Sentence Correction

[email protected] wrote:Hi RBBmba@2014,

Answer B has a number of errors:

1) The opening phrase "Although it is called a sea," should immediately be followed by the noun that the opening phrase describes. Here, it's followed by the word "actually." This is incorrect modification.

2) The pronouns "it" and "which" are unnecessary. Redundant language is rarely in the correct answer.

3) The Caspian has been, is and will likely be (tomorrow) the largest lake on Earth, so the proper verb is "covering", not "covers."

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

RBBmba@2014 wrote:It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.

B. Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth, which covers

GMATGuruNY wrote:B: Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth, which covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.

When an introductory modifier includes a pronoun without an antecedent, the referent for the pronoun must be the FIRST WORD of the main clause.
To my knowledge, NO OFFICIAL ANSWER has not abided by this rule.
Here, the introductory modifier (although IT is called a sea) includes a pronoun without an antecedent (it), but the first word of the main clause (actually) is not the referent for this pronoun.
Eliminate B.

COMMA + WHICH + SINGULAR VERB must refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING SINGULAR NOUN.
To my knowledge, NO OFFICIAL ANSWER has not abided by this rule.
Here, which seems to refer to Earth, implying that the EARTH covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival.
Not the intended meaning.

there are many questions in og, in which "which..." can modify a far noun. This point means "which..." can modify a noun not touching "which" provided that the noun between "which..." and the noun modified must modify the noun modified.

this is the reason why "which..." in A and B is correct.
A and B is incorrect because the indended meaning is a causal relation between two idea, "is the largest" and "covering a large area". this idea is in choice C

the meaning in choice A and B infact is meaningless. the idea in "which..." is not binded to the main clause.

I have to say that the explanation in og is wrong for this problem.

why I know that, look at the question " hispanic pupulation, amounting to less than half of population" in manhantan forum. you can google this sentence.

GMATGuruNY wrote:B: Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth, which covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.

When an introductory modifier includes a pronoun without an antecedent, the referent for the pronoun must be the FIRST WORD of the main clause.
To my knowledge, NO OFFICIAL ANSWER has not abided by this rule.
Here, the introductory modifier (although IT is called a sea) includes a pronoun without an antecedent (it), but the first word of the main clause (actually) is not the referent for this pronoun.
Eliminate B.

COMMA + WHICH + SINGULAR VERB must refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING SINGULAR NOUN.
To my knowledge, NO OFFICIAL ANSWER has not abided by this rule.
Here, which seems to refer to Earth, implying that the EARTH covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate B.

[email protected] wrote:Hi RBBmba@2104,

Here's some additional information on the 3 points that I mentioned:

1) "Modification" is one of the standard rules that the GMAT tests. It is tested with modifying "words" and modifying "phrases." You'll see at least one of each on Test Day. A common was to test a modifying phrase is an opening phrase at the beginning of the sentence that includes a comma; whatever that phrase describes should follow the comma.

2) Yes, "concise" language matters, as long as you're still following standard grammar rules.

3) You refer to the sentence stating a "fact", which is fine, but that fact is not limited to one point in time. The Caspian is the largest lake today, was the largest lake yesterday and will probably be the largest lake tomorrow. It's more appropriate to say that this is a "timeless fact", so the correct verb is an "-ing" verb (here, it's "covering...").

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

RBBmba@2014 wrote:BUt as for your second point - is it ALWAYS true in GMAT ?
I think in some cases depending on the meaning and context of the sentence 'which' can modify a slightly far away noun when the entity immediately precedes 'which' in turn modifies/refers to the that noun.
For example this OG qs: Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber her letters to anyone else.

Thoughts ?

Moreover, in the sentence (re the landlocked Caspian) preposition phrase 'on Earth' clearly modifies "the largest lake".
Don't you think that as "the largest lake on Earth" is a BIG noun phrase so 'which' will accordingly have the liberty to jump over the preceding preposition phrase 'on Earth' (the modifier) to modify the HEAD of this noun phrase - "the largest lake" ?

Looking forward to your views!

GMATGuruNY wrote: On the GMAT:
COMMA + which + SINGULAR verb must refer to the nearest preceding SINGULAR noun.
COMMA + which + PLURAL verb must refer to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun.
To my knowledge, no OA has not abided by these rules.

Emily Dickinson's LETTERS to Susan Huntington Dickinson, which WERE written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber her letters to anyone else.
Here, which were written (COMMA + which + PLURAL verb) correctly refers to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun (letters).

GMATGuruNY wrote:

RBBmba@2014 wrote:BUt as for your second point - is it ALWAYS true in GMAT ?
I think in some cases depending on the meaning and context of the sentence 'which' can modify a slightly far away noun when the entity immediately precedes 'which' in turn modifies/refers to the that noun.
For example this OG qs: Emily Dickinson's letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson, which were written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber her letters to anyone else.

Thoughts ?

Moreover, in the sentence (re the landlocked Caspian) preposition phrase 'on Earth' clearly modifies "the largest lake".
Don't you think that as "the largest lake on Earth" is a BIG noun phrase so 'which' will accordingly have the liberty to jump over the preceding preposition phrase 'on Earth' (the modifier) to modify the HEAD of this noun phrase - "the largest lake" ?

Looking forward to your views!

On the GMAT:
COMMA + which + SINGULAR verb must refer to the nearest preceding SINGULAR noun.
COMMA + which + PLURAL verb must refer to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun.
To my knowledge, no OA has not abided by these rules.

Emily Dickinson's LETTERS to Susan Huntington Dickinson, which WERE written over a period beginning a few years before Susan's marriage to Emily's brother and ending shortly before Emily's death in 1886, outnumber her letters to anyone else.
Here, which were written (COMMA + which + PLURAL verb) correctly refers to the nearest preceding PLURAL noun (letters).