The greatest road system built in the Americas prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus was the Incan highway, which, over 2,500 miles long and extending from northern Ecuador through Peru to Southern Chile.
A. Columbus was the Incan highway, which, over 2,500 miles long and extending
B. Columbus was the Incan highway, over 2,500 miles in length, and extended
C. Columbus, the Incan highway, which was over 2,500 miles in length and extended
D. Columbus, the Incan highway, being over 2,500 miles in length, was extended
E. Columbus, the Incan highway was over 2,500 miles long, extending
I'm confused in 'extended' and 'extending'.
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David@GMATPrepNow
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Hi nishith17,
Good work noticing those two words, because "extending" and "extended" do suggest different meanings. Specifically, "extending" suggests that the highway itself is long enough to extend across the required 2,500 miles of South America. On the other hand, "extended" suggests that somebody stretched/built the highway to go farther than it originally did, in order to cover 2,500 miles of South America.
We want the first meaning - "extending" - because the passage is talking about the Incan highway, which is already in place and complete given the context of the sentence.
Good work noticing those two words, because "extending" and "extended" do suggest different meanings. Specifically, "extending" suggests that the highway itself is long enough to extend across the required 2,500 miles of South America. On the other hand, "extended" suggests that somebody stretched/built the highway to go farther than it originally did, in order to cover 2,500 miles of South America.
We want the first meaning - "extending" - because the passage is talking about the Incan highway, which is already in place and complete given the context of the sentence.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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