richachampion wrote:Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.

A. Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.
B. Over the course of the eighteenth century a tripling in the average output of ironwork was due to the replacement of charcoal by coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, in addition to several improvements in blowing machinery.
C. With charcoal's being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.
D. The replacement of charcoal with coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.
E. Charcoal being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, and several improvements in blowing machinery, which tripled the average output of ironwork over the course of the eighteenth century.

OA: A

OptimusPrep wrote:

richachampion wrote:Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.

A. Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.
B. Over the course of the eighteenth century a tripling in the average output of ironwork was due to the replacement of charcoal by coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, in addition to several improvements in blowing machinery.
C. With charcoal's being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.
D. The replacement of charcoal with coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.
E. Charcoal being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, and several improvements in blowing machinery, which tripled the average output of ironwork over the course of the eighteenth century.

OA: A

Meaning: Over the course of 18th century average output tripled as a result of several improvements and coal replacing charcoal
Option A is correct as it
Option B: the usage of "due to" is wrong
Option C: Usage of being is incorrect.
Option D: we need a connector between the two sentences. They cannot be joined with a comma
Option E: There is no verb in this sentence.

Correct Option: A

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Needgmat wrote:I also marked option B.

Hi Verbal Experts ,

Please explain why option B is wrong. It seems more clear and concise than option A.

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Generally, an introductory prepositional modifier serves as an ADVERB modifying the VERB in the following clause.

In B, over the course of the eighteenth century (introductory prepositional modifier) serves to modify was (the verb in the following clause).
Conveyed meaning:
A tripling WAS over the course of the eighteenth century.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate B.

In the OA, over the course of the eighteenth century (introductory prepositional modifier) serves to modify tripled (the verb in the following clause).
Conveyed meaning:
The average output TRIPLED over the course of the eighteenth century.
This meaning makes sense.

mack13 wrote: Hey Mitch,

Does the meaning have to do anything with the passive voice ?

Also, can we consider what you mentioned as a rule i.e. it holds true at every case ?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

mack13 wrote: Hey Mitch,

Does the meaning have to do anything with the passive voice ?

Forms of to be are is, was, has been, will be, etc.
Passive voice = FROM OF TO BE + VERBed:
was PERFORMED
is COOKED
has been DETERMINED
will be STUDIED

over the course must serve to refer to an action that happens PROGRESSIVELY.
It CANNOT serve to refer to an action that happens at a particular moment.
B: Over the course of the eighteenth century, a tripling was due.
Here, the verb -- was -- is not in passive voice, since no VERBed is present.
On its own, was serves to express a STATE-OF-BEING: the state of a subject AT A PARTICULAR MOMENT.
Since over the course cannot serve to refer to an action that happens at a particular moment, eliminate B.

OA: Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output tripled.
Here, over the course correctly refers to an action that happened progressively (the average TRIPLED).

Also, can we consider what you mentioned as a rule i.e. it holds true at every case ?

The following rule should hold true in every case:
An introductory prepositional phrase serves as an adverb modifying the verb in the following clause.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Needgmat wrote:I also marked option B.

Hi Verbal Experts ,

Please explain why option B is wrong. It seems more clear and concise than option A.

Please explain.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Generally, an introductory prepositional modifier serves as an ADVERB modifying the VERB in the following clause.

In B, over the course of the eighteenth century (introductory prepositional modifier) serves to modify was (the verb in the following clause).
Conveyed meaning:
A tripling WAS over the course of the eighteenth century.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate B.

In the OA, over the course of the eighteenth century (introductory prepositional modifier) serves to modify tripled (the verb in the following clause).
Conveyed meaning:
The average output TRIPLED over the course of the eighteenth century.
This meaning makes sense.

Mo2men wrote:Hi Mitch,

Can you please shed light on choice D?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Mo2men wrote:Hi Mitch,

Can you please shed light on choice D?

An APPOSITIVE is a noun or noun phrase that serves to define or explain another noun or noun phrase.
D: The replacement of charcoal, the average output tripled.
Here, the replacement seems to be an appositive for the average output, implying that THE AVERAGE OUTPUT is defined as THE REPLACEMENT OF CHARCOAL.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate D.

mack13 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Mo2men wrote:Hi Mitch,

Can you please shed light on choice D?

An APPOSITIVE is a noun or noun phrase that serves to define or explain another noun or noun phrase.
D: The replacement of charcoal, the average output tripled.
Here, the replacement seems to be an appositive for the average output, implying that THE AVERAGE OUTPUT is defined as THE REPLACEMENT OF CHARCOAL.
This meaning is nonsensical.
Eliminate D.

Mitch,
Can you please shed some insight on the usage of 'due to' in choice B.

Is it or is it not a correct usage?

Thanks in advance!

mack13 wrote:Mitch,
Can you please shed some insight on the usage of 'due to' in choice B.

Is it or is it not a correct usage?

Thanks in advance!

jerrywu wrote:Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.
A.Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.

B.Over the course of the eighteenth century a tripling in the average output of ironwork was due to the replacement of charcoal by coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, in addition to several improvements in blowing machinery.

C.With charcoal's being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.

D.The replacement of charcoal with coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery , the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century.

E.Charcoal being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, and several improvements in blowing machinery, which tripled the average output of ironwork over the course of the eighteenth century.