Question.

[This topic has 1 expert reply and 2 member replies]
Forum Index GMAT Verbal & Essays Sentence Correction
Free $100 Amazon.com Gift Card - Buy a GMAT course using a Beat The GMAT discount code between Mar 8-22 and get a $100 Amazon.com Gift Card. Learn more!
Post New Topic   Post Reply

TkNeo
Rising GMAT Star

Default Avatar

Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 96

Thanks given: 7
Thanked 5 times in 5 posts

Test Date: hopefully in feb
Target GMAT Score: 700
Topic: Question.
PostSun Jan 13, 2008 10:20 pm
Elapsed Time:
00:00
 Lap   Why a timer is critical to improving your score
What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc has been the use of the new technology to revitalize, in better sound than was ever before possible, some of the classic recorded performances of the pre-LP era.

A) What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc
B) The thing that was as remarkable as the developing the Compact Disc
C) No less remarkable than the development of the Compact Disc
D) Developing the Compact Disc has been none the less remarkable as the development than
E) Development of the Compact Disc has been no less remarkable as

OA: C

If you get it right, please discuss the correct and incorrect options.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Reply from GMAT/MBA Admissions Expert
See All Featured Experts
Stuart Kovinsky
GMAT Instructor

Most Active Expert Most Thanked Expert
Joined: 08 Jan 2008
Posts: 2259

Thanks given: 0
Thanked 537 times in 464 posts
Location: Toronto

GMAT Score: 800
PostSun Jan 13, 2008 10:34 pm
TkNeo wrote:
What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc has been the use of the new technology to revitalize, in better sound than was ever before possible, some of the classic recorded performances of the pre-LP era.

A) What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc
B) The thing that was as remarkable as the developing the Compact Disc
C) No less remarkable than the development of the Compact Disc
D) Developing the Compact Disc has been none the less remarkable as the development than
E) Development of the Compact Disc has been no less remarkable as

This question is mostly about parallelism.

(a) has non-parallel tenses. For (a) to make sense, it would have to begin "what is as remarkable as", since the "remarkability" refers to the present (i.e. it's remarkable now). (b), (d) and (e) all make the same error.

Only (C) doesn't make the same mistake, therefore (c) must be correct.

Another issue with (d) and (e) is the incorrect idiom "less remarkable as" - "less remarkable than" is idiomatically correct. Another reason to eliminate (b) is that "as the developing compact disc" makes no sense in this sentence ("the development of the compact disc" has a completely different meaning and we want to avoid changing the meaning of the original sentence).

(c) uses the idiomatically correct (and parallel) "No less remarkable than the X has been the Y".
_________________
Stuart Kovinsky, B.A. LL.B.
Academic Manager
Admissions Consultant
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
Toronto Office
1-800-KAP-TEST

GMAT Blogs

Learn more about me
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
TkNeo
Rising GMAT Star

Default Avatar

Joined: 19 Dec 2007
Posts: 96

Thanks given: 7
Thanked 5 times in 5 posts

Test Date: hopefully in feb
Target GMAT Score: 700
PostMon Jan 14, 2008 8:51 pm
Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
TkNeo wrote:
What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc has been the use of the new technology to revitalize, in better sound than was ever before possible, some of the classic recorded performances of the pre-LP era.

A) What was as remarkable as the development of the Compact Disc
B) The thing that was as remarkable as the developing the Compact Disc
C) No less remarkable than the development of the Compact Disc
D) Developing the Compact Disc has been none the less remarkable as the development than
E) Development of the Compact Disc has been no less remarkable as

This question is mostly about parallelism.

(a) has non-parallel tenses. For (a) to make sense, it would have to begin "what is as remarkable as", since the "remarkability" refers to the present (i.e. it's remarkable now). (b), (d) and (e) all make the same error.

Only (C) doesn't make the same mistake, therefore (c) must be correct.

Another issue with (d) and (e) is the incorrect idiom "less remarkable as" - "less remarkable than" is idiomatically correct. Another reason to eliminate (b) is that "as the developing compact disc" makes no sense in this sentence ("the development of the compact disc" has a completely different meaning and we want to avoid changing the meaning of the original sentence).

(c) uses the idiomatically correct (and parallel) "No less remarkable than the X has been the Y".
See the part that got me was the comparison of tenses too... except i got it wrong Smile

To me it looked it the question is comparing a breakthrough event in the past "development of CDs" to a breakthrough event that is happening now "revitalizing the classic performances". That is why i could not figure out the past tense in the first part of comparison was incorrect...

How did you see the two comparisons to be in the same tense ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
camitava
GMAT Destroyer!

Default Avatar

Joined: 05 Sep 2007
Posts: 633

Thanks given: 3
Thanked 26 times in 26 posts
Location: India
PostMon Jan 14, 2008 10:16 pm
TkNeo,
Here I would like to mention something! Look, the passage (Qs) is saying -
Development of CD is as remarkable as the use of the new technology to revitalize, in better sound than it was ever before is having the same.
"New technology to revitalize sound" is in present - I agree. Now going back ur query, though development of CD was in past, we are not talking about its development. Rather we are talking about its contribution to the science (Am I clear here?). We cannot make a contribution of an invent in past in this context. So here comes the situation why we have to take care of tense mismatch into our investigation!
Hey TKNeo, are you getting me?
_________________
Correct me If I am wrong


Regards,

Amitava
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   

Post New Topic   Post Reply All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Page 1 of 1
 
Forum Index GMAT Verbal & Essays Sentence Correction
Most Active Members in Last 30 Days
1. harsh.champ 625 posts
2. shashank.ism 465 posts
3. ajith 370 posts
4. money9111 353 posts
5. thephoenix 349 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Members
Most Active Experts in Last 30 Days
1. lunarpower
Manhattan GMAT Teacher 		85 posts
2. Stuart Kovinsky
Kaplan GMAT Teacher 		70 posts
3. Lisa Anderson
Stacy Blackman Consulting 		50 posts
4. Testluv
Kaplan GMAT Teacher 		50 posts
5. Stacey Koprince
Manhattan GMAT Teacher 		35 posts
See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts