Sentence Correction

Organized in 1966 by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Breeding Bird Survey uses annual roadside counts along established routes for monitoring of population changes of as many as, or of more than 250 bird species, including 180 songbirds.

(A) for monitoring of population changes of as many as, or of
(B) to monitor population changes of as many, or
(C) to monitor changes in the populations of
(D) that monitors population changes of
(E) that monitors changes in populations of as many as, or

OA: C

Hello Mitch,

In the above SC, only choice C is idiomatically correct, I think. But, it changes the original meaning. What do say about Q? Do we have the liberty to go beyond meaning, which is of paramount importance on GMAT. Pls suggest.

Thanks.

As many as 1000 protesters attended the rally.
Conveyed meaning:
The number of protesters could be as high as 1000, but the exact number is UNKNOWN.

binit wrote: Hello Mitch,

In the above SC, only choice C is idiomatically correct, I think. But, it changes the original meaning. What do say about Q? Do we have the liberty to go beyond meaning, which is of paramount importance on GMAT. Pls suggest.

Thanks.

If the original sentence conveys a NONSENSICAL meaning, eliminate A and look for an answer choice that conveys a SENSICAL meaning.

A: annual roadside counts along ESTABLISHED routes of...AS MANY AS 250 bird species
Here, the routes have been ESTABLISHED, implying that the number of bird species is KNOWN.
But as many as implies that the exact number of bird species is UNKNOWN.
Since established and as many as contradict each other, eliminate A and look for an answer choice that conveys a sensical meaning.

OA: annual roadside counts along established routes of...more than 250 bird species
Here, more than 250 bird species does not imply that the number of bird species is unknown.
It simply implies that the number is GREATER THAN 250.
This meaning is sensical.

Thanks a lot Mitch,

I couldn't notice the meaning error in the original choice precisely. You made it crystal clear. So, I think it can be safely concluded that the meaning is the most important criteria in GMAT SC, isn't it?

Thanks,
Binit.

GMATGuruNY wrote:As many as 1000 protesters attended the rally.
Conveyed meaning:
The number of protesters could be as high as 1000, but the exact number is UNKNOWN.

binit wrote: Hello Mitch,

In the above SC, only choice C is idiomatically correct, I think. But, it changes the original meaning. What do say about Q? Do we have the liberty to go beyond meaning, which is of paramount importance on GMAT. Pls suggest.

Thanks.

If the original sentence conveys a NONSENSICAL meaning, eliminate A and look for an answer choice that conveys a SENSICAL meaning.

A: annual roadside counts along ESTABLISHED routes of...AS MANY AS 250 bird species
Here, the routes have been ESTABLISHED, implying that the number of bird species is KNOWN.
But as many as implies that the exact number of bird species is UNKNOWN.
Since established and as many as contradict each other, eliminate A and look for an answer choice that conveys a sensical meaning.

OA: annual roadside counts along established routes of...more than 250 bird species
Here, more than 250 bird species does not imply that the number of bird species is unknown.
It simply implies that the number is GREATER THAN 250.
This meaning is sensical.

"To monitor" vs "for monitoring" >> what is the difference between these two?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

rashedhbs wrote: "To monitor" vs "for monitoring" >> what is the difference between these two?

Generally, for + VERBing is an ADJECTIVE serving to modify a NOUN.
A: The Breeding Bird Survey uses annual roadside counts along established routes for monitoring.
Here, for monitoring seems to be an ADJECTIVE modifying routes, implying that the ROUTES were designed FOR MONITORING.
Not the intended meaning.

The intended meaning is conveyed by the OA:
The Breeding Bird Survey uses annual roadside counts along established routes to monitor population changes.
Here, to monitor is an ADVERB serving to modify uses, expressing WHY the survey USES annual roadside counts.
Question: WHY does the survey use annual roadside counts?
Answer: TO MONITOR population changes.

Hi GMAYGuru,]
Which is idiomatic 'change of' or 'change in' or both?

Thanks

Mo2men wrote:Hi GMATGuru,
Which is idiomatic 'change of' or 'change in' or both?

Thanks

a change OF population = one population is REPLACED with another
changes IN the population = the population becomes different in some way (bigger, smaller, healthier, less healthy, etc.)
In the SC above, the Bird Survey uses COUNTS, implying that the bird populations are becoming different with regard to SIZE (bigger or smaller).
For this meaning, changes IN is appropriate:
The Breeding Bird Survey uses annual roadside counts along established routes to monitor changes IN the populations of more than 250 bird species.