MGMAT CAT3 SC Doubts

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samyak: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 90; Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:41 pm

by samyak » Sun May 16, 2010 5:16 am

In 1860, the Philological Society launched its effort to create a dictionary more comprehensive than the world had ever seen; although the project would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been born.
a. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary had been
b. took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
c. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was being
d. would take more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was
e. took more than 60 years to complete, the Oxford English Dictionary was about to be

IMO b is the right option. OA says it should be D. I'm unable to figure out why. Please help.

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun May 16, 2010 5:16 am

grockit_andrea: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 357; Joined: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:31 pmFollowed by: 7 members; Thanked: 128 times

by grockit_andrea » Sun May 16, 2010 5:47 pm

The time in which the action of the sentence takes place is 1860; in 1860, the dictionary was born, but it would take (from that time) more than 60 years to complete. Choice B is looking back from the present perspective, and therefore uses the past tense. But since the sentence is counting forward from the time the dictionary was born, the future tense is correct, as used in choice D.
This is a confusing one... hope this helps.

Andrea A.
Grockit Tutor
https://www.grockit.com

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samyak: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 90; Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:41 pm

by samyak » Mon May 17, 2010 10:43 am

I'm not sure I'll be able to crack this logic in the Exam. Andrea please tell whether this question comes under a very commonly tested category or not. If it is the case, please help me understanding the rule for this. Because by tracing back the answer option, I can make out some sense of your explanation. But I'm not sure whether this should be the first thought process that should come in my mind whenever i get this sort of a question.

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loveusonu: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 278; Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:17 pm; Location: Bangalore,India; Thanked: 17 times

by loveusonu » Mon May 17, 2010 1:40 pm

samyak wrote:I'm not sure I'll be able to crack this logic in the Exam. Andrea please tell whether this question comes under a very commonly tested category or not. If it is the case, please help me understanding the rule for this. Because by tracing back the answer option, I can make out some sense of your explanation. But I'm not sure whether this should be the first thought process that should come in my mind whenever i get this sort of a question.

just remember, Assumption\prediction made in past will have "would"
for eg: In 1947, Indian democrat announced that they would require a stable constitution.

In the above eg: Indian democrat accounced for future event, hence require "would"

Once you narrow down to options with "would" just try to keep it simple unless there is really requirement to use verbs such as "had" to distinguish 2 past events.

Hope that helps

Sonu
--------
When you want something desperately, the whole Universe conspires in helping to give it to you - The Alchemist

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mohit11: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 293; Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:08 amFollowed by: 5 members; Location: India; Thanked: 36 times; GMAT Score:730

by mohit11 » Tue May 18, 2010 12:13 am

samyak wrote:I'm not sure I'll be able to crack this logic in the Exam. Andrea please tell whether this question comes under a very commonly tested category or not. If it is the case, please help me understanding the rule for this. Because by tracing back the answer option, I can make out some sense of your explanation. But I'm not sure whether this should be the first thought process that should come in my mind whenever i get this sort of a question.

The rule is that we use "would", Whenever we talk about the future in the past tense. Using this rule. you can eliminate B and E .

There is only one event that is taking place and hence perfect tense is not required. Eliminate A.

C uses the dreaded word that is almost always wrong --- "being". Eliminate C

Answer D

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