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SC - Meaning (Challenging !!!)

by karthikpandian19 » Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:18 pm
However much scientists may agree that the average global temperature is rising and that this rise is at least partially caused by human activity, global warming remains a subject of heated debate for both American citizens and lawmakers.


(A) However much scientists may agree that

(B) Despite agreement among scientists to the fact

(C) Although scientists agree

(D) Even though most scientists may agree

(E) There is agreement among many scientists that
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by bubbliiiiiiii » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:38 am
karthikpandian19 wrote:However much scientists may agree that the average global temperature is rising and that this rise is at least partially caused by human activity, global warming remains a subject of heated debate for both American citizens and lawmakers.


(A) However much scientists may agree that

(B) Despite agreement among scientists to the fact - needs that

(C) Although scientists agree - needs that

(D) Even though most scientists may agree - needs that

(E) There is agreement among many scientists that - creates a run on sentence
By POE - A?
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by abcgmat » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:19 am
However much scientists may agree that the average global temperature is rising and that this rise is at least partially caused by human activity, global warming remains a subject of heated debate for both American citizens and lawmakers.

(A) However much scientists may agree that
(B) Despite agreement among scientists to the fact
(C) Although scientists agree
(D) Even though most scientists may agree
(E) There is agreement among many scientists that

This sentence could be easy if you notice 'and that in second half'
so we need to look for 'that' in first half
Only A and E have
A is less wordy than E(there, agreement(agree is better) is not required)
Also E has 2 IC seperated by ',' [IC,IC- incorrect]
We need either DC,IC or IC,DC
IMO:A
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by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 6:36 am
OA is A
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by sandeep_thaparianz » Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:29 am
I chose E because A has much scientists and much is used for uncountable things.

Pleas help y much is correct here?
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by GMAT_2010_2707 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:09 am
In option A - "However much scientists may agree that" is "much" is acting as an adverb and is modifying verb agree. Is that so?
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by karthikpandian19 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:34 pm
Sandeep,

The idiomatic However much scientists may agree is a proper way to begin a comparative sentence. Much properly describes a quantity that cannot be counted (the amount that scientists agree) and the word that is a relative pronoun that is necessary to begin the clause that describes the agreement. This is parallel to the second clause describing the agreement, that this rise is...

The scientists can be counted and that "much" is used for uncountable nouns, and "most" or "many" is used for countable nouns.
For example:
"Don't pour too much water into my glass." ("Water" is uncountable, so we use "much.")

"Don't put too many pieces of broccoli on my plate." ("Pieces of broccoli" is countable, so we use "many.")

"Most castles in Ireland are very old." ("Castles" is countable, so we use "many.")

"There is too much rain in Ireland." ("Rain" is uncountable, so we use "much.").

But we're not describing the scientists with "however" here. We're describing the AMOUNT that scientists agree, which is not countable. It's a magnitude, not a number.

So the best way to remember this correct expression ("however much") is to use what you know about "most" vs. "much," and about "however." When "however" functions as an adverb, it means "in whatever manner" or "to whatever extent." So "however much" means "to whatever extent or magnitude," and "however much scientists agree" means "to whatever extent/magnitude scientists agree." Since the amount that scientists agree is not countable, we use "much," not "many."

"However most scientists agree" means "in whatever way most scientists agree." But we're talking about the amount they agree, not the manner in which they agree. So "however much" is the correct expression. And if we wanted to talk about the number of scientists instead of the extent of their agreement, we would use "many" because "scientists" are countable. "However many scientists agree" means "whatever the number of scientists that agree."

Hope this IDIOM ambiguity is clarified. Let me know if you have any issues.

sandeep_thaparianz wrote:I chose E because A has much scientists and much is used for uncountable things.

Pleas help y much is correct here?
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by damham17 » Tue Jun 19, 2012 2:39 pm
GMAT_2010_2707 wrote:In option A - "However much scientists may agree that" is "much" is acting as an adverb and is modifying verb agree. Is that so?
Yes. The statement isn't quantifying the number of scientists but rather to what extent the scientists agree.
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by sandeep_thaparianz » Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:06 am
Got the point. Great explanation karthik
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by ShreeCS » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:22 pm
The underlined part indicates the scientists may agree and not a confirmed agreement. Intending to keep the original meaning intact, only A and D remain. And in D, most scientists agree is again not present in the original sentence. Original sentence just quantifies the amount of agreement and not how many scientists agree. So, A wins. This is my reasoning. Hope I am thinking right! Correct me if I am wrong!
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by [email protected] » Sat Jun 23, 2012 1:19 am
Yes the correct answer is A and not anything else...


Option E does not preset a contrast.

Options C and D need a that in the sentence

Option B requires the usage of 'that' in the sentence.

Option A uses the correct usage of 'that' making it parallel and also uses the correct contrast 'however' for the sentence to deliver a correct meaning.

This OA is absolutely correct.
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