Sentence Correction

krathi wrote:Hi Mitch,

As per your answer, I had 2 questions:

1. