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Researchers have developed a simple mathematical model that

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Researchers have developed a simple mathematical model that

by BTGmoderatorRO » Sun Apr 01, 2018 10:18 am
Researchers have developed a simple mathematical model that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs produced enough methane to have an important effect on Earth's climate 150 million years ago.

[A] that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs produced
suggesting that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced
[C] to suggest that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced
[D] that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have been producing
[E] that suggested that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs had produced
OA is a

what do you think is wrong between A and C
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by Terry@ThePrincetonReview » Mon Apr 02, 2018 9:07 pm
Choice C has two problems. The phrase to suggest incorrectly implies that this (i.e., the insight about microbes living in sauropods) was the purpose of the mathematical model. There is no reason to assume this to be the case. Also the verb suggests already implies mere possibility as opposed to absolute certainty regarding the model's conclusions; therefore, use of the modal verb may have produced in this answer choice--which likewise implies possibility--is redundant.

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by Akrita@Jamboree » Thu Apr 05, 2018 1:33 am
BTGmoderatorRO wrote:Researchers have developed a simple mathematical model that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs produced enough methane to have an important effect on Earth's climate 150 million years ago.

[A] that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs produced
suggesting that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced
[C] to suggest that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have produced
[D] that suggests that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs may have been producing
[E] that suggested that microbes living in sauropod dinosaurs had produced
OA is a

what do you think is wrong between A and C


On the GMAT, we should never change the Original meaning/intent as given in the question prompt. Any option that does this can be eliminated, irrespective of its grammatical correctness.

The original intent of this sentence is that the mathematical model suggests that "X happened". Any option that says "X may have happened" is therefore incorrect. Additionally, since suggest already implies a possibility, the usage of suggest and may is pretty redundant - in much the same way that likely/possibly/probably and may appearing in the same construction is redundant. Eliminate B, C, and D

In E, the past tense 'suggested' doesn't go with the tense - 'have developed' - of the non-underlined portion. Additionally the use of the double past/past perfect 'had produced' is incorrect - there are no 2 actions in the past. Eliminate E

Hence, A is the correct answer.

Please let me know in case anything doesn't make sense.
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