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

Redeem

Brutal SC #29

Expert replies
by rbco80301 » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:49 pm
29. Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.

A. lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
B. lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
C. laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
D. laid in his proposal
E. lay in his proposal
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by rbco80301 » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:51 pm
OA E

Explanations are welcome..
Join the discussion

by mayonnai5e » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:54 pm
A. lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
B. lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
C. laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
D. laid in his proposal
E. lay in his proposal

Lay is a special verb in this context. You may want to look up this verb if you chose C or D. B and C are wrong because of a verb tense error with "proposing." Darwin proposed the ideas a long time ago and so the verb must be in the past tense. E is better than A because A is needlessly wordy:

"in the fact that he proposed the idea" can be replaced with "in his proposal" since "his proposal" suggests that he proposed an idea. "In the fact" is not needed.
Join the discussion

by GmatKiss » Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:40 am
why not "laid" D?
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1