confusing question

my vote goes to D..

OA pls

nikhilkatira wrote:my vote goes to D..

OA pls

OA : E ( I got this question on Kaplan cat3 today)

OE: The underlined portion of this sentence contains two problems. It sounds awkward to say "are able to be trained," and there is a vague comparison in the phrase "as humans." With this phrase, it is unclear whether the sentence means that dolphins COMMUNICATE as humans communicate or that they can be TRAINED to communicate as humans can be trained to communicate. (E) corrects both of these problems. The phrase "are capable of being" improves upon the awkward wording of "are able to be trained," and the comparison "as humans do" makes it clear that the sentence is referring to how humans communicate. (B) does not improve the awkward phrase at the beginning of the sentence — it just changes it to an equally awkward one — and it does not correct the vague comparison problem at the end. (C) corrects the awkward construction at the beginning of the sentence but does not clarify the vague comparison by adding the "can" at the end. (D) improves the awkward construction at the beginning of the sentence but does not correct the vague comparison at the end.

Researchers have explored the possibility that dolphins are able to be trained to communicate as humans.

A, are able to be trained to communicate as humans
B, Were able to be trained to communicate like humans
C, Can be trained to communicate like humans can
D, Could be trained to communicate as humans
E, Are capable of being trained to communicate as humans do

Eliminate A and D because to communicate as humans means that the dolphins actually would be humans. Mary works as a doctor means that Mary actually is a doctor.

Eliminate B because were trained is in the wrong tense. Present tense is needed because the non-underlined verb have explored is in the present tense (specifically, the present perfect tense).

Eliminate C because the word like is being used to compare actions: the way dolphins communicate is being compared to the way humans communicate. The word like is used only to compare nouns.

The correct answer is E. While the word being typically is not in the correct answer, each of the other answer choices contains a clear grammatical error.

Thanks Mitch. tricky question!

Thanks,
Viju

Reverse the entire sentence and then check..

As humans do, dolphins are capable of being trained to communicate

OR

As Humans, dolphins could be trained to communicate.

Second one changes the meaning as well as we can not use noun after as.
E is right!!

Btw...you can not assume verb is present after as...It should be explicitly mentioned.

GMATGuruNY wrote:Researchers have explored the possibility that dolphins are able to be trained to communicate as humans.

A, are able to be trained to communicate as humans
B, Were able to be trained to communicate like humans
C, Can be trained to communicate like humans can
D, Could be trained to communicate as humans
E, Are capable of being trained to communicate as humans do

Eliminate A and D because to communicate as humans means that the dolphins actually would be humans. Mary works as a doctor means that Mary actually is a doctor.

Eliminate B because were trained is in the wrong tense. Present tense is needed because the non-underlined verb have explored is in the present tense (specifically, the present perfect tense).

Eliminate C because the word like is being used to compare actions: the way dolphins communicate is being compared to the way humans communicate. The word like is used only to compare nouns.

The correct answer is E. While the word being typically is not in the correct answer, each of the other answer choices contains a clear grammatical error.

Excellent explanation Mitch.

GMATGuruNY wrote:Researchers have explored the possibility that dolphins are able to be trained to communicate as humans.

A, are able to be trained to communicate as humans
B, Were able to be trained to communicate like humans
C, Can be trained to communicate like humans can
D, Could be trained to communicate as humans
E, Are capable of being trained to communicate as humans do

Eliminate A and D because to communicate as humans means that the dolphins actually would be humans. Mary works as a doctor means that Mary actually is a doctor.

Eliminate B because were trained is in the wrong tense. Present tense is needed because the non-underlined verb have explored is in the present tense (specifically, the present perfect tense).

Eliminate C because the word like is being used to compare actions: the way dolphins communicate is being compared to the way humans communicate. The word like is used only to compare nouns.

The correct answer is E. While the word being typically is not in the correct answer, each of the other answer choices contains a clear grammatical error.

Hi GMATGuruNY,

You rejected A & D because of illogical comparison. I thought 'do' can be assumed here because of grammar eclipse.
eg:to communicate as humans(do) -->'do' assumed.

not sure where i have seen this concept, but would appreciate if you could you highlight the eclipse concept?