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
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & 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
Live EA class + 6 months of EA OnDemand
  • Expert-led weekly online sessions
  • EA Masterclass access between classes
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.

Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution

Expert replies
by simplyjat » Tue May 06, 2008 2:47 am
Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.

(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal

OA E
1. What is wrong with the original statement.
2. Is the usage of lay correct here? Shouldn't it be lie instead ?
simplyjat
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by barron » Wed May 07, 2008 2:09 am
I also choose A

The only reason I think E is the correct answer is because
if you have proposed something, it is already a fact
so the word 'fact' becomes reduntant

he has already proposed the idea
so, 'lay' is the correct tense

'lie' is in present tense
Join the discussion

by rajibgmat » Wed May 07, 2008 10:03 am
Do u think "proposal the idea....bla bla" is correct. I would choose A rather. Experts throw some idea...
Join the discussion

by rey.fernandez » Wed May 07, 2008 12:23 pm
Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.

(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal
"lay" is correct, as it is the past tense of "to lie." ("Laid" is the past tense of the verb "to lay," which requires an object... something that gets set down or laid down, such as bricks.)

E is the best choice among A, B, and E since it avoids redundancy and wordiness. In the original posting, it looks like "the idea" needs to be underlined as well... that may have confused rajibgmat.

Rey
Rey Fernandez
Instructor
Manhattan GMAT
Join the discussion

by ov25 » Sat Nov 20, 2010 6:29 pm
Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in his proposal of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.

OK like the concision and redundancy part of fixing the sentence although from what I have seen, 'proposal of' is typically discouraged by gmat. It would rather ought to be 'proposal that natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.'

Can the experts simply weigh in on this aspect of the sentence please?
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1