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

Redeem

According to scientists at the University of California

Expert replies
by aspirant2011 » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:42 am
According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.
(A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who
(B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had
(C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had
(D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who
(E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant from a single female ancestor who


Isn't "pattern of changes" one clause??????? If yes then why is " have occurred in human " there in the sentence, shouldn't it had been "has occurred in human"???????
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by HSPA » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:54 am
1) "Pattern" == "Indicates" D or E
2) I am chosing "may" by a "thought based guess" and that is the word today

IMO D
Join the discussion

by HSPA » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:57 am
I took "pattern of changes" as a singluar entity .. I also want to use "has"
Join the discussion

by aspirant2011 » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:22 am
agreed but would u treat "patter of changes" as single entity...............
Join the discussion

by AIM GMAT » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:49 am
pattern is singular hence using "indicates"

IMO D

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

(A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who

(B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had

(C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had

(D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

(E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant from a single female ancestor who
Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
Join the discussion

by Andreweng » Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:49 pm
Is there an idiom for "descendant"? In MGMAT, for example, the idiom "native to" is said of animals and "native from" refers to people.

Also, the point of the sentence is to state the possibility that humans are descendants of a single female ancestor, hence the use of "may" and not "might", right?
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:00 am
aspirant2011 wrote:According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.
(A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who
(B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had
(C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had
(D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who
(E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant from a single female ancestor who


Isn't "pattern of changes" one clause??????? If yes then why is " have occurred in human " there in the sentence, shouldn't it had been "has occurred in human"???????
Quick approach:

In A and B, indicate (plural) does not agree with its subject pattern. Eliminate A and B.

In C, the verb had lived should not be in the past perfect tense. Eliminate C.

In E, descendant from is not idiomatic. X descends from Y, but X is a descendant of Y. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

The subject of the verb have occurred is changes: the changes have occurred. The subject of the verb indicates is pattern: the pattern indicates. Combining the two, we get the pattern of changes that have occurred...indicates.
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 aspirant2011 » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:09 am
Hi GMATGURUNY,

Thanks a lot :-)....................I took "pattern of changes" as one clause and thats why made a mistake :-(........
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1