| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
simplyjat
GMAT Destroyer!
Joined: 27 Dec 2007
Posts: 422
Thanks given: 3
Thanked 29 times in 29 posts
Location: Hyderabad, India
Test Date: May 20, 2008
Target GMAT Score: 770
|
 Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 2:47 am Post subject: Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution |
 |
|
Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.
(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal
OA E
1. What is wrong with the original statement.
2. Is the usage of lay correct here? Shouldn't it be lie instead ?
_________________
simplyjat |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
barron
Rising GMAT Star
Joined: 28 Feb 2008
Posts: 72
Thanks given: 0
Thanked 0 times in 0 posts
|
| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 2:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
I also choose A
The only reason I think E is the correct answer is because
if you have proposed something, it is already a fact
so the word 'fact' becomes reduntant
he has already proposed the idea
so, 'lay' is the correct tense
'lie' is in present tense |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rajibgmat
Just gettin' started!
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
Posts: 4
Thanks given: 0
Thanked 0 times in 0 posts
|
| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Do u think "proposal the idea....bla bla" is correct. I would choose A rather. Experts throw some idea... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rey.fernandez
GMAT Instructor
Joined: 02 Mar 2008
Posts: 82
Thanks given: 0
Thanked 9 times in 8 posts
|
| Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.
(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal
|
"lay" is correct, as it is the past tense of "to lie." ("Laid" is the past tense of the verb "to lay," which requires an object... something that gets set down or laid down, such as bricks.)
E is the best choice among A, B, and E since it avoids redundancy and wordiness. In the original posting, it looks like "the idea" needs to be underlined as well... that may have confused rajibgmat.
Rey
_________________
Rey Fernandez
Instructor
Manhattan GMAT |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
