Announcement, 11/3/08: Welcome Test Prep New York experts!

Is the original sentence correct?


 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Beat The GMAT Forum Index -> GMAT Verbal & Essays -> Sentence Correction
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
ildude02
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 320

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 6 times in 6 posts


PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:14 pm    Post subject: Is the original sentence correct? Reply with quote

I have included the sentence to be corrected in CAPSLOCK,

Recently implemented "shift-work equations" based on studies of the human sleep cycle have reduced sickness, sleeping on the job, FATIGUE AMONG SHIFT WORKERS, AND HAVE RAISED production efficiency in various industries.

(a) As above
(b)fatigue among shift workers, and raised
(c)and fatigue among shift workers while raising
(d)lowered fatigue among shift workers, and raised
(e)and fatigue among shift workers was lowered while raising

If any of you think otherwise, can yo please give the explanation as to why not (a) or why it's (a). I'd appreciate it.
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
camitava
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 05 Sep 2007
Posts: 633

Thanks given: 3
Thanked 26 times in 26 posts

Location: India

PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ildude02, I will go for C. To me, it can not be A because, the sentence is already having HAVE as its verb (to indicate present perfect tense) - so no need to have one more HAVE in the underlined section. B in that case comes next to select. But if u refer C, it is saying clearly that two opposing actions go on here. One is reducing all those negative effects while increasing the positive effect. So it is coming as the best option to chose. Are u getting me ildude02?
_________________
Correct me If I am wrong


Regards,

Amitava
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
Stuart Kovinsky
GMAT Instructor


Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 1233

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 204 times in 186 posts

Location: Toronto
GMAT Score: 800

PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Recently implemented "shift-work equations" based on studies of the human sleep cycle have reduced sickness, sleeping on the job, FATIGUE AMONG SHIFT WORKERS, AND HAVE RAISED production efficiency in various industries.


In its present form, the sentence is no good because it lists 4 items but the modifier "have reduced" is only supposed to apply to the first 3 items. However, since "have reduced" appears only in front of the first item, by implication it goes in front of all 4. We need to break the list up into two sections to avoid the trouble.

We want the first part of the list to read:

"have reduced sickness, sleeping on the job and fatigue among shift workers"

and only answers (c) and (d) have the "and" that we require.

(d), however, introduces another problem. Putting the word "reduced" in front of the 3rd item in the list is redundant, since we already have "have reduced" in front of the 1st item in the list.

Therefore, choose answer (c). The connector "while" indicates that the next part of the sentence is somehow different from what we previously read, which is exactly what the author wants to convey.

In simplified form (a great way of checking answers), (c) reads:

Recently implemented equations have reduced a, b and c while raising d.

Sounds great!

_________________
Stuart Kovinsky, B.A. LL.B.
Academic Co-ordinator
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
Toronto Office
1-800-KAP-TEST

Learn more about me
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
ildude02
GMAT Destroyer!


Joined: 13 Jan 2008
Posts: 320

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 6 times in 6 posts


PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your eplanation guys.

I happen to choose choice (a) since I got locked into the "parallel" structure between "have reduced" and "have raised". Since both of them are having parallel structures with respect to the "have", I felt the sentence is fine as it stands.

If possible, can any of you guys explain how do I make sure that I apply or not apply parallelism. Especially if there is sentence with many parts and lengthy modifiers, how to make sure which part of the sentence or modifers should I look out for parellelism and not get tangled with the parellism of the "not so important" modifiers. I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Back to top


View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Beat The GMAT Forum Index -> GMAT Verbal & Essays -> Sentence Correction All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



"GMAT" and other GMAC™ trademarks are registered trademarks of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. The Graduate Management Admission Council™ does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content on this website. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author or those of the members of this website. Copyright © 2008 BTG Test Prep, LLC. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group.