Health Maintenance Organization

gmataspirant · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: Health Maintenance Organization

According to Interstudy, a nonprofit organization that studies health maintenance organizations (HMO’s), they estimate that, in comparison to last year, when only 36 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s was profitable, this year 73 percent will be.

(A) they estimate that, in comparison to last year, when only 36 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s was profitable, this year 73 percent will be

(B) compared to only 36 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s being profitable last year, they estimate 73 percent would be this year

(C) only 36 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s were profitable last year; it estimates that this year 73 percent will be

(D) it estimates 73 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s would be profitable this year; last year that was only 36 percent

(E) only 36 percent of the nation’s 607 HMO’s last year were profitable, whereas they estimate it this year to be 73 percent

niraj_a · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject:

choose between C and E, and i choose C

mdindahouse · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:37 pm Post subject:

Well, this is an intriguing one

Choice A is obviously incorrect as the pronoun "they" doesn't accurately tell us whether referring to InterStudy or HMO's. The use of 'was' is also not correct.

Choice B I don't like the use of the pronoun 'they' here.

Choice C Accurate to the meaning, however lets look for something better as the second half of the sentence could be written a bit better.

Choice D I don't like the use of pronoun 'it' here. Don't know why, but it just doesn't gel well with my system on this occasion.

Choice E the pronoun 'it' refers to what? HMO's? InterStudy? or profitability of HMO's? Reference is not clear.

I'd pick C, although I am not too pleased with the answer choices here, hence a tricky problem.

reachac · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

IMO C

atlantic · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:49 pm Post subject:

C for me too.

Pls post OA

chidcguy · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject:

A , B , E use they to refer to the singular non profit org and hence out

Between C and D both have the semi colon. Either side of semi colon should stand by itself. last year that was only 36 percent stands by itself but its unclear what that is referring to

C is clear in using "it estimates that"

gmataspirant · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:

Official Answer is "C".

Thanks Guys, I don't know why "D" is not a correct option.
Can somebody shed more light ?

your help is appreicated.

loki.gmat · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

@gmataspirant -
there r 2 reasons y D is incorrect here.
1) as correctly pointed by chidcguy - second part of the sentence is a run on sentence.

2)consider the following case -
if a press reporter wants to write down gary kirsten's comment on indian team's chances in current asia cup then he will write "according to gary kirsten, Indian team will win the asia cup".
the reported wont write "according to gary kirsten, he estimates that Indian team will win the asia cup" because the pronoun "he" is redundant here.

similarly "it" is redundant here.

Thanks!