Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

anthropologists

This topic has 1 expert reply and 4 member replies
Bookmark
Previous Topic Next Topic
GmatKiss GMAT Titan Default Avatar
Joined
26 Jul 2011
Posted:
2790 messages
Followed by:
41 members
Thanked:
205 times
Target GMAT Score:
700+
GMAT Score:
640
anthropologists Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:08 pm
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    Some anthropologists believe that the genetic homogeneity evident in the world’s people is the result of a “population bottleneck”-at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers and thus our genetic variation.

    A. at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers
    B.that at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event that greatly reduced their numbers
    C.that some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event so that their numbers were greatly reduced,
    D. some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event from which their numbers were greatly reduced
    E.some time in the past, that our ancestors suffered an event so as to reduce their numbers greatly,

    Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!
    dhonu121 GMAT Destroyer! Default Avatar
    Joined
    21 Aug 2011
    Posted:
    310 messages
    Followed by:
    3 members
    Thanked:
    14 times
    Test Date:
    24th September
    Target GMAT Score:
    700+
    Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:32 pm
    GmatKiss wrote:
    Some anthropologists believe that the genetic homogeneity evident in the world’s people is the result of a “population bottleneck”-at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers and thus our genetic variation.

    A. at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event, greatly reducing their numbers
    B.that at some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event that greatly reduced their numbers
    C.that some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event so that their numbers were greatly reduced,
    D. some time in the past our ancestors suffered an event from which their numbers were greatly reduced
    E.some time in the past, that our ancestors suffered an event so as to reduce their numbers greatly,
    I feel that the original sentence is correct.
    What's the OA and the source ?

    _________________
    If you've liked my post, let me know by pressing the thanks button.

    ice_rush GMAT Destroyer! Default Avatar
    Joined
    25 Mar 2012
    Posted:
    336 messages
    Followed by:
    3 members
    Thanked:
    14 times
    Test Date:
    04/10/2013
    Target GMAT Score:
    700+
    GMAT Score:
    650
    Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:44 pm
    (A) in my opinion. What's the OA?

    GMAT/MBA Expert

    chris@magoosh GMAT Instructor
    Joined
    17 Jan 2012
    Posted:
    88 messages
    Followed by:
    26 members
    Thanked:
    40 times
    Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:41 pm
    In answer choice (A) there is a problem with modification. (A) is implying that our ancestors greatly reduced their own numbers (this is incorrect because it was the event that greatly reduced ancestors). When we have an independent clause followed by a participle phrase (one that starts with a gerund and serves as an adjective clause), the participle phrase modifies the subject of the sentence.

    In non-grammarese: 'ancestors' is the subject of the independent clause, 'at some time...' and because of the comma after event, we have the incorrect meaning. It was not the ancestors but an event that 'reduced their numbers.'

    Therefore, we want to make sure that it is clear that 'event' is 'greatly reducing the numbers.' One way to fix that is by using the relative pronoun 'that.' In (B), we have 'an event that greatly reduced their numbers' that does a good job of correcting the error in (A).

    Therefore (B) is the answer.

    ice_rush GMAT Destroyer! Default Avatar
    Joined
    25 Mar 2012
    Posted:
    336 messages
    Followed by:
    3 members
    Thanked:
    14 times
    Test Date:
    04/10/2013
    Target GMAT Score:
    700+
    GMAT Score:
    650
    Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:17 pm
    Hi Chris,

    Can you comment on the use of hyphen in the original sentence?
    Does the underlined portion need to begin with "that" in order to maintain parallelism? (Some anthropologists believe that...that at some time in the past...)

    bittu.0807 Just gettin' started! Default Avatar
    Joined
    15 Apr 2012
    Posted:
    29 messages
    Thanked:
    1 times
    Post Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:26 pm
    Chris, can you please explain why D is wrong? Because of passive voice?

    Best Conversation Starters
    1 varun289 34 topics
    2 killerdrummer 22 topics
    3 sana.noor 21 topics
    4 guerrero 14 topics
    5 sanaa.rizwan 14 topics
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

    Most Active Experts
    1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

    GMAT Prep Now Teacher

    		 200 posts
    2 image description GMATGuruNY

    The Princeton Review Teacher

    		 135 posts
    3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

    Stratus Prep

    		 106 posts
    4 image description Anju@Gurome

    Gurome

    		 56 posts
    5 image description Jon@Admissionado

    Admissionado

    		 44 posts
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts