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anksm22: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 124; Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:26 pmFollowed by: 1 member

by anksm22 » Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:07 am

OA A

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun Oct 05, 2014 8:07 am

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by [email protected] » Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:02 pm

Hi anksm22,

This SC is based heavily on Modification rules (all those commas and intervening phrases provide the clue). We're given information about how Galileo did not invent the telescope but he built his own version after hearing about the telescope.

1) Pronouns: The modifying phrases give us information about Galileo and the telescope; the end of the sentence tells us what Galileo ended up doing. We need a specific reference to Galileo to complete the last part of the sentence - the pronoun "he" is required. Eliminate B and D.

2) Redundancy: Correct GMAT SCs won't state an idea twice (re: use two words that mean the same thing). Answer E uses "even though" AND "but" to convey a contrast. The sentence does NOT need them both. Eliminate E.

3) Efficiency: If all other rules are correct (and the intent/meaning of the sentence is not changed), the correct answer tends to be the shorter (and more efficiently worded) option. Answer A tells us "Galileo did not invent the telescope, but...."; Answer C tells us "Galileo, even though he did not invent the telescope..." Answer A is far more efficient. Eliminate C.

Final Answer: A

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GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:19 am

Galileo did not invent the telescope, but on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had been made, he quickly built his own device from an organ pipe and spectacle lenses.

A. Galileo did not invent the telescope, but on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had been made, he
B. Galileo had not invented the telescope, but when he heard, in 1609, of such an optical instrument having been made,
C. Galileo, even though he had not invented the telescope, on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had been made, he
D. Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope, on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had been made,
E. Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope, but when he heard, in 1609, of such an optical instrument being made, he

B: an optical instrument having been made
NOUN + having + VERBed is ALWAYS WRONG.
Eliminate B.

C: Galileo...he quickly built his own device.
Here, Galileo (subject) lacks a verb.
Eliminate C.

D: Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope...quickly built his own device.
Here, built (verb) lacks a subject.
Eliminate D.

E: Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope, but...he quickly built
Here, even though and but are redundant.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is A.

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EducationAisle: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 434; Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:42 pmFollowed by: 46 members; Location: Bangalore, India; Thanked: 91 times

by EducationAisle » Sun Oct 12, 2014 11:59 pm

In option E, which you have chosen, at the very least there is a meaning ambiguity, since it mentions: he heard of such an optical instrument being made.

This can mean that the optical instrument was in the process of being made, while the original sentence clearly tells us that such an optical instrument was already made.

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