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very annoying sentence correction problem

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very annoying sentence correction problem

by abcdefg » Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:34 am
Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning only after World War II.

Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on their academic merit

Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on their academic merit

Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it

[spoiler] OA is A. I'm thinking though isn't "based on academic merit" somewhat of a dangling modifier that is actually referring to the colleges' academic merit rather than the students' academic merit? This was a very annoying sentence because I thought it was just poorly written overall. [/spoiler].
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by Sher1 » Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:42 am
This is a modifier issue questions. The first half should modify the second half of the sentence.

A and B are the only that do it. B is awkward becuse of the "admission of nationwide students" does not make sense.
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by kris610 » Tue Jul 14, 2009 5:13 pm
A is perfectly fine.

If you've read the recent edition of MGMAT, it clearly says that sometimes it is perfectly fine to have the modifier and the noun it modifies separated by a phrase in certain scenarios.

Here, though "based on..." modifies admission, the phrase "to universities..." would not make sense anywhere else in the sentence.

"admission based on merit to universities and colleges" is much more awkward.
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by perfectstranger » Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:43 pm
Could someone explain why B is wrong?
Please do not post answers visibly . Please hide them or post them later after the discussion.
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by mehravikas » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:44 pm
'B' is passive...

Compare the first part (before the comma) of both the sentences.

Though most people take it for granted now

Though it is now taken for granted by most people
perfectstranger wrote:Could someone explain why B is wrong?
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A

by sumank8216 » Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:51 pm
A

B. chnages meaning. from nationwide admission to nationwide student.
C.Modifier issue.
D, E awkward, no reference for them ..students or colleges or admissions..

thanks.
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by viju9162 » Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:55 pm
It's bit confusing b/w A & B.

I went for B, but realized that A must be the answer.

In A, "it" is referring to the nationwide admission. "Based on" is the correct idiom. the nationwide admission.... is ...

B changes the meaning. the admission of nationwide students...
"Native of" is used for a individual while "Native to" is used for a large group
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by tanviet » Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:35 am
why B is wrong

in A, "it" can not refer to "admission" because no logic

inhere "it" is explative, fake object

B is wrong because "nationwide student"
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by senthil » Tue May 18, 2010 8:51 am
Why E is wrong , In A wat does 'it' refer to ?
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by indiantiger » Tue May 18, 2010 9:38 am
Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges and universities based on academic merit

Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on academic merit [was a contender but lost]

Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on their academic merit [not correctly modifying]

Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and universities based on their academic merit

Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it (awkward)
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by aalexjacob » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:50 pm
mehravikas wrote:'B' is passive...

Compare the first part (before the comma) of both the sentences.

Though most people take it for granted now

Though it is now taken for granted by most people
perfectstranger wrote:Could someone explain why B is wrong?

What does admission of nationwide student mean? It is rubbish.
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by aalexjacob » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:52 pm
Can anyone tell me what logic was used to eliminate option E.

"Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it"

I used the logic that 'but' should be used instead of 'and' to show contrast.

Comments please!!!
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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:18 pm
aalexjacob wrote:Can anyone tell me what logic was used to eliminate option E.

"Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally based on academic merit, and it"

I used the logic that 'but' should be used instead of 'and' to show contrast.

Comments please!!!
That's a good distinction to draw. You could also look at the change from "nationwide" in the originally to "nationally" in E.
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by gmat_for_life » Thu Mar 10, 2016 3:36 am
Experts,

What is 'it' in the original sentence basically referring to?

Amit
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