impose stricter limits on medical services and require doctors to see more patients, spending

E). that impose stricter limits on medical services, requiring doctors to see more patients and spending


64). one automobile manufacturer has announced plans to increase the average fuel efficiency of its sport utility vehicles by 25 percent over the next five years, amounting to roughly five miles per gallon, and representing the first significant change in the fuel efficiency of any class of passenger vehicle in almost two decades.

A). amounting to roughly five miles per gallon, and representing

B). amounting to roughly five miles per gallon, and it would represent

C). an increase that would amount to roughly five miles per gallon and it would represent

D). an increase that would amount to roughly five miles per gallon and would represent

E). which is an increase amounting to roughly five miles per gallon, representing



Answer -


63). D is the best choice.

A,B – incorrect - insurance plans are not imposing anything

C – incorrect – Plans can’t spend time - plans that impose X, (that) require Y and (that) spend Z

E – incorrect - plans that impose X, (that) requiring Y and (that) spending Z. - Lacks Parallelism and plans can't spend less time


64). D is the best choice.

A,B,E -- incorrect -- What is amounting ? – an increase – Thus option C or D

C -- incorrect -- “it” is not required.


Gmat Sentence Correction 61, 62

61). Although the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted was in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, it had not been announced until February, 1968.

A) Although the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted was in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, it had not been announced until February, 1968.

B) Although not announced until February, 1968, in the summer of 1967 graduate student Jocelyn Bell observed the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted.

C). Although observed by graduate student Jocelyn Bell in the summer of 1967, the discovery of the first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star had not been announced before February, 1968.

D). The first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, but the discovery was not announced until February, 1968.

E) The first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, was not announced until February, 1968, while it was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell.

62). During the same period in which the Maya were developing a heiroglphic system of writing, the Aztec people also developed a written language, but it was not as highly sphisticated as that of the Maya and was more pictographic in nature.

A). but it was not as highly sphisticated as that of the Maya and was

B). but it was not as highly sophisticated as the Maya, being

C). but, not as highly sophisticated as the Maya's, was

D). not as highly sphisticated as that of the Maya, however, being

E). not as highly sphisticated as the Maya's however, it was


Answer -

61). Best answer choice is D

A – incorrect – usage of past perfect tense incorrect here.

B – incorrect – dangling modifier—“Although not announced”…. “ graduate student Jocelyn Bell”

C – incorrect – dangling modifier – “observed”.. “discovery of”

E – incorrect – usage of “while” is wrong here. Further the sentence conveys the idea that the pulsar was announced which is wrong – sighting was announced instead.


62). A is the best choice.

B– incorrect – wrong comparison – comparing system of writing with Maya. Further options having “being” in them must be avoided on GMAT

C, D, E – incorrect –Subject of the sentence not clear.

E – incorrect – run-on sentence

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 60

60). A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant stage, depending on mass.

(A). A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant stage, depending on mass.

(B). After passing through a red giant stage, depending on its mass, a star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

(C). After passing through a red giant stage, a star's mass will determine if it compresses itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

(D). Mass determines whether a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

(E). The mass of a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will determine whether it compresses itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

Answer -

60). D is the best choice -- Mass determines whether a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.
(Read the sentence without the words stated in orange color.)

A - incorrect -- dangling modifier...(depending on mass)

B - incorrect -- "its" refers to the red giant stage's mass.


C - incorrect -- star's mass will determine if it compress itself...again here it refers to mass rather than star.

E - incorrect -- Mass of start after passing....it is star that is passing and not the mass.

Gmat Sentence Correction 58, 59

58). There are hopeful signs that we are shifting away from our heavy reliance on fossil fuels: more than ten times as much energy is generated through wind power now than it was in 1990.

A). generated through wind power now than it was

B). generated through wind power now as it was

C). generated through wind power now as was the case

D). now generated through wind power as it was

E). now generated through wind power than was the case.


59). The computer company has announced that it will purchase the color-printing divison of a rival company for $ 950 million, which is part of a deal that will make it the largest manufacturer in the office color-printing market.

A). million, which is part of a deal that will make

B). million, a part of a deal that makes

C). million, part of a deal making

D). million as a part of a deal to make

E). million as part of a deal that will make


Answers -

58). C is correct answer - correct idiom “as X as Y”

A,B,D – incorrect – no clear referent for “it”

E – incorrect – “than” is used incorrectly in this option.


59). E is the best choice.

B,C,D – incorrect –wrong tense usage -- present tense is used instead of future tense

A – incorrect – “which” –referrent not clear..

Note – Always remember a participle phrase as in C here, is used for an event in the past or which is going on at present but never for the future – the reason why again C is wrong. C is basically changing the meaning of the sentence.

Gmat Sentence Correction 56, 57

56). Some patients who do not respond therapies of depression may simply have received inadequate treatment, having, for example been prescribed a drug as a dosage too low to be effective or having been taken off a drug too soon.

(A). having, for example been prescribed a drug as a dosage too low to be effective or having been

(B). having, for example, a drug prescription that was ineffective because the dosage was too low, or being

(C). as, for example, having too low of a dosage of prescribed drug for it to be effective, or being

(D). when they have, for example, been prescribed too low a drug dosage for it to be effective, or were

(E). for example, when they have a drug prescription with a dosage too low to be effective, or been

57). Officials at the United States Mint believe that the Sacagawea dollar coin will be used more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than four quarters, which weigh 5.67 grams each.

(A). more as a substitute for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than

(B). more as a substitute for four quarters than the dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far lighter than

(C). as a substitute for four quarters more than for a dollar bill because it weighs only 8.1 grams, far less than

(D). as a substitute for four quarters more than the dollar bill because its weight of only 8.1 grams is far lighter than it is for
(E). as a substitute more for four quarters rather than for the dollar bill because its weight, only 8.1 grams, is far less than it is for


Answers -

56). A is the best choice. “having….been” is correct usage as it maintains parallelism.

B – incorrect – idea conveyed by this option is that a drug prescription was ineffective which cannot be true.

C – incorrect -- parallelism is violated here – having … being

D – incorrect -- wrong tense and violating parallelism

E – incorrect -- violating parallelism


57). C is the best choice.

A,D,E – incorrect – violating parallelism – it should be “weighs” and not “weights”

B – incorrect – incorrectly comparing “as a substitute” with “four quarters”

Gmat Sentence Correction 54, 55

54). A new phenomena, which is visible at Managua's major intersections, are waves of vendors and beggars, which include many children and mob cars at the stoplights.

(A) A new phenomena, which is visible at Managua's major intersections, are waves of vendors and beggars, which include many children and

(B) Visible at Managua's major intersections are waves of vendors and beggars with many children, new phenomena that

(C) A new phenomenon visible at Managua's major intersections is waves of vendors and beggars, many of them children, who

(D) Phenomenally new waves of vendors, beggars, and many children are visible at Managua's major intersections, which

(E) A wave of vendors and beggars, many of whom are children, are visible at Managua's major intersections, where they are a new phenomenon and


55). To meet the rapidly rising market demand for fish and seafood, suppliers are growing fish twice as fast as their natural growth rate, cutting their feed allotment by nearly half and raising them on special diets.

(A). their natural growth rate, cutting their feed allotment

(B). their natural growth rate, their feed allotment cut

(C). growing them naturally, cutting their feed allotment

(D). they grow naturally, cutting their feed allotment

(E). they grow naturally, with their feed allotment cut



Answers -

54). C is the best choice.

A,E - incorrect -- Subject-Verb Agreemant

B - incorrect -- phenomenon cannot rob cars.

D - incorrect -- very awkward , changes the meaning of the sentence

55). D is the correct answer - parallelism is maintained -"growing....cutting...raising...". Further antecedent of “they” is clear i.e “the fish”

C - incorrect -- after “as fast as” we need a clause.

A, B - incorrect -- wrong comparison -- cannot compare verb with noun --- growing fish (verb) with growth rate (noun).


B, E - incorrect -- violating parallelism.

Gmat Sentence Correction 52, 53

52). Byron possessed powers of observation that would have made him a great anthropologist and that makes his letters as a group the rival of the best novels of the time.

