Sunday, March 15, 2009

SC's Question number - 647, 648

647). On the Great Plains, nineteenth-century settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without timber and nails.

(A) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, doing it without

(B) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, did it without

(C) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making them while not having

(D) settlers used mud and grass to build their homes, making do without

(E) settlers’ homes were built of mud and grass, making do without

648). According to Inter study, a nonprofit organization that studies health maintenance organizations (HMO's), they estimate that, in comparison to last year, when only 36 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's was profitable, this year 73 percent will be.

(A) they estimate that, in comparison to last year, when only 36 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's was profitable, this year 73 percent will be.

(B) compared to only 36 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's being profitable last year, they estimate 73 percent would be this year

(C) only 36 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's were profitable last year, it estimates that this year 73 percent will be

(D) it estimates 73 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's would be profitable this year, last year that was only 36 percent

(E) only 36 percent of the nation's 607 HMO's last year were profitable, whereas they estimate it this year to be 73 percent


Answers:

647). OA - D - idiomatic - making do
make do with/ without(idiom) => use whatever you can find, substitute, to succeed in dealing with a situation by using what is available/despite not having something, to manage with that is not really satisfactory, to manage with the things that you have e.g When our kids don't have toys, they make do with pots and pans.

A, B - incorrect - no clear referent for it

C - incorrect - wrong tense, use of while incorrect

E - incorrect - passive

648). OA - C - http://forum.prachipareekh.net/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=594

Monday, March 09, 2009

SC's Question number - 649 , 650

649). George’s personal diary and album formed the basis for his book about the places he had visited.

(A) the basis for his book about the places he had visited.

(B) the basis for his book regarding the places he had visited.

(C) the basis of his book about the places he visited.

(D) the basis of his book about the places which he had visited.

(E) the basis of his book about the places he had visited.


650). For many years the idea as to if the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both an epidermal structure and as a subdermal structure.

(A) the idea as to if the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both

(B) the idea as to whether the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists as both

(C) the idea as to whether the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggests that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists both as

(D) the idea if the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas basing on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exist both as

(E) the idea as to whether the Xenomorph employed an exoskeleton or endoskeleton plagued debates and discussions with unanswered questions; however, recent ideas based on Dr. Wren's studies suggest that the Xenomorph may employ an endo-exoskeleton: a skeletal structure that exists both as


Answers:

649). OA - C - right tense

Explanation: George’s personal diary and album formed the basis of his book (that he wrote) about the places (that) he had visited.

Here perfect tense is unnecessary in the sentence "he wrote about the places that he (had) visited"

We can do without it since there is no confusion regarding the timeline.

Further, in the reduced form, construction in E, with perfect tense, is highlighting an inappropriate sequence of actions:
he visited those places before his personal diary and album formed the basis of his book.

650). OA - E - idiomatic - both as X and as Y

A, B - incorrect - unidiomatic

C - incorrect - subject verb agreement - ...
recent ideas(plural) based on Dr. Wren's studies suggests(singular) that....

D -
incorrect - subject verb agreement - .... a skeletal structure(singular) that exist(plural) both as...

Thursday, March 05, 2009

SC's Question number - 651 , 652

651). Recent psychological studies indicate that if children associate with and play with other children, they will experience fewer psychological problems and develop quicker socially than children that lead relatively isolated lives.

(A) play with other children, they will experience fewer psychological problems and develop quicker socially than

(B) play with other children, they experience fewer psychological problems and develop quicker socially than do

(C) played with other children, they experienced fewer psychological problems and develop quicker socially than will

(D) play with other children, they will experience fewer psychological problems and develop more quickly socially than do

(E) played with other children, they have experienced fewer psychological problems and have developed more quickly socially than do

652). As envisioned by researchers, commercial farming of lobsters will enable fisheries to sell the shellfish year-round, taking advantage of off-season demand, standardize its sizes and colors, and to predict sales volume in advance.

