Bumblebee Expert help needed.

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Bumblebee Expert help needed.

by Neilsheth2 » Wed May 25, 2016 12:52 am
I chose 'D'-is it wrong because of the pronoun error ? Secondly if yes, GMAC has several times avoided pronoun ambiguity has an absolute rule ? Does it have any other problem?

Secondly , Why is A correct the meaning states that Bumblebees live in colonies of several hundred!! I find it weird to comprehend too.
Does it mean several hundred colonies ? Or does it mean the bees live in Several hundred - in the colonies?


Pls help Experts

Thank you in advance
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by GMATGuruNY » Sat May 28, 2016 4:13 pm
Neilsheth2 wrote:I chose 'D'-is it wrong because of the pronoun error ? Secondly if yes, GMAC has several times avoided pronoun ambiguity has an absolute rule ? Does it have any other problem?

Secondly , Why is A correct the meaning states that Bumblebees live in colonies of several hundred!! I find it weird to comprehend too.
Does it mean several hundred colonies ? Or does it mean the bees live in Several hundred - in the colonies?
NUMBER + of is appropriate when referring to A SPECIFIC, KNOWN GROUP.
Correct:
A man was attacked by two of the lions at the zoo.
The store sold ten of its most expensive computers.
One hundred of the museum's paintings were saved.


NUMBER + of is not appropriate when referring AN ENTIRE CATEGORY.
Incorrect:
A man was attacked by two of lions.
The store sold ten of computers.
One hundred of paintings were saved.


When referring to an entire category, the preposition of is omitted:
Correct:
A man was attacked by two lions.
The store sold ten computers.
One hundred paintings were saved.


D: Bumblebees live in colonies that have several hundred of them.
Here, them seems to refer to bumblebees, conveying the following meaning:
several hundred of bumblebees.
Since NUMBER + of cannot serve to refer an entire category, eliminate D.

The students were divided into groups of three.
Conveyed meaning:
Each group was composed of three students.

OA: Bumblebees live in colonies of several hundred.
Conveyed meaning:
Each colony is composed of several hundred bumblebees.

Note:
PLURAL NUMBER + of can refer either to a specific, known group OR to an entire category.
Correct:
HUNDREDS of the museum's paintings were saved.
THOUSANDS of paintings were saved.
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by RBBmba@2014 » Mon May 30, 2016 7:41 am
GMATGuruNY wrote: NUMBER + of is not appropriate when referring AN ENTIRE CATEGORY.
Incorrect:
One hundred of paintings were saved.
.
.
.
Note:
PLURAL NUMBER + of can refer either to a specific, known group OR to AN ENTIRE CATEGORY.
Correct:
THOUSANDS of paintings were saved.
Mitch - One hundred and THOUSANDS are BOTH PLURAL ENTITIES. Right ?

If so, then how BOTH of your above TWO quotes can be TRUE at the same time ? Where is the catch ?

Please explain.

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by GMATGuruNY » Tue May 31, 2016 5:53 am
RBBmba@2014 wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote: NUMBER + of is not appropriate when referring AN ENTIRE CATEGORY.
Incorrect:
One hundred of paintings were saved.
.
.
.
Note:
PLURAL NUMBER + of can refer either to a specific, known group OR to AN ENTIRE CATEGORY.
Correct:
THOUSANDS of paintings were saved.
Mitch - One hundred and THOUSANDS are BOTH PLURAL ENTITIES. Right ?

If so, then how BOTH of your above TWO quotes can be TRUE at the same time ? Where is the catch ?

Please explain.
Whereas two and one hundred are actual numbers, hundreds and thousands are each a synonym for MULTITUDES.
Since we can say multitudes of uses, we can also say hundreds of uses or thousands of uses.
But we cannot say two of uses or one hundred of uses.
As noted above, ACTUAL NUMBER + of cannot serve to refer to an entire category.
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I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

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