SC doubt

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SC doubt

by Nijo » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:15 pm
Hi
Can anyone pl help solve below:
A recent and popular self-help book wryly notes that if adolescence was not so painful, it would have a droll comedic aspect, at least in retrospect.

A) was not so painful, it
B) was not so painful, they
C) were not so painful, they
D) were not so painful, it
E) were not so painful, being one[/u]

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by [email protected] » Tue Jul 08, 2014 7:00 pm
Hi Nijo,

This SC hinges on the word "adolescence", since this word will effect the verb and pronoun that are required.

Under normal circumstances, since "adolescence" is a singular noun, we would need the verb "was" and the pronoun "it." HOWEVER....

*Edit*
Mitch is absolutely correct ---the sentence is based on a "hypothetical", which requires the use of "were" and "would." The word "would" appears in the non-underlined portion of the sentence, so we can't change that word. All we can do is complete the "hypothetical phrase" by using the word "were" in the underlined portion.

Final Answer: D

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Last edited by [email protected] on Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by chetan86 » Wed Jul 09, 2014 5:37 am
[email protected] wrote:Hi Nijo,

This SC hinges on the word "adolescence", since this word will effect the verb and pronoun that are required.

Since "adolescence" is a singular noun, we need the verb "was" and the pronoun "it."

Final Answer: A

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Hi Rich,

I am totally agree with you, and I have also chosen option 'A' because as per pronoun-verb agreement combination either option A or C could be correct. As you suggested 'adolescence' is a singular noun, option 'A' would be the correct answer. In option E usage of 'being' is totally wrong.

But I have one doubt.

If we replace pronoun 'it' with 'adolescence' then sentence 'adolescence would have a droll comedic aspect' would not sound awkward?
Am I missing anything?

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by Nijo » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:41 pm
Hi
I am sorry for the late reply but the OA is C
The explanation is as below:

CORRECT. The "if" clause properly uses the subjunctive mood, "if adolescence were." The singular "it" refers to the singular "adolescence."Was" should not be used in an "if" clause indicating a hypothetical condition. "If adolescence were" is correct.

Can someone clarify? This is from the Manhattan test

Thanks

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by theCodeToGMAT » Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:40 pm
Nijo wrote:Hi
I am sorry for the late reply but the OA is C
The explanation is as below:

CORRECT. The "if" clause properly uses the subjunctive mood, "if adolescence were." The singular "it" refers to the singular "adolescence."Was" should not be used in an "if" clause indicating a hypothetical condition. "If adolescence were" is correct.

Can someone clarify? This is from the Manhattan test

Thanks
Nijo, are you sure that the answer is {C}?? According to me, it must be {D}

This sentence includes Hypthetical Situation of the format "If I were Rich...."

So, we need "plural" verb; Ignore {A} & {B}

"adolescence" is singular.. Ignore {C}

"being" is not needed; ignore {E}

Only {D}
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by Nijo » Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:40 am
Hi, yep the OA in the test guide is C

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by theCodeToGMAT » Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:45 am
Nijo wrote:Hi, yep the OA in the test guide is C
What's the source?
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by GMATGuruNY » Sat Jul 12, 2014 7:59 am
Nijo wrote: A recent and popular self-help book wryly notes that if adolescence was not so painful, it would have a droll comedic aspect, at least in retrospect.

A) was not so painful, it
B) was not so painful, they
C) were not so painful, they
D) were not so painful, it
E) were not so painful, being one
To express a state-of-being or action that is HYPOTHETICAL or CONTRARY-TO-FACT, we use the SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.
Correct: If John WERE 100 feet tall, he WOULD play basketball.
Here, the verb were makes it clear that John is not in fact 100 feet tall.

In the SC above:
The self-help book acknowledges a fact of life: ADOLESCENCE IS PAINFUL.
The intent is to discuss a hypothetical situation CONTRARY to this fact:
If adolescence WERE NOT so painful, it WOULD have a droll comedic aspect.

The correct answer is D.

In C, they (plural) lacks a plural referent.
The correct answer cannot be C.
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