GMAT Prep -Holstein Cows

Expert replies

2010Chick: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 20; Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:51 pmFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 6 times

by 2010Chick » Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:34 pm

For the farmer who takes care to keep them cool, providing them with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing an average of 2,275 gallons of milk each year.

A) providing them with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing

B) providing them with high-energy feed,and milked regularly, the Holstein cow produces

C) provided with high-energy feed, and milking them regularly, Holstein cows are producing

D) provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, the Holstein cow produces

E) provided with high-energy feed, and milked regularly, Holstein cows will produce

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue Jan 21, 2014 6:34 pm

dimochka: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 48; Joined: Mon May 23, 2011 9:18 amFollowed by: 4 members; Location: NYC; Thanked: 17 times; GMAT Score:770

by dimochka » Tue Jan 21, 2014 8:19 pm

First I'd like to say that this question is not a very nice one. Regardless, let's go through this.

A. One of the biggest problems with this choice is that if we are using an "ing" verb, these will be actions performed by the farmer as a result of keeping them cool or in order to keep them cool. While grammatically this works, I don't see how "providing [cows] with high-energy feed" and "milking [cows] regularly" would keep them cool. Also, the "are producing" portion is awkward; "produce" would be correct.
B. "The Holstein cow" is incorrect; needs to be plural to refer back to "them".
C. Parallelism - "provided" vs "milking"; keep verbs in the same tense/form.
D. "The Holstein cow" is incorrect; needs to be plural to refer back to "them".
E. Correct. For the farmer who takes care to keep [the cows] (a) cool, (b) provided with high-energy feed, and (c) milked regularly, Holstein cows will [subsequently] produce an average of 2,275 gallons of milk each year.

[spoiler]Answer: E[/spoiler]

Please feel free to private message me with any questions; I don't check the forums regularly, whereas PMs go straight to my email.

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Wed Jan 22, 2014 2:27 pm

Hi 2010Chick,

This SC is built around a few common grammar rules:

1) Pronouns: the pronoun "them" requires that we have the plural subject "cows." Eliminate B and D.

2) Parallelism: the "list" of items must be in the same "format"; since the first item uses the word "keep", we need two other verbs that match that format. Eliminate A and C.

Final Answer: E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

2010Chick: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 20; Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 1:51 pmFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 6 times

by 2010Chick » Wed Jan 22, 2014 6:08 pm

Thank you both. I guess I was in such a rush when I initially answered the question and reviewed incorrect answers from that practice round that I somehow overlooked the plural pronoun in the early part of the sentence

...great reminder to be more careful moving forward

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 67 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review