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

Redeem

Idioms vs modifier....

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:29 pm
Thanked: 4 times

Idioms vs modifier....

by nandy1984 » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:58 pm
The electronics company has unveiled what it claims to be the world's smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs less than 11 ounces.
A. to be the world's smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs
B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing
C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, and it weighs
D. is the world's smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a handheld computer and weighs
E. is the world's smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, weighing

In this problem we have CLAIMS...TO BE the correct idiom...But its not the correct answer.. Can anyone explain....

B and C: is wrong as WHICH refers to World... (AM i correct?)
D : is a concise answer...

Please help... thanks
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:15 pm
A. The pronoun "it" at the end of the underlined portion is ambiguous; does it refer to the computer or to the camcorder?
B. You are correct. "Which" indicates a relative clause, which (as you'll see in this sentence ;) ) can only modify the noun immediately before the comma.
C. You are correct.
D. It's an awkward construction, but it works:

The electronics company has unveiled what (the camcorder) it (the company) claims is...

You essentially have two subject-verb structures: "it claims" and "what is."

Stylistically, it's not great, but it doesn't have a fatal flaw like the other answers do.

Bill
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:29 pm
Thanked: 4 times

by nandy1984 » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:12 pm
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:A. The pronoun "it" at the end of the underlined portion is ambiguous; does it refer to the computer or to the camcorder?
B. You are correct. "Which" indicates a relative clause, which (as you'll see in this sentence ;) ) can only modify the noun immediately before the comma.
C. You are correct.
D. It's an awkward construction, but it works:

The electronics company has unveiled what (the camcorder) it (the company) claims is...

You essentially have two subject-verb structures: "it claims" and "what is."

Stylistically, it's not great, but it doesn't have a fatal flaw like the other answers do.

Bill
Forgot to ask whats wrong with E?....is it wordy "the length of which is as long as that of" thats the reason its eliminated?
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:31 pm
Yeah, "length of which is that of" is wordy and awkward.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1325
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2009 6:24 am
Thanked: 105 times
Followed by:14 members

by vikram4689 » Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:25 pm
E has much bigger flaw. E has modifier "weighing less than 11 ounces" modifying "handheld computer" which is not the intention of original sentence
Premise: If you like my post
Conclusion : Press the Thanks Button ;)
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 268
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:10 am
Thanked: 13 times

by shekhar.kataria » Sat Apr 07, 2012 2:13 am
Hi Guys

I eliminated A and B on the grounds that if the company has already unveiled his product, it should either be the smallest camcorder or not, but it should not be that the company claims it to be the smallest after unveiling it.

Please correct me if i am going wrong in assuming this.
Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.--Thomas A. Edison

If you find this post helpful, let me know by clicking thanks above :-)
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:26 am
shekhar.kataria wrote:Hi Guys

I eliminated A and B on the grounds that if the company has already unveiled his product, it should either be the smallest camcorder or not, but it should not be that the company claims it to be the smallest after unveiling it.

Please correct me if i am going wrong in assuming this.
Well, "claims" is outside the underlined portion, so it's either that the company is claiming it to be the smallest or claiming it is the smallest.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1