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Meaning error in SC, Experts Reply Required

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Meaning error in SC, Experts Reply Required

by vikram4689 » Sun Jun 19, 2011 4:30 pm
According to a recent study conducted at over 100 American universities, the number of college graduates interested in pursuing a career in financial services is likely to double by 2010.

A. is likely to double
B. are likely to increase by twice
C. are likely to double
D. will double
E. will increase by twice

[spoiler]OA:A; but i thought it i should be D because report will provide statistics which will either confirm or refute something. A report cant say something is likely to happen.

Also i want to confirm whether A uses Simple Present Tense, i am confused because it talks of FUTURE[/spoiler]
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by honeysn » Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:19 pm
Here are my 2 cents:
Original sentence has probability meaning - "likely to double"
When we say "will double" -> we are sure that this will happen. But this is not the intended meaning of original sentence.

Kindly let me know if my understanding is incorrect. Thanks
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by Ilana@EconomistGMAT » Sun Jun 19, 2011 11:15 pm
There is no problem, logically speaking, for a report to predict that something is "likely" to happen. A report can be a report about a probability, rather than about a certainty.

The phrase "likely to" is an idiomatic expression which in itself includes the idea of the future. Therefore it can be used with the Present Simple tense, and does not necessitate the use of a future tense.
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by vikram4689 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:44 am
Hi Ilana,

What would be the better option will/would in the sentences below:

Scientists predict that global warming will/would raise the temperature by 2 degree.
Scientists predict that global warming will/would raise the temperature by 2 degree (approx).
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by Ilana@EconomistGMAT » Mon Jun 20, 2011 1:51 am
The better option is "will". *by two degrees - plural. The prediction is that something will certainly occur. The word 'would' is a modal verb that indicates some level of possibility or uncertainty, or preference. Would is commonly used in conditionals that indicate a hypothetical/uncertain situation.
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by bblast » Mon Jun 20, 2011 2:32 am
vikram, if u wanna distinguish between will and would it will be helpful to remember that would is the past tense form of will.-> This almost always works.

Correct : I predicted that Germany would win the world cup


Incorrect :The proposed simplification of the tax code would repeal or modify a number of popular tax breaks, including the deductibility of mortgage interest payments, so that income tax rates could be reduced across the board.

Correct : The proposed simplification of the tax code will repeal or modify a number of popular tax breaks, including the deductibility of mortgage interest payments, so that income tax rates can be reduced
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by mundasingh123 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:05 am
bblast wrote:vikram, if u wanna distinguish between will and would it will be helpful to remember that would is the past tense form of will.-> This almost always works.

Correct : I predicted that Germany would win the world cup


Incorrect :The proposed simplification of the tax code would repeal or modify a number of popular tax breaks, including the deductibility of mortgage interest payments, so that income tax rates could be reduced across the board.

Correct : The proposed simplification of the tax code will repeal or modify a number of popular tax breaks, including the deductibility of mortgage interest payments, so that income tax rates can be reduced
hi bblast could you cite the source for this info ?
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by bblast » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:13 am
@mundasingh
These sentences are from my notes in an excel sheet. But those sentences are from some good official source, as I don't use anything much for verbal other than OG's. I guess the long sentence I pasted is from an example I spotted in SC Grail exercise.

So you can bank on IT !!! try my logic the next time u encounter will/would. But mind u - GMAT wont make u split especially between the 2. Thats what is best about GMATPrep and OG's.
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by mundasingh123 » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:18 am
bblast wrote:@mundasingh
These sentences are from my notes in an excel sheet. But those sentences are from some good official source, as I don't use anything much for verbal other than OG's. I guess the long sentence I pasted is from an example I spotted in SC Grail exercise.

So you can bank on IT !!! try my logic the next time u encounter will/would. But mind u - GMAT wont make u split especially between the 2. Thats what is best about GMATPrep and OG's.
Thanks Bblast , Yea How are preps ? I noticed ur signature
Offtopic : How do You quantify the difference between 34 and 40 ?
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by bblast » Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:52 am
mundasingh123 wrote:
bblast wrote:@mundasingh
These sentences are from my notes in an excel sheet. But those sentences are from some good official source, as I don't use anything much for verbal other than OG's. I guess the long sentence I pasted is from an example I spotted in SC Grail exercise.

So you can bank on IT !!! try my logic the next time u encounter will/would. But mind u - GMAT wont make u split especially between the 2. Thats what is best about GMATPrep and OG's.
Thanks Bblast , Yea How are preps ? I noticed ur signature
Offtopic : How do You quantify the difference between 34 and 40 ?
sent u a pm
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by bblast » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:34 pm
missed 1 thing on the would usage :

as per MGMAT- would is used instead of will in hypothetical situations in the if then construction :


eg's


If vikram eats pizza tomorrow, then he will fall sick

If vikram ate samosa tomorrow, then he would become ill.(Note that this sentence is not in the past tense)

if vikram had eaten pizza yesterday, then he would have become ill.


this along with my previous post pretty much sums up the usage of 'would'.
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by vikram4689 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:53 am
If vikram ate samosa tomorrow, then he would become ill.(Note that this sentence is not in the past tense)
Thanks Bblast, I above sentence i think you intended to use EAT instead of ATE.
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by mundasingh123 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:07 am
vikram4689 wrote:
If vikram ate samosa tomorrow, then he would become ill.(Note that this sentence is not in the past tense)
Thanks Bblast, I above sentence i think you intended to use EAT instead of ATE.
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by bblast » Wed Jun 22, 2011 1:14 am
No VIkram : the sentence is correct : I just went back to MGMAT- here is the original sentence :
IF Sophie ATE pizza tomorrow, THEN she WOULD BECOME ill.
(IF Hypothetical Subjunctive, THEN Conditional)



another example from mgmat sc :

The scientist BELIEVED that the machine WOULD BE wonderful. (I think the theory of would is the past tense form of will is applicable in this sentence)

present tense is :
The scientist BELIEVES that the machine Will BE wonderful.
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by bblast » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:06 am
yet another subtle use of would- I wont type the question here :

refer og12- SC-16.

Its a real stumper if u dnt understand the meaning of the sentence. Came across it today.
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