Galapagos tortoise

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real2008: Legendary Member; Posts: 527; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:06 am; Thanked: 7 times

by real2008 » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:29 am

161. Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.

(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(C) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles like
(D) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles, like those of
(E) Based on such growth rates as those of large modern reptiles like

why the answer is B not A?

anybody pl explain....

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:29 am

rs2010: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 232; Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:14 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 14 times; GMAT Score:760

by rs2010 » Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:21 pm

Based on here means account of. Despite using correct idiom it does not make sense. You should go for logical flow of sentence first and then rest of the things.

SanjeevK: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 89; Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 2:49 am; Thanked: 9 times

by SanjeevK » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:11 am

Option A suggests that the scientists are based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs

Option B corrects this by telling that on the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as ....., scientists estimate that ...

Hope this clarifies the issue

lily164: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 12; Joined: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:02 am; Thanked: 1 times

by lily164 » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:05 am

In option A, C, D: The verb "based" refers to scientists, but we can't use passive voice for subject "scientists" in this case. So A,C,D wrong.

real2008: Legendary Member; Posts: 527; Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 12:06 am; Thanked: 7 times

by real2008 » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:18 am

lily164 wrote:In option A, C, D: The verb "based" refers to scientists, but we can't use passive voice for subject "scientists" in this case. So A,C,D wrong.

sorry, i haven't got your idea. would you please elaborate?

Domnu: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 385; Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 3:55 pm; Thanked: 11 times; GMAT Score:740

by Domnu » Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:29 pm

Hmm.. this is slightly tricky. However, it does make sense. For example, take a look at this sentence (which is clearly incorrect)...

Having a large keyboard, Emma typed on the computer.

Have you wondered how you could have found such a treasure? -T

uptowngirl92: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 447; Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:08 pm; Location: Kolkata,India; Thanked: 7 times; GMAT Score:670

by uptowngirl92 » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:44 pm

Sorry guys can't make out why A is incorrect.How is BASED ON modifying scientists??

sarthak: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 75; Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:43 am

by sarthak » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:21 am

thumb rule I use is if based on is used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a clause then that option is wrong. (Please do nt ask me why).

Can anyone suggest if this is right ?

P.S. While forming the question above I had a doubt , wheter it will be suggest or suggests ?

kstv: Legendary Member; Posts: 610; Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:33 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 47 times

by kstv » Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:46 am

I am equally confused. Is Parallelism a issue here.

In the correct part of the sentence it is given examinations of fossils so is it that On the basis of growth rates is better than Based on the growth rates

Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.

(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as

harshavardhanc: Legendary Member; Posts: 526; Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:47 pm; Location: India; Thanked: 68 times; GMAT Score:680

by harshavardhanc » Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:36 am

kstv wrote:I am equally confused. Is Parallelism a issue here.

In the correct part of the sentence it is given examinations of fossils so is it that On the basis of growth rates is better than Based on the growth rates

Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.

(A) Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as
(B) On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as

wow ! this topic got bumped up after 5 months!

Anyway, here's my two cents

rule says:

modifying clause, modified noun i.e the noun which is being modified should follow the comma after the clause.

so, according to the rule, A says : scientists were based on X.

Doesn't make sense.... right?

whereas it was scientists' estimation that was based on X. A would have been right if it said:

Based on the growth rates, scientists' estimation......

B clears this confusion by keeping the modified noun as the scientists and properly modifying it using " on the basis of".

On the basis of X, scientists....

Regards,
Harsha

tomada: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 406; Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:36 amFollowed by: 4 members; Location: Syracuse, NY; Thanked: 23 times; GMAT Score:740

by tomada » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:50 pm

On the basis of Harsha's explanation, I have a better understanding of the answer.

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