(A) taking advantage of off-season demand, standardize

(B) taking advantage of off-season demand, to standardize

(C) taking advantage of off-season demand, standardizing

(D) take advantage of off-season demand, standardizing

(E) take advantage of off-season demand, to standardize


Answers:

651). OA - D - parallel, idiomatic, right comparison - if X happens Y will happen - ...associate with....play with other children, they will experience fewer psychological problems and develop(verb) more quickly(adverb) socially than do...

A, B - incorrect - we need an adverb to modify a verb - ...develop(verb) quicker(adjective)

C, E - incorrect - violating parallelism - ...associate with...played with...

652). OA - B - parallel - .... to sell...to standardize...to predict...

A, C, D - incorrect - violating parallelism

E - incorrect - violating parallelism, modifier error

Monday, March 02, 2009

SC's Question number - 653 , 654

653). Although many Whites, noting the presence of some Blacks in the middle class, think that the time for enforcing civil rights measures is past, Blacks generally are aware that the figures for average income and unemployment show as wide of a radical discrepancy as ever.

(A) that the figures for average income and unemployment show as wide of

(B) that average-income and unemployment figures show as wide

(C) that the average-income and unemployment figures are showing as wide of

(D) of average-income and unemployment figures that show as wide of

(E) of figures for average income and unemployment showing as wide

654). In 1973 mortgage payments represented twenty-one percent of an average thirty-year-old male's
income; and forty-four percent in 1984.

(A) income; and forty-four percent in 1984

(B) income; in 1984 the figure was forty-four percent

(C) income, and in 1984 forty-four percent

(D) income, forty-four percent in 1984 was the figure

(E) income that rose to forty-four percent in 1984


Answers

653). OA - B - idiomatic - ...as...as...

A, C, D - incorrect - unidiomatic - ... as .. of ... as

E - incorrect - awkward, wrong tense - ...unemployment showing as wide...

654). (OG 10th Ques no - 81) - OA - B

OE:
To establish the clearest comparison between circumstances in 1973 and those in 1984, a separate clause is needed to describe each year. Choices A and C, in failing to use separate clauses, are too elliptical and therefore unclear. Choice A also incorrectly uses and and a semicolon to separate an independent clause and a phrase. Choice D incorrectly separates two independent clauses with a comma; moreover, the placement of in 1984 is awkward and confusing. In choice E, that refers illogically to income, thereby producing the misstatement that income rather than mortgage payments rose to forty-four percent in 1984. Choice B is best; two properly constructed clauses that clearly express the comparison are separated by a semicolon.

A - incorrect - use of semicolon is wrong
Read: Using semicolon

C - incorrect - use of comma wrong

D - incorrect - use of comma wrong
Read: Editing Comma Splice

E - incorrect - pronoun error - that incorrectly refers to income


Wednesday, February 18, 2009

SC's Question number - 655, 656

655). So poorly educated and trained are many young recruits to the United States work force that many business executives fear this country will lose its economic preeminence.

(A) So poorly educated and trained are many young recruits to the United States work force that

(B) As poorly educated and trained as many young recruits to the United States work force are

(C) Because of many young recruits to the United States work force who are so poorly educated and trained

(D) That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained is why

(E) Many young recruits to the United States work force who are so poorly educated and trained explains why

656). Socrates could have fled from Athens after he was sentenced to death, but he refused to do it.

(A) Socrates could have fled from Athens after he was sentenced to death, but he refused to do it.

(B) After he was sentenced to death, Socrates might have fled from Athens, but he refused to do it.

(C) After he was sentenced to death, Socrates could have fled from Athens, but he refused to do so.

(D) After he was sentenced to death, Socrates could have done so after he was sentenced to death.

(E) Socrates could have fled from Athens but refused to after he was sentenced to death.


Answers:

655). OA - A - idiomatic - So X that Y

B - incorrect - no comparison here so As..as usage is wrong here

D - incorrect - unidiomatic, wordy

E - incorrect - subject verb agreement - Many young recruits(plural) to the United States work force who are so poorly educated and trained explains(singular) why...

656). OA - C

A, B - incorrect - no clear antecedent for pronoun it

D - incorrect - awkward - ...Socrates could have done so...

E - incorrect - changes the meaning

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

SC's Question number - 657 , 658

657). Some analysts of retirement problems insist that the only way to provide equity and protection for all Americans is to amalgamate all retirement-income systems, including Social Security, into one central system.

(A) insist that the only way to provide equity and protection for all Americans is to amalgamate

(B) have insisted the only way equity and protection can be provided for all Americans is amalgamating

(C) insist the only way to provide equity and protection for all Americans is the amalgamation of

(D) are insistent that the only way equity and protection can be provided for all Americans is the amalgamation of

(E) insist that the only way for the provision of equity and protection for all Americans is to amalgamate

658). Some analysts contend that true capitalism exists only when the ownership of both property and the means of production is regarded as an inalienable right of an individual’s, and it is not a license granted by government and revokable at whim.

(A) is regarded as an inalienable right of an individual’s, and it is not

(B) are regarded as individuals’ inalienable rights, and that it not be

(C) is regarded as an individual’s inalienable right, not as

(D) are regarded as an individual’s inalienable rights, not when they are

(E) is regarded as the inalienable rights of an individual, not when it is


Answers:

657). OA - A - subjunctive. Also parallel - ..to provide X is to amalgamate Y..

B, C, D - incorrect - subjunctive - require insist that


E - incorrect - violating parallelism

658). OA - C - parallel - ..regarded as X not as Y

A - incorrect - awkward -
an inalienable right of an individual’s

B, D - incorrect - subject verb agreement - ....ownership(singular)....are(plural)...

E - incorrect - wrong comparison, awkward - ...
inalienable rights...

Note: Subjunctive verbs: Read here

Sunday, January 18, 2009

SC's Question number - 659, 660

659). 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

660). Some analysts point out that because people are becoming accustomed to a steady inflation rate of four to five percent, businesses
found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking strong public reaction.

(A) found that they could raise prices according to this amount without thereby provoking

(B) found that they were capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke

(C) find that they are capable of raising prices by this amount and not provoke

(D) are finding that they can raise prices by this amount without provoking

(E) are finding that they can raise prices according to this amount and will not thereby provoke


Answers:

659). (OG 10th Ques no - 3) - OA - B - Ques no 92

OE:
B - correct -
preserves the sense of the original, uses the correct idiom, and observes the parallelism required among and within the three main verb phrases.
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.

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

E - incorrect -
the singular sentinel is not consistent with residents, and the omission of and distorts the meaning of the original.

660). OA - D - parallel - ....are becoming...are finding...without provoking...

A, B - incorrect - violating parallelism, wrong tense ...
are becoming accustomed(present continuous) .... found(simple past)

C - incorrect - violating parallelism, wrong tense ...are becoming accustomed(present continuous) .... find(simple present)

E - incorrect - awkward and wordy
according to this amount

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

SC's Question number - 661 , 662

661). Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city’s building code.

(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were

(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been

(C) Some buildings that the earthquake destroyed and heavily damaged last year have been

(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been

(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earth quake had been

662). Some biographers have not only disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he drank at all.

(A) have not only disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he drank

(B) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also over whether he drank

(C) have disputed not only the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also whether he may not have drunk

(D) not only have disputed the common notion that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether or not he had drunk

(E) have disputed the common notion not only that Edgar Allan Poe drank to excess but also questioned whether he may not have drunk


Answers:

661). (OG 10th Ques no - 32) - OA - B

OE: Choice B is best. Only B uses verb tenses correctly to indicate that construction of the buildings was completed prior to the earthquake.

A, C - incorrect - illogically state that some buildings were both destroyed and damaged; or is needed to indicate that each of the buildings suffered either one fate or the other. In using only one verb tense,were, A fails to indicate that the buildings were constructed before the earthquake occurred.

C, D - incorrect - use the present perfect tense incorrectly, saying in effect that the buildings
have been constructed after they were destroyed last year.

E - incorrect - suggests that the construction of the buildings, rather than the earthquake, occurred last year, thus making the sequence of events unclear.


662). OA - A - parallelism - ..not only ...but also

B, C, D, E - incorrect - violating parallelism