powerscore sc pronoun referent

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 789
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 1:25 am
Location: Southern California, USA
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:6 members

powerscore sc pronoun referent

by resilient » Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:44 pm
Because her mother was unable to support a family, Marilyn Monroes spent the first seven years of her life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement thier income.

a.
b. their life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement thier income
c. her life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement Marilyn's income
d. her mother's life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement their income
e. the child's life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement the couple's income

QA is b - but what is wrong with C
Appetite for 700 and I scraped my plate!
Source: — Sentence Correction |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
Followed by:614 members
GMAT Score:800

Re: powerscore sc pronoun referent

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:32 am
Enginpasa1 wrote:Because her mother was unable to support a family, Marilyn Monroes spent the first seven years of her life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement thier income.

a.
b. their life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement thier income
c. her life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement Marilyn's income
d. her mother's life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement their income
e. the child's life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement the couple's income

QA is b - but what is wrong with C
The correct answer has to be (a), not (b) ("their life" in (b) makes no sense).

(c) changes the meaning of the sentence, which is a big no-no. According to the original sentence, the couple's income was supplemented; according to (b), Marilyn's income was supplemented.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course

Legendary Member
Posts: 789
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 1:25 am
Location: Southern California, USA
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:6 members

ok one more thing

by resilient » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:02 am
who was the family supplementing? is it mariyln or her mariylyns family? I guess I chose eh wrong subject. VEry confused.
Appetite for 700 and I scraped my plate!

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:01 pm

by hillzheng » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:41 pm
it should be their not her

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:57 am

by detonate » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:27 am
Is it their life or her life? Using their in the sentence sounds weird.

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:01 pm
Location: Bombay

by Anubhav Jain » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:55 pm
Final answer please !!!!!?
Thanks and Regards,
Anubhav Jain

Legendary Member
Posts: 631
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:57 pm
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:3 members

by netigen » Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:40 pm
I think there is some mistyping here, the sentence should read:

Because her mother was unable to support a family, Marilyn Monroe spent the first seven years of her life with a couple who became foster parents to supplement their income.

here - 'her' refers to Marilyn Monroe and 'their' refers to the couple

so answer is (A)

• Page 1 of 1