BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

SC - Question 2

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:31 pm
Thanked: 3 times
by skyline77 » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:02 am
Q Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of Spain to see if he could reach India by traveling west.

a. Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat,
Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of Spain to
see if he could reach India by sailing west.

b. Rather than accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of
Spain to see if he could reach India by sailing west.

c. Instead of accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus sailed west to see whether he could
reach India, having been sent by the king and queen of Spain.

d. Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus sailed west to see whether he could
reach India, having been sent by the king and queen of Spain.

e. Instead of accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of
Spain to sail west to see if he could reach India.

Answer is D.

"X" Rather than "Y (accept)". The "X" is which word is it "sailed"?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 55 times

Re: SC - Question 2

by iamcste » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:34 am
skyline77 wrote:Q Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of Spain to see if he could reach India by traveling west.

a. Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat,
Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of Spain to
see if he could reach India by sailing west.

b. Rather than accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of
Spain to see if he could reach India by sailing west.

c. Instead of accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus sailed west to see whether he could
reach India, having been sent by the king and queen of Spain.

d. Rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus sailed west to see whether he could
reach India, having been sent by the king and queen of Spain.

e. Instead of accepting the conventional wisdom that the earth was
flat, Christopher Columbus was sent by the king and queen of
Spain to sail west to see if he could reach India.

Answer is D.

"X" Rather than "Y (accept)". The "X" is which word is it "sailed"?




IMO D
2 steps

rather than is preferred over Instead of

Whether is preferred over If

Adding to your question

Sentence is a passive construction. To fit into the idiom, change it to active


Christopher Columbus sailed west to see whether he could reach India rather than accept the conventional wisdom that the earth was flat, , having been sent by the king and queen of Spain.

Now you can see X rather than Y :D
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1153
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:21 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 146 times

Re: SC - Question 2

by parallel_chase » Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:43 am
iamcste wrote:

rather than is preferred over Instead of

Whether is preferred over If

According to Grammatical structures here is my reasoning.

Rather than - used in case of preference
Instead of - used in case of replacement

Whether - used when alternatives are possible.
If - used to express condition.

If can never be followed by a preposition or an infinitive; only whether can.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks
No rest for the Wicked....
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 55 times

Re: SC - Question 2

by iamcste » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:11 am
parallel_chase wrote:
iamcste wrote:

rather than is preferred over Instead of

Whether is preferred over If

According to Grammatical structures here is my reasoning.

Rather than - used in case of preference
Instead of - used in case of replacement

Whether - used when alternatives are possible.
If - used to express condition.



Yes, agreed

If can never be followed by a preposition or an infinitive; only whether can.


Not sure about this, Is it from OG or MG

May you be kind enough to share the source[/b][/color]
Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks
Last edited by iamcste on Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1159
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:35 pm
Thanked: 56 times

by raunekk » Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:58 am
@parallel_chase
If can never be followed by a preposition or an infinitive; only whether can

thanks parallel_chase... i never knew this...

thanks...:)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1153
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:21 amFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 146 times

by parallel_chase » Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:13 am
@ranuekk @iamcste

Guys hold on!

I guess you guys have misinterpreted the rule.

I said

If can never be followed by a preposition or an infinitive; only whether can

this means,

Infinitive or a preposition can be preceded only by "whether" not by "if"

examples

I want to see if.............[incorrect]
I want to see whether...[correct]

Paying regardless of if a job was held by X [incorrect]
Paying regardless of whether a job was held by X [correct]


Kindly refer to Q87 OG10 for the above usage.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you guys have any questions.
No rest for the Wicked....
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 55 times

by iamcste » Mon Nov 24, 2008 11:10 am
PC, we have interpreted it correctly. Thanks !

I have edited typo

Cool..
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1