2016 OG SC 94

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

2016 OG SC 94

by Crystal W » Mon Mar 14, 2016 8:45 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

Fossils of the arm of a sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles Islands.
  (A) sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of
  (B) sloth, that they found in Puerto Rico in 1991, has been dated at 34 million years old, thus making it the earliest mammal known on
  (C) sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of
  (D) sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on
  (E) sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of
I have three small questions about this one. First, can I believe in choice C, "that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991" is the attributive clause of the "sloth"? Second, can you explain the Prep. after mammal? Third, can you explain the "which" in choice E?
Thanks in advance!

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:40 am
Thanked: 57 times
Followed by:2 members

by fabiocafarelli » Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:01 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

1. A sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991 could not possibly have had a fossilized arm, and if we suppose that the clause that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991 modifies not SLOTH alone but THE ARM OF A SLOTH, the meaning, though different, is equally absurd. The only logical way to look at this defining relative clause is as a description of the subject of the sentence, FOSSILS and therefore as one that it is grammatically incorrect, because the verb should be WERE. (The correct answer obviates all these problems by referring simply to Fossils of the arm of a sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991 ..., a practical and much more elegant solution.)

2. The preposition used after MAMMAL must be ON and not OF. The sloth is not a mammal OF the Antilles any more than the Iberian Lynx is a mammal OF Spain or the kangaroo a mammal OF Australia: those countries do not possess the fauna living on or in them - and in the case of small islands such as those that constitute the Greater Antilles, animals live ON them.

3. Among the many mistakes in the very badly-constructed option E, WHICH is the first. Since WHICH here is preceded neither by a comma nor by a preposition, it automatically assumes the role of the relative pronoun in a defining clause, and this is a role that in the GMAT this pronoun cannot assume.

If you like this post, please click on the THANK icon.

You can also visit us at https://www.xgmat.com/

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Mar 16, 2016 3:54 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

Crystal W wrote:Fossils of the arm of a sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles Islands.
  (A) sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of
  (B) sloth, that they found in Puerto Rico in 1991, has been dated at 34 million years old, thus making it the earliest mammal known on
  (C) sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of
  (D) sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on
  (E) sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of
B: Fossils...has been dated
Here, (has been dated) (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate B.

C and E: Fossils...was dated
Here, was dated (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate C and E.

In A, it lacks a clear referent.
Since D avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate A.

The correct answer is D.
can I believe in choice C, "that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991" is the attributive clause of the "sloth"?
C: a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, that was found seems to refer to a sloth, implying that A SLOTH was FOUND.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate C.
can you explain the Prep. after mammal?
A, C, E: the earliest known mammal OF the Greater Antilles islands
Here, the usage of of seems to imply that the mammal is POSSESSED BY the islands.
Not the intended meaning.
That said, there are better reasons to eliminate A, C and E.
can you explain the "which" in choice E?
E: a sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, which seems to refer to a sloth, while found seems to refer to which.
As a result, this option implies that A SLOTH was found in Puerto Rico in 1991.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate E.

On the GMAT, NOUN + which is considered an invalid construction.
Generally, which must be preceded by either a COMMA or a PREPOSITION.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

by Crystal W » Sat Mar 26, 2016 12:38 pm

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

GMATGuruNY wrote:
Crystal W wrote:Fossils of the arm of a sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles Islands.
  (A) sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of
  (B) sloth, that they found in Puerto Rico in 1991, has been dated at 34 million years old, thus making it the earliest mammal known on
  (C) sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of
  (D) sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on
  (E) sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of
B: Fossils...has been dated
Here, (has been dated) (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate B.

C and E: Fossils...was dated
Here, was dated (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate C and E.

In A, it lacks a clear referent.
Since D avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate A.

The correct answer is D.
can I believe in choice C, "that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991" is the attributive clause of the "sloth"?
C: a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, that was found seems to refer to a sloth, implying that A SLOTH was FOUND.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate C.
can you explain the Prep. after mammal?
A, C, E: the earliest known mammal OF the Greater Antilles islands
Here, the usage of of seems to imply that the mammal is POSSESSED BY the islands.
Not the intended meaning.
That said, there are better reasons to eliminate A, C and E.
can you explain the "which" in choice E?
E: a sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, which seems to refer to a sloth, while found seems to refer to which.
As a result, this option implies that A SLOTH was found in Puerto Rico in 1991.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate E.

On the GMAT, NOUN + which is considered an invalid construction.
Generally, which must be preceded by either a COMMA or a PREPOSITION.
Thank you, it's crystal clear!

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 186
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2016 12:38 am
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:3 members

by rsarashi » Sat May 27, 2017 9:06 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

B: Fossils...has been dated
Here, (has been dated) (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate B.

C and E: Fossils...was dated
Here, was dated (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate C and E.

In A, it lacks a clear referent.
Since D avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate A.

The correct answer is D.
can I believe in choice C, "that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991" is the attributive clause of the "sloth"?
C: a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, that was found seems to refer to a sloth, implying that A SLOTH was FOUND.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate C.
can you explain the Prep. after mammal?
A, C, E: the earliest known mammal OF the Greater Antilles islands
Here, the usage of of seems to imply that the mammal is POSSESSED BY the islands.
Not the intended meaning.
That said, there are better reasons to eliminate A, C and E.
can you explain the "which" in choice E?
E: a sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991
Here, which seems to refer to a sloth, while found seems to refer to which.
As a result, this option implies that A SLOTH was found in Puerto Rico in 1991.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that FOSSILS were found.
Eliminate E.

On the GMAT, NOUN + which is considered an invalid construction.
Generally, which must be preceded by either a COMMA or a PREPOSITION.
[/quote]

Hi GMATGuruNY ,

In OA COMMA+MAKING refers to what?

Please explain.
Thanks

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Tue May 30, 2017 11:30 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

rsarashi wrote:Hi GMATGuruNY ,

In OA COMMA+MAKING refers to what?

Please explain.
Thanks
Generally, COMMA + VERBing serves to refer to the preceding subject.
OA: Fossils of the arm of a sloth have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on the Greater Antilles Islands.
Here, COMMA + making serves to refer to fossils (the preceding subject).
Conveyed meaning:
The event attributed to these fossils -- they have been dated at 34 million years old -- is responsible for making the sloth the earliest known mammal on the Greater Antilles Islands.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 120
Joined: Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:09 am

by gocoder » Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:47 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

GMATGuruNY wrote:


In A, it lacks a clear referent.
Since D avoids this issue and is free of errors, eliminate A.
it can refer to either arm or sloth. Is this the reason for missing a clear referent ?

GMAT Instructor
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2015 2:27 pm
Followed by:8 members

by [email protected] » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:42 am

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

Hello Everyone!

Let's take a look at this question, one issue at a time, and narrow it down to the correct choice! To begin, here's the original question with the major differences between the options highlighted in orange:

Fossils of the arm of a sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles islands.

A. sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of
B. sloth, that they found in Puerto Rico in 1991, has been dated at 34 million years old, thus making it the earliest mammal known on
C. sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of
D. sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on
E. sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of

After a quick glance over the options, a few key differences jump out:

1. Comma placement and verb choice after "sloth" (essential vs. non-essential clauses)
2. dated / has been dated / was dated / have been dated (verb tense)
3. made it / making it / making this / making the sloth / made the sloth (verb tense & pronouns)
4. of / on / known on (idioms)


Let's start with #1 on our list, which is to focus on how each sentence handles essential and non-essential clauses. Whenever we see a phrase in the middle of a sentence that's between two commas, it's supposed to be a non-essential clause.

This means that if we removed the phrase, the sentence would remain a complete sentence and wouldn't lose its intended meaning. A quick way to check this is to cross out any non-essential clauses you can find, and read what's left over. If it still makes sense, keep it for later. If it becomes a sentence fragment, or the meaning is totally changed, eliminate it. To make this easier, I've added in the non-underlined portions of the sentence:

A. Fossils of the arm of a sloth found in Puerto Rico in 1991, and dated at 34 million years old, made it the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles islands.

This is INCORRECT because the meaning of the sentence is altered by taking out the phrase "and dated at 34 million years old." By removing that phrase, we're simply saying that the presence of sloth fossils found in 1991 is enough proof that they are the earliest known mammals on the islands. But how do we know that? Because they were dated at 34 million years old. If we remove that bit of information, what's left over is vague and confusing for readers.

B. Fossils of the arm of a sloth, that they found in Puerto Rico in 1991, has been dated at 34 million years old, thus making it the earliest mammal known on the Greater Antilles islands.

This is INCORRECT because when we eliminate the non-essential clause, we can clearly see that there is a subject-verb agreement problem. This sentence uses the singular "has been dated" with the plural "Fossils," so let's rule this one out.

C. Fossils of the arm of a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles islands.

This is INCORRECT because, if we read the sentence with the non-essential phrase crossed out, it doesn't make sense. It's actually missing a verb! Therefore, let's eliminate this option.

D. Fossils of the arm of a sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on the Greater Antilles islands. --> OKAY

E. Fossils of the arm of a sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles islands. --> OKAY

We can eliminate options A, B, & C because they have problems when dealing with non-essential clauses.

Now that we've narrowed it down to 2 options, let's take a closer look at what we have left:

D. sloth, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, have been dated at 34 million years old, making the sloth the earliest known mammal on

This is CORRECT! The non-essential phrase, "found in Puerto Rico in 1991" truly is a non-essential piece of information. The important points (fossils were found, they were dated at 34 million years old, we now know they were the earliest mammals from the island) are all there and punctuated correctly. The sentence also uses the correct verb tense "have been dated" to show that the fossils were dated after they were found, but before the present, which is what we're looking for. It also correctly uses "making" to turn the last clause into an -ing modifier that refers back to the previous phrase, which is what we're looking for.

E. sloth which, found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, made the sloth the earliest known mammal of

This is INCORRECT for one main reason - it contains two competing verbs! It correctly uses commas to make the phrase "found in Puerto Rico in 1991" a non-essential clause. However, it has two verb phrases (was dated at 34 millions years old / made the sloth the earliest known mammal...) without anything to connect them together. The last phrase should start with "making" to change it to a modifier that shows cause and effect. The fossils were dated at 34 million years old, and that led to them being known as the oldest mammals on the islands. Without the -ing modifier, it's unclear what actions led to what results.


There you have it - option D is the correct choice! This is an incredibly complex question, but if you can focus on the differences between the options, you can narrow down your options to only a couple you can focus on in more detail.


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.