Question Pack SC | The Coast guard is conducting tests to se

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The Coast guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

(A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
(B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
(C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
(D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
(E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

OA: A
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by richachampion » Sat Oct 08, 2016 9:18 pm
My Main Concern is If-then Vs Whether.
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by GMATGuruNY » Sun Oct 09, 2016 3:31 am
richachampion wrote:My Main Concern is If-then Vs Whether.
if serves to introduce a CONDITION.
whether serves to introduce ALTERNATIVES.
The SC above is discussing two alternatives:
Pigeons CAN be trained to help find survivors.
or
Pigeons CANNOT be trained to help find survivors.
Thus, the usage of if in C and D is inappropriate.
Eliminate C and D.
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by richachampion » Sun Oct 09, 2016 4:06 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
if serves to introduce a CONDITION.
whether serves to introduce ALTERNATIVES.
I think E can also be eliminated because here we do not require "that", but "to".
I think "that" is wrong here because it changes the meaning as if "tests" are seeing something, but the correct meaning is "tests" are a kind of tool/mean for the cost guard to determine something. Right Sir? In short change in meaning is the reason behind eliminating Option E.

You have already eliminated C and D on the basis of the fact that we require whether not the if-then conditionals.

Now we are down to A and B.

A and B both sounds ok to my ears, but I think here the decision point is purely Idiomatic.
Since the OA is A that means
trained to help - CORRECT
trained as help - INCORRECT

Please verify my understanding. Thanks!
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by richachampion » Mon Nov 21, 2016 1:01 am
richachampion wrote:Please verify my understanding. Thanks!
Can experts please reply to this. Thanks.
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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Nov 21, 2016 11:02 am
richachampion wrote:I think E can also be eliminated because here we do not require "that", but "to".
I think "that" is wrong here because it changes the meaning as if "tests" are seeing something, but the correct meaning is "tests" are a kind of tool/mean for the cost guard to determine something. Right Sir? In short change in meaning is the reason behind eliminating Option E.
Correct.
A and B both sounds ok to my ears, but I think here the decision point is purely Idiomatic.
Since the OA is A that means
trained to help - CORRECT
trained as help - INCORRECT

Please verify my understanding. Thanks!
Mary was trained as a doctor.
Conveyed meaning:
Mary received the training of a doctor so that she could function AS A DOCTOR.

B: pigeons can be trained as help
Conveyed meaning:
pigeons can receive the training of help so that they can function as help.
This meaning is nonsensical.

Eliminate B.
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