(A) makes his letters as a group the rival of

(B) makes his letters as a group one to rival

(C) makes his letters a group rivaling

(D) make his letters as a group the rival of

(E) make his letters a group which is the rival of

53). The expected rise in the price of oil could be a serious impact to industrialized nations and severely diminish the possibility to have an economy free of inflation.

(A) be a serious impact to industrialized nations and severely diminish the possibility to have

(B) seriously impact on industrialized nations and severely impede the possibility to have

(C) seriously impact on industrialized nations and severely impede the possibility of having

(D) have a serious impact on industrialized nations and severely impede the possibility to have

(E) have a serious impact on industrialized nations and severely diminish the possibility of having


Answers -

52). Correct answer - D

A,B,C - incorrect - subject verb agreement - powers....make


E - wordy

53). E is the best choice.

A,B,C - incorrect -- Always remember in GMAT --impact should remain a noun; a proposal can have an impact.(The only thing that can be impacted is a wisdom tooth).

D - incorrect - "possibility of" is correct idiom. Further "diminish" instead of "impede" is more appropriate to use here.

Gmat Sentence Correction 50, 51

50). In large doses, analgesics that work in the brain as antagonists to certain chemicals have caused psychological disturbances in patients, which may limit their potential to relieve severe pain.

(A) which may limit their potential to relieve

(B) which may limit their potential for relieving

(C) which may limit such analgesics’ potential to relieve

(D) an effect that may limit their potential to relieve

(E) an effect that may limit the potential of such analgesics for relieving


51). The man was always aware, sometimes proudly and sometimes resentfully, that he was a small-town Midwesterner who was thrust into a world that was dominated by wealthier, better-educated, and more polished people than him.

(A) who was thrust into a world that was dominated by wealthier, better-educated, and more polished people than him

(B) who had been thrust into a world that was dominated by more wealthy, educated, and polished people than him

(C) who had been thrust into a world dominated by wealthier, better-educated, and people more polished than he was

(D) thrust into a world dominated by more wealthy, educated, and polished people than him

(E) thrust into a world dominated by wealthier, better-educated, and more polished people than he


Answers -

50). E is the best choice

A,B,C - incorrect - use of "which" ambiguous - referring to 'patients' or 'analgesics' or..

D - incorrect - "their" -ambiguous - referring to 'patients' or 'analgesics' or effects of the analgesics...


51). E is the correct answer.

A,B,D- incorrect - Subject form of pronoun always comes after ‘than’ or ‘as’. (
Pronoun errors)

C - incorrect - ".. than he was" - was needs to be ellipsed as I mentioned for
Do - auxiliary verb in my GMAT Grammar blog.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 49

49). With a total population of less than two hundred and fewer breeding females than ever before, the American crocodile seemed a decade ago to be in danger of disappearing.

(A) of less than two hundred and fewer

(B) lower than two hundred and less

(C) lesser than two hundred and fewer

(D) fewer than two hundred and less

(E) of fewer than two hundred and of fewer

Answer -

49). A is the right answer.

D, E - incorrect -- use "fewer" only when referring to countable nouns. Population is very much like "mass" here and so less/lesser should be used.

B,C - incorrect -- we require 'of ' after population and before less, and "fewer" for refering to the number of breeding females.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 47, 48

47). Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year.

(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced

(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced

(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced

(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget

(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget

48). Two new studies indicate that many people become obese more due to the fact that their bodies burn calories too slowly than overeating.

(A) due to the fact that their bodies burn calories too slowly than overeating

(B) due to their bodies burning calories too slowly than to eating too much

(C) because their bodies bum calories too slowly than that they are overeaters

(D) because their bodies bum calories too slowly than because they eat too much

(E) because of their bodies burning calories too slowly than because of their eating too much



Answers -

47). A is the correct answer - When mandate is used as a verb to mean "make it mandatory,' it must be followed by that and a verb in the
subjunctive mood, as in A, the best answer: mandate that x be balanced.


B - incorrect -- uses the ungrammatical mandate x to be balanced.

C - incorrect -- inappropriately uses the future indicative, will be, rather than the subjunctive.

