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

Redeem

OG12 SC Question

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:42 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:600

OG12 SC Question

by Fernando diaz » Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:49 pm
I have a doubt in the meaning difference between "only surpassed by..." and "surpassed only by..." in the following question:

Diabetes, together with its serious complications,
ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death,
surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
(A) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of
death, surpassed only
(B) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death,
only surpassed
(C) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause
of death, only surpassed
(D) are the nation's third leading causes of death,
surpassed only
(E) have been ranked as the nation's third leading
causes of death, only surpassed

any clues???? Thanks in advance :)
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 474 times
Followed by:365 members

by VivianKerr » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:01 pm
"Diabetes" is the subject. Since it is singular, it will agree with the verb "ranks."

(B), (D), and (E) are eliminated because of the plural/singular issue.

Let's compare (A) and (C):

(A) Diabetes...ranks AS _____, VERB only by _____.

(C) Diabetes...has the rank OF _____, only VERB by _____.

Not only is (A) more concise (less wordy) and more clear (with the verb coming directly after the comma), but also the meaning is more clear in (A).

Let's look at a simpler version of these choices:

Diabetes IS surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

Diabetes IS only surpassed by heart disease and cancer.
Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:24 am
Thanked: 105 times
Followed by:14 members

by vikram4689 » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:11 pm
Only is a limiting modifier.

Surpassed only by - surpassed only by A & B ..... this shows how dangerous diabetes is that only 2 disease were able to surpass it

Only surpassed by - this does not show that mightness of diabetes, in fact it kind of shows pity on diabetes that diabetes only surpasses 2 diseases.

E.g. I almost ran 10 miles
I ran almost 10 miles.
Premise: If you like my post
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button ;)
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:42 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:600

by Fernando diaz » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:24 pm
vikram4689 wrote:Only is a limiting modifier.

Surpassed only by - surpassed only by A & B ..... this shows how dangerous diabetes is that only 2 disease were able to surpass it

Only surpassed by - this does not show that mightness of diabetes, in fact it kind of shows pity on diabetes that diabetes only surpasses 2 diseases.

E.g. I almost ran 10 miles
I ran almost 10 miles.
Yep it was a meaning diference between them far easier to detect by native speakers but i think i got the idea. Many Thanks to both of you!!

Fernando.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 7:54 pm
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:1 members

by deep.amangmat » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:21 pm
Wow, I am getting a good dose of meaning difference. :)Good one.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:42 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:600

by Fernando diaz » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:23 pm
deep.amangmat wrote:Wow, I am getting a good dose of meaning difference. :)Good one.
So perhaps you could thank me also xDDD
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon May 30, 2011 7:54 pm
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:1 members

by deep.amangmat » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:26 pm
:) Sure I can.

See I already did :)

In fact when I had done this question from OG, I did not think this deeply. But reading this explanation was an eye opener for me.
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:42 am
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:600

by Fernando diaz » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:14 am
In this particular question i think is not that relevant but it could be in another one :). By the way thanks for the thanks given.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:44 am
Fernando diaz wrote:I have a doubt in the meaning difference between "only surpassed by..." and "surpassed only by..." in the following question:

Diabetes, together with its serious complications,
ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death,
surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
(A) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of
death, surpassed only
(B) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death,
only surpassed
(C) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause
of death, only surpassed
(D) are the nation's third leading causes of death,
surpassed only
(E) have been ranked as the nation's third leading
causes of death, only surpassed

any clues???? Thanks in advance :)
Only John eats cookies.
Meaning: NO ONE ELSE eats cookies; only JOHN eats cookies.

John only eats cookies.
Meaning: John doesn't BAKE cookies; he only EATS them.

John eats only cookies.
Meaning: John doesn't eat OTHER FOODS; he eats only COOKIES.

Where a modifier is placed changes the meaning.

Diabetes is only surpassed by heart disease and cancer.
Meaning: Diabetes is not ERADICATED by heart disease and cancer; it is only SURPASSED by them.

Diabetes is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
Meaning: Diabetes is not surpassed BY OTHER DISEASES; it is surpassed only BY HEART DISEASE AND CANCER.

