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dolphin family - paper tests

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dolphin family - paper tests

by schumi_gmat » Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:57 am
The 32 species that make up the dolphin family are closely related to whales and in fact include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is famous for its aggressive hunting pods.
A. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is
B. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing as big as 30 feet long and
C. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing up to 30 feet long and being
D. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow as big as 30 feet long and is
E. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and it is

OA A
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by java_ka_jalwa » Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:32 am
growing is clearly wrong. B and C are out.

"which can grow X and is Y" is in parallel form.

"as big as 30 feet long" is wrong usage of "big" when referring to length, so D is out,

E has an unnecessary "it" so is wrong.

leaves us with A. which is correct
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by uptowngirl92 » Thu Oct 01, 2009 3:31 pm
can someone explain why "to be" is the correct usage here?
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by riteshbindal » Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:26 pm
uptowngirl92 wrote:can someone explain why "to be" is the correct usage here?
Let me try to explain each choice given here and see why it is wrong. The best use instead of "to be" will be " as long as " but even "to be" is not incorrect as per grammar.

The 32 species that make up the dolphin family are closely related to whales and in fact include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is famous for its aggressive hunting pods.
A. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and is
B. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing as big as 30 feet long andas big as is incorrect. It should be as long as. Feet is height and height. Height can be referred to as "long" or "tall", "big" is used to denote size not the length/height.
C. include the animal known as the killer whale, growing up to 30 feet long and beingUsing gerund is incorrect here for "being" and "growing"
D. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow as big as 30 feet long and is same problem as B had. "As big as"
E. include the animal known as the killer whale, which can grow to be 30 feet long and it is There is no point in using "it" here when the meaning is clear without "it" also. We can put it in wordy category. Actually on second look, I think this is not parallel also. First part says "which can grow" so second part should have been "and which is famous". So using "it" here is incorrect.
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by gmatwizard » Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:51 am
Hi,

I'm trying to learn a bit more about gerunds. Aren't being and growing acting as the present participle here?

Thanks,

GW
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by happymanocha » Sun Jan 01, 2012 6:05 pm
Guys,
I want someone to revisit this and explain why usage of gerund is incorrect in this question. Is it grammatically incorrect or for some other reason? As per OG, It can refer to 32 species. Can someone explain the rule how it can refer to subject of main clause?
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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:07 am
happymanocha wrote:Guys,
I want someone to revisit this and explain why usage of gerund is incorrect in this question. Is it grammatically incorrect or for some other reason? As per OG, It can refer to 32 species. Can someone explain the rule how it can refer to subject of main clause?
Check my posts in the following threads:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/modfiers-t83807.html

https://www.beatthegmat.com/gerund-modifier-t98688.html
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by happymanocha » Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:51 am
Thanks Mitch. Co can i assume that ,+verbing acting as a verb refers to the subject and action of the preceding clause. What needs to be taken care when ,+verbing acting as a noun is present?
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by GMATGuruNY » Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:24 pm
happymanocha wrote:Thanks Mitch. Co can i assume that ,+verbing acting as a verb refers to the subject and action of the preceding clause. What needs to be taken care when ,+verbing acting as a noun is present?
COMMA + VERBing typically introduces a phrase that modifies the entire preceding clause. The action of the VERBing should be performed by the SUBJECT of the preceding clause. In this situation, the VERBing is a called a participle: a verb functioning as a MODIFIER.

A gerund is a VERBing that functions as a NOUN. When a comma precedes a gerund, context should make the situation clear: John likes running, biking, and swimming. Here, running, biking and swimming are all nouns serving as the direct objects of like. What does John LIKE? He likes RUNNING, BIKING, and SWIMMING.
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