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by amirp » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:40 am
Hi guys,

This is a question from OG 12 SC - Question #14

Sunspots, Vortices of gas associated with strong electromagnetic activity, are visible as dark spots on the surface of the sun but have never been sighted on the sun's poles or equator.

A) are visible as dark spots on the surface of the Sun but have never been sighted on

E) appear as dark spots on the Sun's surface, which have never been sighted on

The correct answer is A. Can you please tell me why E is wrong?

to me it seems more parallel to the not underlined portion of the sentence ( Sun's surface - Sun's poles )

It also seems more concise compared to A ( appear as VS. are visible as )

Can you please help?

Thanks in advance.
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by selango » Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:56 am
Sunspots are visible/appear as dark spots on the surface of the sun but sunspots have never been sighted on sun poles or equator.

This is the clear and intended meaning.

Now check option E.

Sunspots, Vortices of gas associated with strong electromagnetic activity,appear as dark spots on the Sun's surface, which have never been sighted on sun poles or equator.

Is the meaning clear?

which modifies sunspots or sun's surface?Its not correct.

Option A is clear.
--Anand--
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by amirp » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:06 am
Oh,,, I get it,,, so its because of ( ,which ) since It is not clear what it is referring to

but both (are visible as & appear as) are correct right? no preference to choose one over the other?
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by kvcpk » Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:10 am
Agree with Anand. I dont see any difference between appear and visible in this context.

For example:

New strains of viruses appear periodically.

In this case visible and appear are not interchangeable.

Hope this helps!!
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Aug 05, 2010 3:38 pm
amirp wrote:Hi guys,

This is a question from OG 12 SC - Question #14

Sunspots, Vortices of gas associated with strong electromagnetic activity, are visible as dark spots on the surface of the sun but have never been sighted on the sun's poles or equator.

A) are visible as dark spots on the surface of the Sun but have never been sighted on

E) appear as dark spots on the Sun's surface, which have never been sighted on

The correct answer is A. Can you please tell me why E is wrong?

to me it seems more parallel to the not underlined portion of the sentence ( Sun's surface - Sun's poles )

It also seems more concise compared to A ( appear as VS. are visible as )

Can you please help?

Thanks in advance.
A good rule of thumb:

If you're stuck between A and another answer choice, and you can't spot a clear error in A, eliminate the other answer choice and pick A. You're safer sticking with the original sentence.
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