D, E - incorrect -- use wordy and imprecise expressions in place of the verb mandate: neither have a mandate for a balanced... budget nor have a mandate to balance the ... budget makes clear that the requirement is made by the constitution. It is also unclear in D whether each year refers to the mandating or the balancing.

48). D is the best choice -- The members of a comparison (more X than Y) should be expressed in parallel form. This choice correctly uses parallel clauses introduced by because. The clauses themselves are clear and direct.

E - incorrect -- uses parallel forms, but the convoluted structures are awkward and wordy. Furthermore, the word "bodies" would need an apostrophe (bodies') since it is the logical subject of the gerund burning (that is, it answers the question, "Whose burning?").

A, B, C - incorrect -- do not use parallel forms for the two members of the comparison. In addition, A and B use "due to" unidiomatically to mean "because"; properly used, "due to" is synonymous with "attributable to".

Gmat Sentence Correction 45 , 46

45). The Coast guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

(A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

(B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

(C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

(D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find.

(E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding


46). The first decision for most tenants living in a building undergoing being converted to cooperative ownership
is if to sign
a no-buy pledge with the other tenants.


(A) being converted to cooperative ownership is if to sign

(B) being converted to cooperative ownership is whether they should be signing

(C) being converted to cooperative ownership is whether or not they sign

(D) conversion to cooperative ownership is if to sign

(E) conversion to cooperative ownership is whether to sign



Answers -


45). A is the correct answer -- This choice clearly states both the purpose of the test and the purpose of the training.

B - incorrect -- "As help to find" is unidiomatic.

C - incorrect -- "For helping to find" is not the correct idiom; "whether" is preferred to "if" when there are only two alternatives.

D - incorrect -- "That see " is ungrammatical; "whether" is preferred to "if" when there are only two alternatives; "are able to be" should be replaced by the concise "can"; "in helping to find" should be " to help find".

E - incorrect -- "For helping in finding" is incorrect idiom; "are able to be" should be replaced by the concise "can".


46). E is the best choice -- idiomatically completes "whether" with an infinitive, "to sign", that functions as a noun equivalent of decision. It also uses the noun conversion, which grammatically completes the phrase begun by "undergoing".

A, B, C - incorrect -- the phrase "being converted" is awkward and redundant, since the sense of process indicated by
"being" has already been conveyed by "undergoing".


A, D - incorrect -- can be faulted for saying "if" rather than "whether", since the sentence poses alternative possibilities, to sign or not to sign.

Friday, July 28, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 43, 44

43). The Diary of Anne Frank tells the true story of a young girl and her family that were hidden during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands by a gentile Dutch couple, though they were eventually discovered.

A). that were hidden during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands by a gentile Dutch couple, though they were eventually discovered

B). that were hidden by a gentile Dutch couple during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, though they were eventually discovered

C). whom a gentile Dutch couple hid during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands but were eventually discovered

D). who were hidden by a gentile Dutch couple during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands but were eventually discovered

E). who were hidden by a gentile Dutch couple during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands even though they were eventually discovered


44). Despite the sequel's poor critical reception, most people seeing it find the acting and cinematography at least as good or even better than the original.

A). most people seeing it find the acting and cinematography at least as good or even better than the original

B). most people seeing it find the acting and cinematography at least as good or even better than the original's

C). most people who see the film find the acting and cinematography at least as good as or even better than those in the original

D). most people who see it find the acting and cinematography at least as good or even better than those in the original

E). most people seeing the film find the acting and cinematography at least as good as or even better than those of the original's



Answers -

43). The correct answer is D -- It correctly uses the pronoun "who" to refer to a girl and her family. Additionally, the phrase "by a gentile Dutch couple" is placed immediately after "who were hidden" to clarify the meaning. Finally, the ambiguous pronoun issue is avoided altogether.

A - incorrect -- The original sentence uses the relative pronoun "that" where "who" is preferred because the antecedent is a group of people. Also, the prepositional phrase "by a gentile Dutch couple" is placed in such a way as to suggest that the occupation was carried out by the couple. Finally, the pronoun "they" is ambiguous – it could refer to the family or to the couple.

