The category 1 to 5 rating known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale provides an estimate of a hurricane’s potential of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as to blow away small buildings, completely destroy mobile homes, and cause severe window and door damage.
a)of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
b)to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
c)of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
d)to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
e)to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
Source- MGMAT SC. Difficulty level 700-800
Saffir-Simpson Scale
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I think B is the correct answer.
1st split: "potential of destroying" vs "potential to destroy"
Idiomatically, "x has the potential of doing" is incorrect. "x has the potential to do" is correct. Eliminate A and C
2nd split: "speeds so high as to blow" vs "speeds high enough to blow"
When a sentence uses "so" to emphasize the extent/level, the "so" should be followed with "that" as in "wind speeds so high that..." This is another idiomatic issue; get rid of questions that use "so high as to blow" and keep answers that use the correct "high enough to blow'. Eliminate A, C and E.
3rd split: "determined from" vs "determined by"
This is a meaning issue. "The rating...is determined by wind speed" means that the wind speed literally determines the rating. This is illogical since the speed doesn't actually determine anything. People determine the rating from their measurement of wind speed.
"The rating...is determined from wind speed" is correct; it means that wind speed is used to determine the rating. In this case, the speed doesn't determine the rating, but is used to determine the rating. This is the logical meaning.
Eliminate answers that use "determine by". Eliminate C, D and E.
The correct answer is B
(I studied with OG and GMATFix Verbal Flashcards)
1st split: "potential of destroying" vs "potential to destroy"
Idiomatically, "x has the potential of doing" is incorrect. "x has the potential to do" is correct. Eliminate A and C
2nd split: "speeds so high as to blow" vs "speeds high enough to blow"
When a sentence uses "so" to emphasize the extent/level, the "so" should be followed with "that" as in "wind speeds so high that..." This is another idiomatic issue; get rid of questions that use "so high as to blow" and keep answers that use the correct "high enough to blow'. Eliminate A, C and E.
3rd split: "determined from" vs "determined by"
This is a meaning issue. "The rating...is determined by wind speed" means that the wind speed literally determines the rating. This is illogical since the speed doesn't actually determine anything. People determine the rating from their measurement of wind speed.
"The rating...is determined from wind speed" is correct; it means that wind speed is used to determine the rating. In this case, the speed doesn't determine the rating, but is used to determine the rating. This is the logical meaning.
Eliminate answers that use "determine by". Eliminate C, D and E.
The correct answer is B
(I studied with OG and GMATFix Verbal Flashcards)
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Tedcornell,
Love the way you dissect the question,
But you are incorrect here.
Will wait for more replies before posting OA
Love the way you dissect the question,
But you are incorrect here.
Will wait for more replies before posting OA
Its better to burn out than to fade away
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E looks the right option to me.
To destroy is correct. determnined by is correct and also correct use of idiom so..as.
To destroy is correct. determnined by is correct and also correct use of idiom so..as.
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IMO OA is D.
"so high as to blow.." sounds like an exaggeration, doesn't it?
"high enough to blow.." is more moderate... and more scientific, IMO.
And i'd go with "determined by.."
Am I totally incorrect?
OA please!
"so high as to blow.." sounds like an exaggeration, doesn't it?
"high enough to blow.." is more moderate... and more scientific, IMO.
And i'd go with "determined by.."
Am I totally incorrect?
OA please!
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blackarrow - what is the source of the question? GMAC seems to have changed its mind on this idiom. OG11 SC 33 - Choice C uses the "So x as to y" construct and is deemed unidiomatic. This is in contrast to prior OGs. If this question was from a third party publication which was based on OG 10, C is probably wrong and we should ignore the question.
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cm47323,
Please llok carefully, i had mentioned whats the source+ the difficulty bin of the question when I posted the question itself ( small font)
The explaination is(manhattan)... and I agree :-
When referring to y as the potential outcome of x, the correct idiom is “x’s potential to y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “a hurricane’s potential of destroying or damaging.” When referring to the use of y to determine x, the correct idiom is “x is determined by y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “potential … is determined from wind speeds.” Finally, there is a subtle distinction between the idiom "so x as to y" and “x is enough to y.” The original sentence uses the idiom "so x as to y" to indicate that characteristic x is so extreme in the particular case that y results. In contrast, the idiom "x is enough to y" is used when x is the criteria by which an ability to achieve y is measured. Thus, if a sentence stated that "a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough to blow away small buildings," this would convey a different meaning: that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) When referring to the use of y to determine x, the correct idiom is “x is determined by y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “potential … is determined from wind speeds.” The change from the original idiom "wind speeds so high as to..." to the idiom presented in this sentence “high enough to...” changes the original meaning of the sentence; it conveys that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses. The idiom "so x as to y" is required instead to match the original meaning: that characteristic x (the wind speed) is so extreme in the particular case (a category 5 storm) that y results (small houses are blown away).
