MakeUrTimeCount wrote:In addition to the great benefits mankind has enjoyed since the discovery of certain technologies, many atrocities would have been prevented had the scientists who made the discoveries had the wisdom to discard such power.
A) had the scientists who made the discoveries had
B) if the scientists who made the discoveries have had
C) if the scientists who made the discoveries had
D) had the scientists who made the discoveries have
E) had the scientists who made the discoveries showed
OA: A
Let's discuss...
If John HAD had enough money, he WOULD HAVE paid for dinner.
IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE is used to express PAST actions that are HYPOTHETICAL/CONTRARY-TO-FACT.
The meaning conveyed here is that John DIDN'T have enough money, so he DIDN'T pay for dinner.
The following express the same meaning:
HAD John had enough money, he WOULD HAVE paid for dinner.
John WOULD HAVE paid for dinner, HAD he had enough money.
This last structure is employed by the original sentence in the SC above:
Many atrocities WOULD HAVE been prevented HAD the scientists had the wisdom to discard such power.
The meaning conveyed is that the scientists DID NOT have the widsom, so the atrocities were NOT prevented.
Thus, the sentence is correct as written.
The correct answer is
A.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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