B - incorrect -- This choice incorrectly uses the relative pronoun "that" to refer to a group of people. Additionally, the pronoun "they" is ambiguous - it could refer to the family or to the couple.

C - incorrect -- The use of the object pronoun "whom" makes "a girl and her family" the object of the clause "a gentile Dutch couple hid;" however "a girl and her family" are the subject of the next clause "were eventually discovered." This is a mismatch.

E - incorrect -- The pronoun "they" is ambiguous - it could refer to the family or to the couple.

44). The correct answer is C -- This choice correctly replaces "it" with "film", adds the missing "as", and makes clear that the acting and cinematography in the sequel are compared to the acting and cinematography in the original.

A - incorrect -- First, the pronoun "it" is used to refer to the film, but the film has not been mentioned in the sentence. Instead "the sequel's poor critical reception" has been mentioned. This is not the same as the film, so the pronoun "it" has no grammatical antecedent and must be changed.
Second, the phrase "at least as good or even better than" is incomplete: there should be another "as" after "good".
Third, the cinematography and acting are being compared to the "original". What is meant here is that the cinematography and acting in the sequel are as good as the cinematography and acting in the original. This must be changed.

B - incorrect -- The pronoun "it" has no grammatical antecedent and the phrase "at least as good or even better" is missing the second "as" after "good."

D - incorrect -- The pronoun "it" has no grammatical antecedent and the phrase "at least as good or even better" is missing the second "as" after "good."

E - incorrect -- This choice introduces the possessive redundancy "those of the original's." One could say either "those of the original" or "the original's", but using both is redundant.

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Gmat Sentence Correction 41, 42

41). Starting at age four, Mozart's father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, in order to demonstrate his musical talents.

(A). Mozart's father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, in order to demonstrate his musical talents

(B). Mozart's father began taking the boy on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his musical talents

(C). Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his own musical talents

(D). Mozart was accompanying his father on tours of Europe's capitals, to demonstrate his musical talents

(E). Mozart's father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate the boy's musical talents



42). According to the professor's philosophy, the antidote to envy is one's own work, always one's own work: not thinking about it, not assessing it, but simply doing it.

(A) one's own work, always one's own work: not thinking about it, not assessing it, but simply doing it

(B) always work; because you don't think about it or assess it, you just do it

(C) always one's own work: not thinking about or assessing it, but simply to do it

(D) not to think or assess, but doing one's own work

(E) neither to think about one's own work nor to assess it, it is always simply doing it


Answers -

41). C is the best choice -- "Mozart" is correctly placed as the subject of the opening modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the phrase "his own" clarifies that the musical talents in question are those of the subject, Mozart.

A - incorrect -- The original sentence begins with a modifier ("starting at age four") that describes Mozart. Yet, the subject of the main clause is Mozart's father. We need to find a choice that make Mozart himself the subject. Moreover, the pronoun "him" has no grammatical antecedent, since it is meant to refer to Mozart despite the fact that Mozart is not actually present in the sentence (we have "Mozart's father" instead). Finally, the pronoun "his" is somewhat ambiguous: does it refer to Mozart (who, again, is not in the sentence) or to his father?

B -- incorrect -- "Mozart's father" serves illogically as the subject of the opening modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the pronoun "his" is ambiguous in that it could refer to the boy or the father.

D -- incorrect -- This choice incorrectly uses the verb "was," which does not match the ongoing nature of the modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the pronoun "his" is ambiguous in that it could refer to Mozart or his father.


E -- incorrect -- "Mozart's father" serves illogically as the subject of the opening modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the pronoun "him" has no grammatical antecedent, since it is meant to refer to Mozart despite the fact that Mozart is not actually present in the sentence (we have "Mozart's father" instead).


42). The correct answer is A - maintains parallelism - thinking, assessing, doing

D, E - incorrect - violates parallelism -- think, assess, doing are not parallel

C - incorrect - violates parallelism -- thinking, assessing and to do it are not parallel.

B - incorrect -- the antidote to envy is to work always -- changes the meaning of the original sentence.