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Knewton Challenge, 1/25/11 (Eucbacteria)

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Knewton Challenge, 1/25/11 (Eucbacteria)

by Adam@Knewton » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:04 am
Hey everyone,

Here's the LAST question in Knewton's Verbal Challenge. Once you've looked it over, reply to this thread with your answer and an explanation for how you got it. I'll choose the best explanation at 11 pm EST tonight, and the daily winner will get free access to the Beat the GMAT Practice Questions!

Congrats to yesterday's winner, stormier!

--

Question 5.

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays
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by vatsalroxy » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:56 am
Clearly C is the option that is fair amongst all ..
2 things the there's a split between Kingdoms and Kingdom.

as per my understanding Kingdoms should be here coz the Kingdom X among all other kingdoms is the right formation.
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by jaymw » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:09 am
It was easy to get this one down to C and E but then it got hard.

The sentence tells us that in this six kingdom system, there is only one kingdom that has full metabolic diversity. The modifier "able to... oxygen" does not have any bearing on the sentence's structure, so we can safely ignore it.

Moreover, kingdom Eubacteria is really just the name of that kingdom, so we can replace it with kingdom X.
The sentence gets reduced to:

Kingdom X...


(A) ...is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays (something)

Incorrect. Subject (kingdom) and verb (displays) agree in number, so no trouble there. But by replacing "six-kingdom classification system" with just "system", the error becomes obvious. "Kingdom X is the only one of the system...", that surely does not sound right. It should be "is the only one of the six kingdoms in the system", but it isn't. Therefore, A is out.

(B) ...is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display (something)

Incorrect. "Alone out of" is unidiomatic. Furthermore, the pronoun "they" has no correct antecedent. Logically, when we start this part with "is alone" then we must be talking about the kingdom (the only singular subject of the sentence) and can't just switch to "they" (which is supposed to refer to Eubacteria) in the middle of the sentence.


(C) ...alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays (something)

Correct. Subject and verb agree in number. "kingdom X alone among the 6 kingdoms" also makes sense.

(D) ...are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying (something)

Incorrect. Again, this is a subject/verb agreement problem. We should compare the kingdom with the six kingdoms and not the bacteria with the six kingdoms. Therefore, "are" cannot correctly refer to kingdom Eubacteria.

(E) ...only of the six-kingdom classification system displays (something)

Incorrect. As in A, "kingdom X of the 6-kingdom system" is a faulty comparison. Kingdom X should be in comparison with the kingdoms in the system, not with the system itself.

My pick is C.
Last edited by jaymw on Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by DSM89 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:16 am
Question 5.

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays

A is correct.
Last edited by DSM89 on Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by stormier » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:21 am
AdamKnewton wrote:Hey everyone,

Here's the LAST question in Knewton's Verbal Challenge. Once you've looked it over, reply to this thread with your answer and an explanation for how you got it. I'll choose the best explanation at 11 pm EST tonight, and the daily winner will get free access to the Beat the GMAT Practice Questions!

Congrats to yesterday's winner, stormier!

--

Question 5.

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

The sentence describes a unique characteristic of a class of bacteria, the kingdom Eubacteria, a singular collective noun.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays

Correct. Clearly suggests the intended meaning of the sentence implying that kingdom eubacteria is the only among the six-kingdom classification system that has a certain characteristic and is unique.

(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display

Incorrect. "is alone out of the six" is unidiomatic and awkward. The use of since alters the intended meaning of the sentence. Moreover, the use of "they" is incorrect - since the noun its trying to refer to is singular.

(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays

Incorrect. Although grammatically correct, its a wordy and awkward construction. Furthermore, it uses alone which is inferior to the word only in describing the unique characteristic of the kingdom.

(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying

Incorrect. kingdom eubacteria is a singular collective noun, and hence the use of are causes a subject-verb disagreement.

(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays

Incorrect. only is misplaced. It implies as if kindgom eubacteria falls under the six-kingdom classification as well as some other classification system. For this choice to make sense the word only should precede kingdom eubacteria.

I missed the question. C should be the right choice. A incorrectly suggests that the system displays the full range of metabolic activity, rather than the Kingdom Eubacteria.
Last edited by stormier on Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by prachich1987 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:38 am
Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.


The blue part is a non-restrictive clause.Hence while looking at the options we won't consider it.
Our statement becomes

kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays

SYSTEM should be plural as we are considering six systems.
Usage of THE is redundant.

(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display

S-V error.kingdom Eubacteria is singular.Hence we should use singular pronoun IT here
Instead of THEY we need to use IT here

(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
Correct.The need to use PLURAL SYSTEMS is removed by using the the noun phrase "six kingdoms that comprise the classification system"
S-V errors are eliminated

(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
S-V error.kingdom Eubacteria is singular.Hence we should use singular pronoun IS here

(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays
SYSTEM should be plural.
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by ManKuts123 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:03 am
Correct answer is A
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by MBACRACKER » Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:00 am
Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays the full range of metabolic diversity.


Answer c agrees with the subject verb agreement. Kingdom Eubacteria being singular agrees with the verb displays.
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by mbadoc13 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:10 am
Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
Correct. It clearly conveys the meaning that is intended i.e. in the six-kingdom system (collective) only one kingdom (singular) shows this characteristic.

(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
Incorrect. noun verb disagreement "they" for singular "kingdom bacteria"
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
Incorrect. 1. Wordy 2. modifier between "alone" and "displays" should have been separated using commas.
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
Incorrect. Awkward construction. subject verb disagreement "kingdom eubacteria" and "are"
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays
Incorrect. Meaning not clear.
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by Target2009 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:23 am
IMO - E

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
Incorrect: "only one of" demand plural for of "six-kingdom classification system"
"the" is redundant as "only one" server the same purpose.

(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
Incorrect:
Pronoun error: They is not having any antecedent.
SV Error : Plural verb "display" do not agree with singular subject kingdom Eubacteria
Idiom error: "alone out of"


(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
Incorrect :
Idiom error: "alone among" correct idiom is "one among".
Logic error: It changes a particular "six-kingdom classification system" to "six kingdoms that comprise the classification system"


(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
Incorrect: S-V error: "are" don't agree with singular subject "kingdom Eubacteria" Also "Displaying" is also wrong here.

(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays
Correct : "only of the six-kingdom classification system" adjective modifier modifying "kingdom Eubacteria".
meaning is clear " "kingdom Eubacteria is only of the six-kingdom classification system"
And also verb displays agree with ""kingdom Eubacteria"
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by gmatmachoman » Tue Jan 25, 2011 8:50 am
AdamKnewton wrote:
Question 5.

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays
IMO A.

Main subject : Eubacteria (singular)
Main Verb : is (singular)

Proper Subject-Verb agreement. "that" introduces proper relative clause with a verb "displays (singular verb) reffering back to " system" (singular subject).

Since this a well laid sentence, my choice is A


Let us see why other options are wrong :

Option B :

Introduction of "they" has no "plural noun" or plural antecedent.Moreover "display" should be displays to match the singular subject.

Option C :
Introduces a Run on sentence. Here we are selectively speaking about one out of six. So "one of the six " is preferable than "alone among six".

Option D:
Outright, it introduces Subject-Verb Disagreement. kingdom Eubacteria is a singular subject and expects a "singular " verb "is". Where as it is followed by a "are". SO it creates a blatant error.

Option E:
Introduce a Run-On sentence. No main verb for the main subject (kingdom Eubacteria).

Pick A
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by AIM GMAT » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:07 am
--


Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays [Here subject verb agreement is maintained , kingdom Eubacteria is the collective noun hence singular and verb used is displays , here we are talking about "Kingdom Eubacteria" that displays ...... and not the "system classification" Hence CORRECT ]

(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display [In this option clearly subject verb agreement is out of syn , "is" singular then using "they" plural , a mess]

(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays [This otion maintains the subject verb agreement , but use of alone among is not better than only one. "that " is missiing after system i mean there is no connectivity for "displays"]

(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying ["are" refers to singular noun , hence this is clearly wrong]


(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays [Here also "that" is misiing]
Thanks & Regards,
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by maihuna » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:17 am
IMO A:

A: Ok one of X that displays ... fine

B: Several issues, is alone ... since they display, is noonsensical, as no reason is needed for one to be part of something,
C: Run on
D: ones is wrong
E: only of?
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by BastiG » Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:30 am

Question 5.

Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays incorrect (one of a single entity)
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display --> they has no referent
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays correct
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying --> in displaying wrong idiom? + ones wrong --> how can be one plural??
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays --> i think that there needs to be a noun before of "x of y"


Well the correct answer should be c. Well if you are not an native speaker,like me, it is almost impossible to have a high score in sc. :(
Last edited by BastiG on Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
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by umesh321 » Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:11 am
Hi Adam...
Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen, kingdom Eubacteria is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays the full range of metabolic diversity.

(A) is the only one of the six-kingdom classification system that displays
(B) is alone out of the six-kingdom classification system since they display
(C) alone among the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system displays
(D) are the only ones out of the six kingdoms that comprise the classification system in displaying
(E) only of the six-kingdom classification system displays[/quote]

..............................................................................................................................................................................
To my mind, answer should be E.
Reasons are as follows:-
1."Able to synthesize chemical energy or obtain it from an external source in both the presence and the absence of oxygen" is a modifier (adjectival phrase) ,and it modifies Eubacteria.
2."only of the six-kingdom classification system" is a restrictive modifier (noun phrase) ,and it modifies Eubacteria
Simple example
Able to play good cricket , umesh only of young boys of the school joined a sport college.

3.Doubt about usage of "only of"
only is an adjective also, and the same can be used in this way.
Example:All religions are similar, but the difference is only of custom, tradition ,and country
Last edited by umesh321 on Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
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