The latter version conveys the intended meaning: that heart disease and cancer are THE ONLY DISEASES that surpass diabetes.
Thus, only should be placed next to the diseases:

Diabetes is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

A modifier should be placed as close as possible to what it's modifying.
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
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:04 am
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:1 members

by sid090188 » Thu Jun 06, 2013 7:49 am
Hi Mitch,

I agree with the answer analysis you have done. But I wanted to know doesn't surpass modify death here because verb-ed modifier always modifies closest noun.Please explain.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:03 am
sid090188 wrote:Hi Mitch,

I agree with the answer analysis you have done. But I wanted to know doesn't surpass modify death here because verb-ed modifier always modifies closest noun.Please explain.
In the OA, surpassed modifies cause of death, the preceding noun phrase.
The third leading cause of death -- in other words, diabetes -- is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
Context makes the meaning clear.

Please note the following:
It is not possible for surpassed to modify only the preceding noun (death) and not the entire preceding noun phrase (cause of death).
In the phrase cause of death, the prepositional modifier of death is so essential to the meaning that it cannot be modified separately from the entire phrase.
In essence, cause of death functions as a single noun: any modifier that refers to this phrase must modify the entire phrase.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Fri Jun 07, 2013 4:31 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
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 193
Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 5:14 am
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:1 members

by iongmat » Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:15 pm
GMATGuruNY wrote: Context makes the meaning clear.
Hello Mitch, I also had the same question as sid090188. This is from OG:

Many of the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India date from the time of the Kushan Empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan grey schist.

OE says that:

Placement of the modifier fashioned...suggests that the Empire (the closest noun),not the images of the deities, was fashioned out of these materials

By context, it should have been clear that Empire cannot be fashioned from sandstone.
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Fri Jun 07, 2013 4:38 am
iongmat wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote: Context makes the meaning clear.
Hello Mitch, I also had the same question as sid090188. This is from OG:

Many of the earliest known images of Hindu deities in India date from the time of the Kushan Empire, fashioned either from the spotted sandstone of Mathura or Gandharan grey schist.

OE says that:

Placement of the modifier fashioned...suggests that the Empire (the closest noun),not the images of the deities, was fashioned out of these materials

By context, it should have been clear that Empire cannot be fashioned from sandstone.
Please revisit my post above, in which I've clarified the reasoning.
The grammatical structure here is not analogous.
Here, the intent is for fashioned to modify many of the earliest known images, the subject of the preceding clause.
A COMMA + VERBed modifier must refer to the immediately preceding noun or noun phrase; it cannot serve to modify the preceding subject.
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
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 193
Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 5:14 am
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:1 members

by iongmat » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:16 am
Thanks Mitch. It is very clear now.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 81
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Thanked: 4 times

by Blue_Skies » Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:07 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Fernando diaz wrote:I have a doubt in the meaning difference between "only surpassed by..." and "surpassed only by..." in the following question:

Diabetes, together with its serious complications,
ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death,
surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
(A) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of
death, surpassed only
(B) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death,
only surpassed
(C) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause
of death, only surpassed
(D) are the nation's third leading causes of death,
surpassed only
(E) have been ranked as the nation's third leading
causes of death, only surpassed

any clues???? Thanks in advance :)
Only John eats cookies.
Meaning: NO ONE ELSE eats cookies; only JOHN eats cookies.

John only eats cookies.
Meaning: John doesn't BAKE cookies; he only EATS them.

John eats only cookies.
Meaning: John doesn't eat OTHER FOODS; he eats only COOKIES.

Where a modifier is placed changes the meaning.

Diabetes is only surpassed by heart disease and cancer.
Meaning: Diabetes is not ERADICATED by heart disease and cancer; it is only SURPASSED by them.

Diabetes is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.
Meaning: Diabetes is not surpassed BY OTHER DISEASES; it is surpassed only BY HEART DISEASE AND CANCER.

The latter version conveys the intended meaning: that heart disease and cancer are THE ONLY DISEASES that surpass diabetes.
Thus, only should be placed next to the diseases:

Diabetes is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

A modifier should be placed as close as possible to what it's modifying.
Mitch i understand your examples. However, in context of the meaning you can't pick an answer based on placement of only in this sentence.

Diabetes is only surpassed by heart disease and cancer.
Meaning: Diabetes is not ERADICATED by heart disease and cancer; it is only SURPASSED by them.
In this sentence , i understand what you are implying but in terms of meaning, it will be clear what the author intents to say irrespective of the placement of the modifier 'only'. Heart disease and cancer can't eradicate diabetes. So , in this context may be somebody can interpret the way you are describing , but for an average Joe like me, i will look for other error types in this question(tenses are one)to corner down the answer choice. Thanks Mitch you are helpful as always!
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1