Clammers

Question

Unlike amateur clammers, who usually dig clams by hand during the summer, professional clammers work year-round, using all-weather instruments such as the hydraulic dredge or a 20-foot-long implement known as a bull rake.

(A) work year-round, using all-weather instruments such as the hydraulic dredge or a 20-foot-long implement known as a bull rake

(B) work year-round by using all-weather instruments like hydraulic dredges or 20-foot-long implements known as a bull rake

(C) working year-round and using such all-weather instruments as a hydraulic dredge or a 20-foot-long implement known as a bull rake

(D) working year-round use all-weather instruments like hydraulic dredges or 20-foot-long implements known as a bull rake

(E) work year-round using all-weather instruments, for example, a hydraulic dredge or 20-foot-long implements known as bull rakes

Patrick_GMATFix · Answer

This is a tough one. The full solution below is taken from the GMATFix App. -Patrick

parveen110 · Answer

Hi, Patrick. Thank you for explaining. However, i am still confused about the non-usage of 'for example' in option E. Could you please clarify? thanks.

Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com · Answer

Hi EricKryk,

This SC essentially comes down to 2 rules:

1) Comparisons/Parallelism: The sentence begins with the word "unlike", which is a clue that you're going to compare subjects. This comparison will require parallel format and style. The first part of the comparison compares "amateur clammers" to "professional clammers", but the comparison has to include what the clammers do differently. Amateurs "dig clams my hand during the summer…."; the proper parallel style is to say that professionals "work year-round…" Eliminate C and D.

2) Usage/Style: If a sentence cites an example (or examples), the proper style is to use the phrase "such as" (and not "like") Eliminate B and E.

Final Answer: A

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

GMATGuruNY · Answer

parveen110 wrote:Hi, Patrick. Thank you for explaining. However, i am still confused about the non-usage of 'for example' in option E. Could you please clarify? thanks.

E: Professional clammers work year-round using all-weather instruments, for example, a hydraulic dredge.

The construction here is COMMA + for example.
In this construction, the example must PRECEDE for example.
To illustrate:
Over his lifetime, John has taken many tests.
He recently took the GMAT, for example.
Here, the example is the GMAT, the noun preceding COMMA + for example.

In E, the example is the noun following COMMA + for example: a hydraulic dredge.
This construction is not viable.

A caveat:
Typically, COMMA + for example serves to support a PRECEDING SENTENCE.
In my two sentences about John, COMMA + for example refers to the GMAT -- an example that supports the preceding sentence (John has taken many tests).
On the GMAT, each SC must be self-contained; there are no preceding sentences.
For this reason, I would be skeptical of any answer choice that employs COMMA + for example.

LiquidFireAK · Answer

How come I cant eliminate answer A based off of the following reasoning:

"-ing" verbs such as "using" indicates a modifier that should modify the Subject. Isn't the subject Amateur clammers?? Therefore its incorrect because its not the amateur clammers that are using the all-weather instruments...

(A) work year-round, using all-weather instruments such as the hydraulic dredge or a 20-foot-long implement known as a bull rake

vietmoi999 · Answer

Thank you Hunt, pls, explain the difference between "comma doing" and "by doing" . in this question, we do not need to know the difference to go to correct answer, but I want to know it.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

vietmoi999 wrote:Thank you Hunt,

pls, explain the difference between "comma doing" and "by doing" . in this question, we do not need to know the difference to go to correct answer, but I want to know it.

BY + VERBing implies a NECESSARY action.
John secured a good seat by arriving early.
Here, arriving early was required.
If John had not arrived early, he would not have secured a good seat.

COMMA + VERBing implies a concurrent action that is NOT necessary.
Professional clammers work year-round, using all-weather instruments.
Here, using all-weather instruments is not required.
Clammers could work year-round even without the use of all-weather instruments.

richachampion · Answer

GMATGuruNY wrote:parveen110 wrote:Hi, Patrick. Thank you for explaining. However, i am still confused about the non-usage of 'for example' in option E. Could you please clarify? thanks. E: Professional clammers work year-round using all-weather instruments, for example, a hydraulic dredge. The construction here is COMMA + for example. In this construction, the example must PRECEDE for example. To illustrate: Over his lifetime, John has taken many tests. He recently took the GMAT, for example. Here, the example is the GMAT, the noun preceding COMMA + for example. In E, the example is the noun following COMMA + for example: a hydraulic dredge. This construction is not viable. A caveat: Typically, COMMA + for example serves to support a PRECEDING SENTENCE. In my two sentences about John, COMMA + for example refers to the GMAT -- an example that supports the preceding sentence (John has taken many tests). On the GMAT, each SC must be self-contained; there are no preceding sentences. For this reason, I would be skeptical of any answer choice that employs COMMA + for example. Thanks Mitch Hunt sir, That means A, for example, B A - The Example

7l7t7 · Answer

GMATGuruNY wrote:parveen110 wrote:Hi, Patrick. Thank you for explaining. However, i am still confused about the non-usage of 'for example' in option E. Could you please clarify? thanks. E: Professional clammers work year-round using all-weather instruments, for example, a hydraulic dredge. The construction here is COMMA + for example. In this construction, the example must PRECEDE for example. To illustrate: Over his lifetime, John has taken many tests. He recently took the GMAT, for example. Here, the example is the GMAT, the noun preceding COMMA + for example. In E, the example is the noun following COMMA + for example: a hydraulic dredge. This construction is not viable. A caveat: Typically, COMMA + for example serves to support a PRECEDING SENTENCE. In my two sentences about John, COMMA + for example refers to the GMAT -- an example that supports the preceding sentence (John has taken many tests). On the GMAT, each SC must be self-contained; there are no preceding sentences. For this reason, I would be skeptical of any answer choice that employs COMMA + for example. Hi Mitch, Just got a quick question if you don't mind. You suggested that we be skeptical to COMMA + FOR EXAMPLE. Is it the same case when we are dealing with SEMICOLON + FOR EXAMPLE in the test? Many thanks in advance for your help.

GMATGuruNY · Answer

7l7t7 wrote:Hi Mitch,

Just got a quick question if you don't mind. You suggested that we be skeptical to COMMA + FOR EXAMPLE. Is it the same case when we are dealing with SEMICOLON + FOR EXAMPLE in the test?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

SEMI-COLON + for example seems fine.
Offhand, I cannot cite an OA with this construction.

7l7t7 · Answer

Thanks very much, Mitch.

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