Sentence Correction

DavidG@VeritasPrep wrote:

But apart from this particular use, what are the OTHER VALID usages of SINCE on GMAT - could you please shed some light on this aspect ?

Are you asking for sample OA's that include 'since?' Or are you asking if 'since' could be used in a fundamentally different way than the above example?

Yes,what are the OTHER VALID usages(re fundamentally different way than the above example) of SINCE on GMAT, APART FROM the usage in above example and the usage in which SINCE=BECAUSE ?

And yes again, it'd be great if you could cite any Official questions on the such usages of SINCE on GMAT ?

DavidG@VeritasPrep wrote:

Yes,what are the OTHER VALID usages(re fundamentally different way than the above example) of SINCE on GMAT, APART FROM the usage in above example and the usage in which SINCE=BECAUSE ?

And yes again, it'd be great if you could cite any Official questions on the such usages of SINCE on GMAT ?

It looks like you've got a handle on the two ways "since" can be used. It can refer to time or to a causal relation.

There are plenty of OA's in which "since" refers to time, but I haven't been able to find one in which "since" is used to imply causation. (My guess is that, though usage guides permit "since" to describe a causal relation, "because" is preferred on the GMAT as there is no possibility of ambiguity. For example, "Since I studied for the GMAT, I've been exhausted," has two possible meanings. It could mean that I've been exhausted from the time I studied for the GMAT until now. Or it could mean that I'm exhausted because I studied for the GMAT.)

But, "Since I studied for the GMAT, I've been exhausted" -- if it were to mean "SINCE the time", then shouldn't it use PRESENT PERFECT(have studied) instead of SIMPLE PAST(studied) ?

RBBmba@2014 wrote:what are the OTHER VALID usages of SINCE on GMAT - could you please shed some light on this aspect ?

@ Dave - "Since 9am, I have been studying for the GMAT." OR "Since 11 am, I've been exhausted" -- both mark the beginning of an action (in the PAST), which continues into the present. Am I correct ?

As far as TIME related usage of SINCE is concerned on the GMAT, SINCE is used with PRESENT PERFECT MOSTLY, I think. Right ?

If so, then could you please let me know EXACTLY where this PRESENT PERFECT is used ? I mean, is the PRESENT PERFECT used in the clause following SINCE or in the clause preceding SINCE in a SC in which SINCE indicates TIME aspect ?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

RBBmba@2014 wrote:what are the OTHER VALID usages of SINCE on GMAT - could you please shed some light on this aspect ?

A since-clause can also serve to express a causal relationship.
An OA in GMATPrep:
Prospecting for gold was a relatively easy task, since erosion put gold literally within reach of anybody with a pan.
Here, the since-clause serves to express what CAUSED prospecting to be a relatively easy task.

This sort of usage is very rare on the GMAT.

RBBmba@2014 wrote:[

Hi Mitch - a quick clarification required.

Unlike in TIME aspect,in a causal relationship SINCE can take PAST PERFECT on GMAT.Right ?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, their descendants, popularly known as killer bees, had migrated as far north as southern Texas.

(A) Less than 35 years after the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
(B) In less than 35 years since releasing African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
(C) In less than the 35 years since African honeybees had been released outside Sao Paulo, Brazil,
(D) It took less than 35 years from the release of African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, when
(E) It took less than the 35 years after the time that African honeybees were released outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, and then

B: Since RELEASING African honeybees outside Sao Paulo, THEIR DESCENDANTS...
The implication here is that THEIR DESCENDANTS were responsible for RELEASING African honeybees outside Sao Paolo.
Not the intended meaning.
Eliminate B.

C: 35 years since African honeybees HAD BEEN RELEASED
If the release of the bees took place on January 1, 1900, then on January 1, 1950, the bees already HAD BEEN RELEASED.
Thus, 35 years since African Honeybees HAD BEEN RELEASED could imply January 1, 1950 + 35 years = January 1, 1985.
Not the intended timeline.
The intended meaning is that the the migration took place LESS THAN 35 YEARS after the release -- sometime BEFORE January 1, 1935.
Eliminate C.

D and E: It took less than 35 years.
Here, it lacks a clear referent.
Eliminate D and E.

The correct answer is A.

In D and E, it seems to be serving as an EXPLETIVE.
An expletive is a placeholder pronoun whose purpose is to DELAY THE SUBJECT.
On the GMAT, the delayed subject typically will be an infinitive phrase or a that-clause.

IT is easy TO LIKE MARY.
Here, it is standing in for to like Mary.
Conveyed meaning:
TO LIKE MARY is easy.

IT was not until last year THAT JOHN BEGAN STUDYING.
Here, it is standing in for that John began studying.
Conveyed meaning:
THAT JOHN BEGAN STUDYING was not until last year.

In D and E, the referent for it is unclear.

richachampion wrote:the intended meaning is that there are only one-time frame and the process of release = less than 35 years is also the time frame for migration.