BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

After 12 hours, hostage

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 574
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:47 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Location: USA
Thanked: 29 times
by Target2009 » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:54 pm
After 12 hours, hostage negotiators finally resolved a situation involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their efforts were rewarded generously by the grateful bank management.

A. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their
B. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the hostages'
C. which involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their
D. that involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'
E. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'

[spoiler]Source : Not from any CAT, came across in some trial material.[/spoiler]
Regards
Abhishek
------------------------------
MasterGmat Student
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members
Thanked: 20 times
GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:11 pm
Target2009 wrote:After 12 hours, hostage negotiators finally resolved a situation involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their efforts were rewarded generously by the grateful bank management.

A. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their-------"use of their is ambiguous.It can refer to robbers,hostages or negotiators"
B. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the hostages'----changes the meaning of the sentence.Negotiators must have been rewarded
C. which involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their-------"use of their is ambiguous.It can refer to robbers,hostages or negotiators"
D. that involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'
E. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'

[spoiler]Source : Not from any CAT, came across in some trial material.[/spoiler]

Between D & E, E is concise.
IMO : E
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 857
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:36 amFollowed by: 15 members
Thanked: 56 times

by AIM GMAT » Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:19 am
Target2009 wrote:After 12 hours, hostage negotiators finally resolved a situation involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their efforts were rewarded generously by the grateful bank management.

A. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their
B. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the hostages'
C. which involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; their
D. that involved three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'
E. involving three bank robbers and 35 hostages; the negotiators'

[spoiler]Source : Not from any CAT, came across in some trial material.[/spoiler]
Its between D and E , i choose D .

Whats the OA ?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 574
Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:47 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Location: USA
Thanked: 29 times

by Target2009 » Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:08 am
OA : E
Please tell me what difference ";" made on your analysis for this sentence.
Regards
Abhishek
------------------------------
MasterGmat Student
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members
Thanked: 20 times
GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:47 pm
Target2009 wrote:OA : E
Please tell me what difference ";" made on your analysis for this sentence.
According to MGMAT SC guide, ";" connects two independent clauses which are logically dependent on each other.
We can see all the five options stick to the rule.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members
Thanked: 20 times
GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:49 pm
Target2009 wrote:OA : E
Please tell me what difference ";" made on your analysis for this sentence.
Furthermore, I would like to know the explanation given for rejecting D
am I correct in rejecting D or is there some other reason?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 857
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:36 amFollowed by: 15 members
Thanked: 56 times

by AIM GMAT » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:44 am
prachich1987 wrote:
Target2009 wrote:OA : E
Please tell me what difference ";" made on your analysis for this sentence.
Furthermore, I would like to know the explanation given for rejecting D
am I correct in rejecting D or is there some other reason?

Well , i m still not sure about the rejection of choice D over E . Being concise is definately not the only reason , its because "involving" is prefered over "that involved". I m not sure about the reason for the same , but its something to do about the use of essential modifier "that", may be the use is incorrect in this case .

Please guys enlighten me on this issue .

Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:36 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Location: Kolkata, India
Thanked: 11 times

by pesfunk » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:02 pm
Looking for some expert reply.
AIM GMAT wrote:
prachich1987 wrote:
Target2009 wrote:OA : E
Please tell me what difference ";" made on your analysis for this sentence.
Furthermore, I would like to know the explanation given for rejecting D
am I correct in rejecting D or is there some other reason?

Well , i m still not sure about the rejection of choice D over E . Being concise is definately not the only reason , its because "involving" is prefered over "that involved". I m not sure about the reason for the same , but its something to do about the use of essential modifier "that", may be the use is incorrect in this case .

Please guys enlighten me on this issue .

Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1031
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:23 pmFollowed by: 255 members
Location: Malibu, CA
Thanked: 716 times
GMAT Score:750

by Brian@VeritasPrep » Fri Jan 28, 2011 10:42 am
Hey guys,

I can't see where D is "wrong", so this may not be a perfect question. I'd say that, if anything, there's a pretty good argument for D in that "that" clearly modifies "the situation", whereas "involving" could theoretically correspond to the negotiators (the negotiators involved the hostages and robbers in solving the situation).

If you made that decision (D over E because of the modification of "the situation"), I'd say you're thinking the right way. The only justification I could see for E is "brevity", but that rationale typically belies another true error that lends itself to a longer, more cumbersome sentence. I don't think D really does that...
Brian Galvin
GMAT Instructor
Chief Academic Officer
Veritas Prep

Looking for GMAT practice questions? Try out the Veritas Prep Question Bank. Learn More.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 amFollowed by: 10 members
Thanked: 20 times
GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:58 am
Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:Hey guys,

I can't see where D is "wrong", so this may not be a perfect question. I'd say that, if anything, there's a pretty good argument for D in that "that" clearly modifies "the situation", whereas "involving" could theoretically correspond to the negotiators (the negotiators involved the hostages and robbers in solving the situation).

If you made that decision (D over E because of the modification of "the situation"), I'd say you're thinking the right way. The only justification I could see for E is "brevity", but that rationale typically belies another true error that lends itself to a longer, more cumbersome sentence. I don't think D really does that...
I got your point Brian
In E INVOLVING can modify negotiators.Negotiators involved robbers etc.

@ target2009---can you please advise OE along with the source?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:41 am
Thanked: 2 times

by vatsalroxy » Sat Jan 29, 2011 8:05 pm
I am even surprised that D is ruled out for what good reason?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 163
Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:56 amFollowed by: 4 members
Location: Philadelphia
Thanked: 13 times
GMAT Score:660

by chendawg » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:19 am
I would have to agree with Brian, this question isn't exactly the greatest because between D and E, there really isn't an error.......
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 123
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:18 pmFollowed by: 4 members
Location: Mumbai, India
Thanked: 5 times

by anirudhbhalotia » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:35 am
I would go with D.
"Change is never a matter of ability but always a matter of motivation" - Anthony Robbins
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2330
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2010 5:14 amFollowed by: 26 members
Thanked: 56 times

by mundasingh123 » Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:04 pm
Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:Hey guys,

"involving" could theoretically correspond to the negotiators (the negotiators involved the hostages and robbers in solving the situation).
Hi Brian cant we eliminate the possibility you stated above because Had this been true the modifier would have been close to the noun :negotiators
I Seek Explanations Not Answers
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:04 pmFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 3 times

by venmic » Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:02 pm
in this sentence

how would you apply

1) That involved .. - i chose this one becuase were was used in the other part of the sentence
2) involving - ruled this one out becuase involving starts in past continues in present and were is used in the other part

please explain



Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:Hey guys,

I can't see where D is "wrong", so this may not be a perfect question. I'd say that, if anything, there's a pretty good argument for D in that "that" clearly modifies "the situation", whereas "involving" could theoretically correspond to the negotiators (the negotiators involved the hostages and robbers in solving the situation).

If you made that decision (D over E because of the modification of "the situation"), I'd say you're thinking the right way. The only justification I could see for E is "brevity", but that rationale typically belies another true error that lends itself to a longer, more cumbersome sentence. I don't think D really does that...
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked