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OG VR #27 Singular pronoun and Plural noun - Help me please!

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by Justin So » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:21 pm
Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states [u]that still has a sizable wolf population, and where[/u] this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.
(A) that still has a sizable wolf population, and where
(B) that still has a sizable wolf population, where
(C) that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where
(D) where the population of wolves is still sizable;
(E) where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where

I understand E is a correct answer, but isn't it wrong that 'this predator' refers to 'wolves' which is plural. In #12 question's explanation in the same book, plural noun should be referred to a plural pronoun. Please explain if I am wrong.

Besides, in B why can't I think 'where' refers to 'states' although it's a bit far?

I would really appreciate your help.
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by hudu » Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:50 pm
Also why cant (c) be right ? Is there something wrong with the use of "that" here

Thanks
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Re: OG VR #27 Singular pronoun and Plural noun - Help me ple

by codesnooker » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:30 am
Justin So wrote:Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.
(A) that still has a sizable wolf population, and where
(B) that still has a sizable wolf population, where
(C) that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where
(D) where the population of wolves is still sizable;
(E) where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where

I understand E is a correct answer, but isn't it wrong that 'this predator' refers to 'wolves' which is plural. In #12 question's explanation in the same book, plural noun should be referred to a plural pronoun. Please explain if I am wrong.

Besides, in B why can't I think 'where' refers to 'states' although it's a bit far?

I would really appreciate your help.
Are you ruling out (E) because of "this predator" to refer to which noun?

If is it so, then according to your rule there is no clear reference in anyone of the given choice.

Give a another shot, as this rule fail with this question. On another look, you will see that there is parallelism error over here. "where" - "where" or "that" - that". So, only (E) is the correct choice which provides this option.

Though it may look weird but GMAT test written English not the Spoken one. [;)]

Hope this helps...
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by bigfernhead » Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:38 am
I chose "where" rather than "that" as Minnesota is a location and because of parallelism.

Ideally, when referring to locations, "where" should be used.

E) is my answer.
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by tanviet » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:32 pm
why D is wrong?
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mmm

by nobuindc » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:03 am
I had the same question and google led me here.
I guess I have to think on my own... so how about this.

I think the paragraph is wrong as "this" has no reference.
It looks like it refers to "population (of wolves)".
So not a fair question.

I'd rewrite as...
"Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states
where wolves still have a sizable population and where these predators
remain the archenemy of cattle and sheep."
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i dont think parallelism should be used here!

by Alara533 » Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:42 am
I have a completely different view on this.

If it's true as OG says...[i]where...and where[/i].. creates parallelism. Then the two sentences should be able to exist separately. I mean to say...

1)Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states
where wolves still have a sizable population.
2)Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states
where wolves remain the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

But the second sentence seems awkward. It's not the only state where wolves remain the archenemy of cattle and sheep!! So I believe the second statement is just characterizing the wolf population of Minnesota and hence is specific to Minnesota. So I think B should be the answer.
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by sjd00d » Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:25 am
can someone please evaluate each of the options, i seem to like more than 2 of the options.
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by abhims2 » Wed Feb 11, 2009 4:17 pm
Guys,

I believe that the answers with text 'wolves population' are not correct, because right text can be pulation of wolves, population of India, etc
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by awesomeusername » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:07 pm
As noted above, when you have two clauses separated by a linking AND, the HAVE to begin with the same word. This is an idiomatic rule. Thus, you can rule out A and C.

B states that the WOLF POPULATION is where this predator remains the arch enemy... Thus that's wrong.

D, I'm not 100% sure why it's wrong, but I know that between two choices, it is better to choose an answer that is correct and doesn't use a semicolon than to choose one with a semicolon.... I know, half-assed explanation.

So E!
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by linfongyu » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:48 pm
This is problem 27, pg. 265 in the Verbal Review. The explanation given to eliminate D is:

"While grammatically correct, this sentence needs a conjunction to show the logical relationship between the two independent clauses rather than the semi-colon that implies their equality."

There you go!
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Re: OG VR #27 Singular pronoun and Plural noun - Help me ple

by Arsene Lupin » Tue May 26, 2009 3:04 pm
codesnooker wrote:
Justin So wrote:Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.
(A) that still has a sizable wolf population, and where
(B) that still has a sizable wolf population, where
(C) that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where
(D) where the population of wolves is still sizable;
(E) where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where

I understand E is a correct answer, but isn't it wrong that 'this predator' refers to 'wolves' which is plural. In #12 question's explanation in the same book, plural noun should be referred to a plural pronoun. Please explain if I am wrong.

Besides, in B why can't I think 'where' refers to 'states' although it's a bit far?

I would really appreciate your help.
Are you ruling out (E) because of "this predator" to refer to which noun?

If is it so, then according to your rule there is no clear reference in anyone of the given choice.

Give a another shot, as this rule fail with this question. On another look, you will see that there is parallelism error over here. "where" - "where" or "that" - that". So, only (E) is the correct choice which provides this option.

Though it may look weird but GMAT test written English not the Spoken one. [;)]

Hope this helps...
Can someone please explain why we pick E even with its broken reference "this predator"?

Ruling out answers to end up with E is not an explanation, because we might as well go bottom up and rule out E.
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by gmat740 » Tue May 26, 2009 7:46 pm
What is wrong with C guys??

isn't E creating superficial parallelism?
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by Arsene Lupin » Wed May 27, 2009 2:25 am
gmat740 wrote:What is wrong with C guys??

isn't E creating superficial parallelism?
"That" and "where" are not parallel (they should since both refer to Minnesota). Same problem in A and B.

E however fixed this problem.
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by babuxavier » Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 am
IMO E

Parallel clause .. Where & Where..
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