BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATBootcamp Starts Sep 21
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE BOOTCAMP

Live Online Bootcamp Class with Top GMAT Expert Chris Peckover

Sep 21 to Oct 9, 2026

Schedule
Mon to Fri · 7:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
Live classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class
  • 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included
View bootcamp & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

MGMAT: Clarity of meaning?

Expert replies
by euro » Tue Oct 26, 2010 4:00 am
Until Antoine Lavoisier proved otherwise in the eighteenth century, many scientists had believed that combustion released phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood.

a) many scientists had believed that combustion released phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood

b) many scientists believed that phlogiston was an imaginary substance released by combustion and its properties were not fully understood

c) phlogiston was an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood and which many scientists had believed was released by combustion

d) phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood, was believed by scientists to be released by combustion

e) many scientists had believed that phlogiston was released by combustion and was an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood

[spoiler]OA is (a)[/spoiler]

Can somebody please explain why option [spoiler] (E) [/spoiler] is incorrect?
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by kvcpk » Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:09 am
E has a shift in Meaning.

Let me put across 2 sentences:

I believe that Ram took the apple - means that I am giving importance to ram and saying that he took apple and not banana...

I believe that the apple was taken by Ram - means that I am giving importance to Apple and saying that the apple was actually taken by Ram and not by Shyam.


In this question, Scientists believed that combustion produced X. But we do not actually know if it produced or not.

E changes it by saying X is produced by combustion. this is not the intended meaning.

Hope this helps!!
"Once you start working on something,
don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
Join the discussion

by shovan85 » Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:13 am
kvcpk wrote:E has a shift in Meaning.

Let me put across 2 sentences:

I believe that Ram took the apple - means that I am giving importance to ram and saying that he took apple and not banana...

I believe that the apple was taken by Ram - means that I am giving importance to Apple and saying that the apple was actually taken by Ram and not by Shyam.


In this question, Scientists believed that combustion produced X. But we do not actually know if it produced or not.

E changes it by saying X is produced by combustion. this is not the intended meaning.

Hope this helps!!
phlogiston should have importance. A shows non essential modifier I feel.

Whats your opinion?
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
Join the discussion

by kvcpk » Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:24 am
shovan85 wrote: phlogiston should have importance. A shows non essential modifier I feel.

Whats your opinion?
Importance should be with Combustion. not with phlogiston.

"an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood" is an appositive modifying the noun phlogiston.

Whenever, you find an appositive, ignore it and read through the sentence.

Until Antoine Lavoisier proved otherwise in the eighteenth century, many scientists had believed that combustion released phlogiston.

This looks simple and correct.

Hope this helps!!
"Once you start working on something,
don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest."
Chanakya quotes (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:12 am
euro wrote:Until Antoine Lavoisier proved otherwise in the eighteenth century, many scientists had believed that combustion released phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood.

a) many scientists had believed that combustion released phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood

b) many scientists believed that phlogiston was an imaginary substance released by combustion and its properties were not fully understood

c) phlogiston was an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood and which many scientists had believed was released by combustion

d) phlogiston, an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood, was believed by scientists to be released by combustion

e) many scientists had believed that phlogiston was released by combustion and was an imaginary substance whose properties were not fully understood

[spoiler]OA is (a)[/spoiler]

Can somebody please explain why option [spoiler] (E) [/spoiler] is incorrect?
Quickest approach:

The correct series of tenses is Until A.L. proved otherwise...many scientists had believed. Eliminate B and D.

C incorrectly implies that Until A.L. proved otherwise, phlogiston was an imaginary substance. The scientists had believed that phlogiston was real. Eliminate C.

E also changes the intended meaning of the sentence:

...many scientists had believed that phlogiston...was an imaginary substance...

The scientists had not believed that phlogiston was an imaginary substance; they had believed that it was real, until A.L. proved otherwise. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is A.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion

by Arcane66 » Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:24 am
I chose A as well. Mitch's response is the best.
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1