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GMAT Prep SC - although impoved efficiency

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khojason: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 11; Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 10:16 pm; Thanked: 1 times

by khojason » Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:01 pm

Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

A. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting
B. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost
C. of converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, which boosts
D. of harvested trees being converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand, because it will increase supply and lower prices, thereby boosting
E. when harvested trees are converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]

Can anyone explain how to get the correct answer of this question?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:01 pm

ankurmit: Legendary Member; Posts: 516; Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:42 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Mumbai; Thanked: 14 times; GMAT Score:710

by ankurmit » Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:18 am

IMO A.

CAn u please explain why B is right and not A

--------
Ankur mittal

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niksworth: Legendary Member; Posts: 520; Joined: Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:44 amFollowed by: 6 members; Thanked: 70 times

by niksworth » Sat Aug 28, 2010 4:44 am

In A, the referent of it is not clear. Is it referring to harvest rates or improved efficiency?

Moreover,going by the meaning conveyed by A, whatever it is supposed to refer to (harvest rates or improved efficiency) is also boosting consumption. This is different from the intended meaning of the statement that increasing supply and lowering prices boost consumption. (A case of altered intent.)

In B, which boost... is correctly modifying increasing supply and lowering prices.

B is therefore right.

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ankurmit: Legendary Member; Posts: 516; Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:42 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Mumbai; Thanked: 14 times; GMAT Score:710

by ankurmit » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:19 am

Thanks dude..

--------
Ankur mittal

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x2suresh: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 258; Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 5:32 am; Thanked: 16 times

by x2suresh » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:48 pm

niksworth wrote:In A, the referent of it is not clear. Is it referring to harvest rates or improved efficiency?

Moreover,going by the meaning conveyed by A, whatever it is supposed to refer to (harvest rates or improved efficiency) is also boosting consumption. This is different from the intended meaning of the statement that increasing supply and lowering prices boost consumption. (A case of altered intent.)

In B, which boost... is correctly modifying increasing supply and lowering prices.

B is therefore right.

I disagree with you.

"It" is not ambigous.. It clearly refers to " improved effciency"..
"it" -singular pronoun can't refer to plural "harvest rates"

A clearly says that -
"it<efficiency> will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby (by that means) boosting consumption.

thereby is perfect here.

It says efficiency by that means (increasing supply and lowering prices) boosting consumption.

B changes the meaning..

A is the best option.

what is the source of this question. is OA right?

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hi.itz.mani: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 53; Joined: Sun May 16, 2010 9:38 pm; Thanked: 6 times

by hi.itz.mani » Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:28 am

between A and B

A ... thereby boosting consumption is specifically talking about increase in the consumption of wood

B .... which boost consumption ... is giving a more general meaning " which is SUPPLY DEMAND RULE of econimcs...

Now to prefer A ( specific ) OR B ( generic)........ am not sure. and yes A does have a proper antecedent for it....

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jainrahul1985: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 228; Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:08 am; Thanked: 4 times

by jainrahul1985 » Mon May 16, 2011 6:37 am

What's the OA A/B ? . Experts please suggest

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Stuart@KaplanGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3225; Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members; Location: Toronto; Thanked: 1710 times; GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Mon May 16, 2011 7:59 am

khojason wrote:Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

A. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting
B. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost
C. of converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, which boosts
D. of harvested trees being converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand, because it will increase supply and lower prices, thereby boosting
E. when harvested trees are converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]

Can anyone explain how to get the correct answer of this question?

What's the source? I'd have definitely gone with A over B.

The first thing I noted about B was the use of the passive voice: "demand will be stimulated" is passive, while "it will stimulate demand" is active. It's very rare for the GMAT to choose a passive construction over an active one.

While we should always be concerned with pronouns, it's both grammatically and logically clear that "it" refers to improved efficiency, so that's a non-issue for this question.

Looking at the "bare bones" of the original sentence (always a good strategy for dealing with complicated sentences containing lots of prepositional phrases):

Although improved efficiency... may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand..., thereby boosting consumption.

which is a very well constructed sentence.

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

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atulmangal: Legendary Member; Posts: 1112; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 amFollowed by: 49 members; Thanked: 77 times

by atulmangal » Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:01 pm

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
khojason wrote:Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

A. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting
B. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost
C. of converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, which boosts
D. of harvested trees being converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand, because it will increase supply and lower prices, thereby boosting
E. when harvested trees are converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]

Can anyone explain how to get the correct answer of this question?
What's the source? I'd have definitely gone with A over B.

The first thing I noted about B was the use of the passive voice: "demand will be stimulated" is passive, while "it will stimulate demand" is active. It's very rare for the GMAT to choose a passive construction over an active one.

While we should always be concerned with pronouns, it's both grammatically and logically clear that "it" refers to improved efficiency, so that's a non-issue for this question.

Looking at the "bare bones" of the original sentence (always a good strategy for dealing with complicated sentences containing lots of prepositional phrases):

Although improved efficiency... may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand..., thereby boosting consumption.
which is a very well constructed sentence.

Hi stuart, re-opening this old thread, this question was discussed many times and its an official question. The answer given is Op B.

I agree about the passive structure, but don't u think Op A and Op B, Op A states that its "efficiency" which boost the consumption while in Op B, its "increasing supply and lowering prices" which boost consumption....seems like Op B is better in terms of meaning.

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[email protected]: Legendary Member; Posts: 934; Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:16 amFollowed by: 14 members; Location: AAMCHI MUMBAI LOCAL; Thanked: 63 times

by [email protected] » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:33 am

niksworth!!! please see the above sentence carefully... The original sentence is a contrast sentence as it uses Although. The subject of the sentence is the 'improved efficiency'. Although improved efficiency.... how can 'it' refer to harvest rates.

also option B uses which as the modifier that specifically modifies only the prices and hence changes the meaning of the sentence..

Hence option A is always correct in this question...

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sachindia: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 258; Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:39 amFollowed by: 3 members; Location: Bengaluru, India; Thanked: 6 times; GMAT Score:640

by sachindia » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:09 am

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:
khojason wrote:Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

A. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting
B. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost
C. of converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, which boosts
D. of harvested trees being converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand, because it will increase supply and lower prices, thereby boosting
E. when harvested trees are converted into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

[spoiler]Ans: B[/spoiler]

Can anyone explain how to get the correct answer of this question?
What's the source? I'd have definitely gone with A over B.

The first thing I noted about B was the use of the passive voice: "demand will be stimulated" is passive, while "it will stimulate demand" is active. It's very rare for the GMAT to choose a passive construction over an active one.

While we should always be concerned with pronouns, it's both grammatically and logically clear that "it" refers to improved efficiency, so that's a non-issue for this question.

Looking at the "bare bones" of the original sentence (always a good strategy for dealing with complicated sentences containing lots of prepositional phrases):

Although improved efficiency... may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand..., thereby boosting consumption.
which is a very well constructed sentence.

Hi Stuart,
isn't B grammatically correct?

Agreed that A is better. .

Regards,
Sach

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patanjali.purpose: Legendary Member; Posts: 784; Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:51 amFollowed by: 12 members; Thanked: 114 times

by patanjali.purpose » Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:50 am

sachindia wrote:Although improved efficiency in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, it will stimulate demand by increasing supply and lowering prices, thereby boosting consumption.

B. in converting harvested trees into wood products may reduce harvest rates, demand will be stimulated because of increasing supply and lowering prices, which boost

isn't B grammatically correct? Agreed that A is better. .

IMO...

B has many issues
(1) the entire stimulation of DEMAND BY INCREASING SUPPLY AND LOWERING PRICES will boost CONSUMPTION. But in B - WHICH modifies PRICES suggesting that ONLY PRICES will boost CONSUMPTION
(2) change of BY to BECAUSE indicates CASUAL RELATIONSHIP -- its as good as saying
"This work will be done by X" vs 'This work will be done BECAUSE OF X' - they are not the same

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sachindia: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 258; Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:39 amFollowed by: 3 members; Location: Bengaluru, India; Thanked: 6 times; GMAT Score:640

by sachindia » Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:10 am

thanks mate but i believe which refers to 'increasing supply and lowering prices'

Regards,
Sach

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