gmat prep 2

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by gmat_perfect » Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:47 am
The nineteenth-century chemist Humphry Davy presented the results of his early experiments in his "Essay on Heat and Light," a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a new chemistry that Davy hoped to found.

A. a critique of all chemistry since Robert Boyle as well as a vision of a
B. a critique of all chemistry following Robert Boyle and also his envisioning of a
C. a critique of all chemistry after Robert Boyle and envisioning as well
D. critiquing all chemistry from Robert Boyle forward and also a vision of
E. critiquing all the chemistry done since Robert Boyle as well as his own envisioning of

The issues:

1. COMMA + NOUN Vs COMMA + VERBING:

--> Comma + NOUN modifies the immediate previous noun before comma.

Example:

I have bought the Gitanjoli, collection of poems by Tagore.

Here, Gitanjoli is the collection of poems.

COMMA + NOUN--> the noun is synonymous to the NOUN before comma.

COMMA + VERBING:

--> Modifies the immediate preceding clause. A clause MUST have a verb and a subject. SUBJECT + VERB, VERBING---this case the verbing modifies the entire preceding clause. The ultimate result is that the verbing modifies the subject.

Now come to test:

HD presented the results of his experiments in his XXX, critiquing.....

==> The critiquing is wrong for two reasons:
1. HD is not doing the task of criticism.
2. The verb from of the NOUN "critique" is debated over a period of time. [see the last para]

The use of "HD presented the results of his experiments in his XXX, a critique...." is more logical because--

==> Essay on Heat and Light is critical discussion work. which is synonymous to the word "critique".
==> The word "critique" as a noun is more logical.

This kills the options D and E.

2. A critique of XX and a Vision of YY--is absolutely parallel, which has been followed in the option A only.

A is the answer.

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by gmat_perfect » Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:52 am
Critique

Usage Note: Critique has been used as a verb meaning "to review or discuss critically" since the 18th century, but lately this usage has gained much wider currency, in part because the verb criticize, once neutral between praise and censure, is now mainly used in a negative sense. But this use of critique is still regarded by many as pretentious jargon, although resistance appears to be weakening. In our 1997 ballot, 41 percent of the Usage Panel rejected the sentence As mock inquisitors grill him, top aides take notes and critique the answers with the President afterward. Ten years earlier, 69 percent disapproved of this same sentence. Resistance is still high when a person is critiqued: 60 percent of the Usage Panel rejects its use in the sentence Students are taught how to do a business plan and then are critiqued on it. Thus, it may be preferable to avoid this word. There is no exact synonym, but in most contexts one can usually substitute go over, review, or analyze. · Note, however, that critique is widely accepted as a noun in a neutral context; 86 percent of the Panel approved of its use in the sentence The committee gave the report a thorough critique and found it both informed and intelligent.

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by ankurmit » Mon Sep 20, 2010 8:52 pm
IMO A

"a critique" is required here... D and E out

Among A B and C

A is parallel

Please post OA
--------
Ankur mittal

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