(C) When referring to y as the potential outcome of x, the correct idiom is “x’s potential to y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “a hurricane’s potential of destroying or damaging.”
(D) The idiom “high enough to blow away small buildings” changes the original meaning; it conveys that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses. The idiom "so x as to y" is required instead to match the original meaning: that characteristic x (the wind speed) is so extreme in the particular case (a category 5 storm) that y results (small houses are blown away).
(E) CORRECT. All idioms in the sentence are used correctly.
Please llok carefully, i had mentioned whats the source+ the difficulty bin of the question when I posted the question itself ( small font)
The explaination is(manhattan)... and I agree :-
When referring to y as the potential outcome of x, the correct idiom is “x’s potential to y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “a hurricane’s potential of destroying or damaging.” When referring to the use of y to determine x, the correct idiom is “x is determined by y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “potential … is determined from wind speeds.” Finally, there is a subtle distinction between the idiom "so x as to y" and “x is enough to y.” The original sentence uses the idiom "so x as to y" to indicate that characteristic x is so extreme in the particular case that y results. In contrast, the idiom "x is enough to y" is used when x is the criteria by which an ability to achieve y is measured. Thus, if a sentence stated that "a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough to blow away small buildings," this would convey a different meaning: that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) When referring to the use of y to determine x, the correct idiom is “x is determined by y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “potential … is determined from wind speeds.” The change from the original idiom "wind speeds so high as to..." to the idiom presented in this sentence “high enough to...” changes the original meaning of the sentence; it conveys that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses. The idiom "so x as to y" is required instead to match the original meaning: that characteristic x (the wind speed) is so extreme in the particular case (a category 5 storm) that y results (small houses are blown away).
(C) When referring to y as the potential outcome of x, the correct idiom is “x’s potential to y.” This sentence incorrectly phrases the idiom as “a hurricane’s potential of destroying or damaging.”
(D) The idiom “high enough to blow away small buildings” changes the original meaning; it conveys that wind speeds are the criteria by which one measures the ability to blow away small houses. The idiom "so x as to y" is required instead to match the original meaning: that characteristic x (the wind speed) is so extreme in the particular case (a category 5 storm) that y results (small houses are blown away).
(E) CORRECT. All idioms in the sentence are used correctly.
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I agree with tedcornell even after reading your explanation for OA
Determined By v/s Determined from
I think both the idioms are correct depending upon their use.
Determined By: when Only Wind speed is the parameter
determined from : result is derived from the wind speed.
Since the original sentence says Determined from i.e result is derived from wind speed, we cannot change its meaning in the answer
Please explain if I am wrong somewhere
Determined By v/s Determined from
I think both the idioms are correct depending upon their use.
Determined By: when Only Wind speed is the parameter
determined from : result is derived from the wind speed.
Since the original sentence says Determined from i.e result is derived from wind speed, we cannot change its meaning in the answer
Please explain if I am wrong somewhere
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Feruza
It is good to say the original sentence can be wrong, but it's not good to change the meaning of the original sentence
If we are given :
I played basketball yesterday
And one of the option says:
I played basketball yesterday with my friends.
Although both mean the same that" I played basketball yesterday"
but it never says anything about friends, may be I played alone or with friends etc
So is the option correct??
I hope this clear what I mean to say the MEANING OF THE ORIGINAL SENTENCE
Karan
It is good to say the original sentence can be wrong, but it's not good to change the meaning of the original sentence
If we are given :
I played basketball yesterday
And one of the option says:
I played basketball yesterday with my friends.
Although both mean the same that" I played basketball yesterday"
but it never says anything about friends, may be I played alone or with friends etc
So is the option correct??
I hope this clear what I mean to say the MEANING OF THE ORIGINAL SENTENCE
Karan