Skeleton

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sk8ternite: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 119; Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 7:46 pm; Thanked: 3 times; Followed by:1 members

Skeleton

by sk8ternite » Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:59 pm

Once they had completed preliminary testing of the soil at the excavation site, the archaeologists did not doubt whether the skeleton found was a reptile from the Mesozoic era.

a. did not doubt whether the skeleton found was
b. have no doubt whether the skeleton found was that of
c. had no doubt that the skeleton found was that of
d. have no doubt whether the skeleton found was
e. had not doubted that the skeleton found was

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:59 pm

capnx: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 268; Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:22 am; Thanked: 19 times; Followed by:1 members; GMAT Score:700

by capnx » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:04 pm

Go with C.

need "that of" to refer back to skeleton; and between B and C, need past perfect to match the "once they had"

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sk8ternite: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 119; Joined: Sun May 10, 2009 7:46 pm; Thanked: 3 times; Followed by:1 members

by sk8ternite » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:18 pm

capnx wrote:Go with C.

need "that of" to refer back to skeleton; and between B and C, need past perfect to match the "once they had"

Capnx, my question is dont you need two events to have the past perfect. Your explanation is exactly what the answer key says..."had completed in the non-underlined portion of the sentence indicates the need for the past perfect tense". But I thought past perfect is used when there are two events that happened in the past at different times. It seems that the explanation for this answer is because it has to be parallel to the beginning sentence. Can you clarify?

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pandeyvineet24: Legendary Member; Posts: 527; Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:14 am; Location: Atlanta; Thanked: 17 times

by pandeyvineet24 » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:19 pm

Should be C . "Once" establishes the sequence of the events and HAD makes the sentence parallel.

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capnx: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 268; Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:22 am; Thanked: 19 times; Followed by:1 members; GMAT Score:700

by capnx » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:33 pm

sk8ternite wrote:
capnx wrote:Go with C.

need "that of" to refer back to skeleton; and between B and C, need past perfect to match the "once they had"
Capnx, my question is dont you need two events to have the past perfect. Your explanation is exactly what the answer key says..."had completed in the non-underlined portion of the sentence indicates the need for the past perfect tense". But I thought past perfect is used when there are two events that happened in the past at different times. It seems that the explanation for this answer is because it has to be parallel to the beginning sentence. Can you clarify?

yes, you do need two events for "had". the clause "once they had completed..." dictates that the tense is already in past tense, so the main clause must also use past tense, and that is why you cannot choose "have" because it is present tense.

the "have/had no doubt" is not used as an auxilary verb (ie: have/had eaten dinner; have/had completed the task...), but the actual verb "have" (to posses: I had a great day; I have many books; I have doubts about this...). Hope that makes some sense lol

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shahdevine: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 197; Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 2:47 am; Thanked: 12 times

Re: Skeleton

by shahdevine » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:39 pm

sk8ternite wrote:Once they had completed preliminary testing of the soil at the excavation site, the archaeologists did not doubt whether the skeleton found was a reptile from the Mesozoic era.

a. did not doubt whether the skeleton found was
b. have no doubt whether the skeleton found was that of
c. had no doubt that the skeleton found was that of
d. have no doubt whether the skeleton found was
e. had not doubted that the skeleton found was

I go with C.

use of "that" is to point out a single possibility/outcome. Use of "whether" is to point out two contrasting choices (whether or not). Only one outcome is pointed out here. Also "that of" is logically possessive.