GMAT PREP Paper test question

krazy800 · Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:23 pm

This Q is from GmatPrep paper Test

Q1. 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

Could some one explain the intent of the sentence? Please explain the logic behind the correct answer.

Thanks in advance for the help!!!!!

Back to top

sunnyjohn · Wed Sep 30, 2009 11:02 pm

Concept tested:

Ididom : -- As...X...as

As "Much" energy is generated through wind power now AS
.....

A ,E - out of wrong IDIOM
B,C and D use correct idiom.

Much :- modifying generated Energy, so we need something like

as much energy is generated through power now as energy was generated through power in 1990.

Now see what match near to this:-
B) generated through wind power now as it was

it :- refer to Energy
as much generated through wind power now as energy was in 1990.

compare total energy in 1990 , with currenty generated energy using wind power.

C) generated through wind power now as was the case

was the case :- energy generated using wind power in 1990.. correct comparison here.

D) same problem as that of B

IMO: C

Back to top

lunarpower · Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:35 am

Back to top

lunarpower · Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:36 am

by the way

here's the most important takeaway from this problem:

if you see a split between
* a PRONOUN
and one of the following two:
* a specific noun;
* an abstract expression that's meant to substitute for a pronoun (such as "was the case" or "do so");

then you should be HIGHLY suspicious of the pronoun.

so, if you see "do so" vs. "do it", you should bank on "do so", unless you have VERY strong reasons to go the other way.
if you see "them" vs. "those NOUNs", you should bank on the latter, unless you have very strong reasons to go the other way.

same here.

--

Back to top

krazy800 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:04 am

Thanks Ron!!!!

Back to top

duongthang · Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:48 am

Ple, help, I do not understand

if we use "was the case", "the case" is compared with "energy". This is incorrect

pls, help me out

Back to top

palvarez · Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:14 pm

This is another trap that GMAT tests often.

In OG 10, there is a question about comparing the effects of earthquake wrt west n east coasts.

The concept tested is this: you have a comparative adjective modifying a noun; this noun phrase ( comp. Adj + noun) is referred to as "it" in the "as clause".

Back to top

duongthang · Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:45 am

Back to top

duongthang · Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:09 am

Sory, the question 199 in OG 10

Back to top

duongthang · Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:58 am

Thank you Ron. It is wonderful to have you in this forum.

I have a question.

I see in many questions in OG, "that" can refer to only one word, a noun, not to a noun+modifier. "that" is a pronoun so I think "that" is a special.

Ron, Can you explain more about "that"

Back to top

Stacey Koprince · Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:01 pm

Received a PM asking me to respond on how "energy" can be compared to "case."

"as was the case" is actually referring back to the first item in the comparison:

energy generated now
vs
energy generated in 1990

because they tell us that it's 10x now, we could also interpret this as:

10x energy generated now
vs
x energy generated in 1990

The reason we can't use "it" to refer to "x energy generated" is because "it" is a pronoun and can refer only to nouns. We're trying to refer to an entire clause (includes the verb "is generated"), so we can't use a simple pronoun. "was the case" is more flexible - that can actually refer to the whole clause, not just a noun.

Back to top

GMAT PREP Paper test question

Free GMAT Prep Resources

Latest GMAT Articles

Latest GMAT Videos

Popular Resources