can someone please clarify? I really think "increasing impressive" is correct b/c both should be modifying "number" but OA says otherwise.
In the field of eugenics, geneticists have thoroughly scrutinized the human genome and its ability to shape certain traits to select and pre-determine an increasing impressive number of physiological characteristics in the unborn, each "ready to order" to parents' specifications.
A) increasing impressive number of physiological characteristics in the unborn, each
B) increasingly impressive number of physiological characteristics in those not yet born, and each one
C) increasing impressive number of physiological characteristics in those unborn who are
D) increasingly impressive number of physiological characteristics in the unborn, all of them
E) increasingly impressive number of physiological characteristics in the unborn
OA is E
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adjective adjective noun vs adverb adjective noun
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topspin360
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Hi topspin360,
This SC is based on Modification rules. Modifiers can (and will) appear in two ways on the Official GMAT:
1) Modifying words - words that almost always end in "-ly"
2) Modifying phrases - a string of words that is usually offset by a comma.
The overall rule with modifiers is that they are supposed to be placed next to the word that they're meant to modify.
In this SC, the adjective "impressive" describes the word "number" - "an impressive number of characteristics...."
The modifying word should be "increasingLY", which modifies impressive. Eliminate A and C.
The word "unborn" is preferable to "those not yet born"; wordiness is often considered poor "style." Eliminate B.
The phrase "all of them" is clunky and redundant (since we already have the noun "the unborn"). Eliminate D.
Final Answer: E
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
This SC is based on Modification rules. Modifiers can (and will) appear in two ways on the Official GMAT:
1) Modifying words - words that almost always end in "-ly"
2) Modifying phrases - a string of words that is usually offset by a comma.
The overall rule with modifiers is that they are supposed to be placed next to the word that they're meant to modify.
In this SC, the adjective "impressive" describes the word "number" - "an impressive number of characteristics...."
The modifying word should be "increasingLY", which modifies impressive. Eliminate A and C.
The word "unborn" is preferable to "those not yet born"; wordiness is often considered poor "style." Eliminate B.
The phrase "all of them" is clunky and redundant (since we already have the noun "the unborn"). Eliminate D.
Final Answer: E
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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GMATGuruNY
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Its ability to pre-determine an INCREASING impressive number of characteristics.
Here, increasing serves as an ADJECTIVE modifying an impressive number.
Conveyed meaning: The IMPRESSIVE NUMBER of characteristics that can be pre-determined is INCREASING.
Not the intended meaning.
The number of characteristics that can be pre-determined is not changing.
Rather, it is our IMPRESSION of this number that is changing.
Its ability to pre-determine an INCREASINGLY impressive number of characteristics.
Here, increasingly serves as an ADVERB modifying impressive.
Conveyed meaning: As geneticists count how many characteristics can be pre-determined, the number is becoming INCREASINGLY impressive.
In other words, with each new discovery, geneticists get more and more IMPRESSED by the number of characteristics that can be pre-determined.
This is the intended meaning.
Here, increasing serves as an ADJECTIVE modifying an impressive number.
Conveyed meaning: The IMPRESSIVE NUMBER of characteristics that can be pre-determined is INCREASING.
Not the intended meaning.
The number of characteristics that can be pre-determined is not changing.
Rather, it is our IMPRESSION of this number that is changing.
Its ability to pre-determine an INCREASINGLY impressive number of characteristics.
Here, increasingly serves as an ADVERB modifying impressive.
Conveyed meaning: As geneticists count how many characteristics can be pre-determined, the number is becoming INCREASINGLY impressive.
In other words, with each new discovery, geneticists get more and more IMPRESSED by the number of characteristics that can be pre-determined.
This is the intended meaning.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
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conquistador
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Thanks It got a bit clear now.GMATGuruNY wrote:Its ability to pre-determine an INCREASING impressive number of characteristics.
Here, increasing serves as an ADJECTIVE modifying an impressive number.
Conveyed meaning: The IMPRESSIVE NUMBER of characteristics that can be pre-determined is INCREASING.
Not the intended meaning.
The number of characteristics that can be pre-determined is not changing.
Rather, it is our IMPRESSION of this number that is changing.
Its ability to pre-determine an INCREASINGLY impressive number of characteristics.
Here, increasingly serves as an ADVERB modifying impressive.
Conveyed meaning: As geneticists count how many characteristics can be pre-determined, the number is becoming INCREASINGLY impressive.
In other words, with each new discovery, geneticists get more and more IMPRESSED by the number of characteristics that can be pre-determined.
This is the intended meaning.
I eliminated the options to E at first going by the modifier in the end.
Later I got confused by the 3-2 split regarding increasing vs increasingly and selected A.
can someone give a detailed explanation pf why each option is correct/incorrect?
Also explain what "ready to order" to parents' specifications modifies or refers to?
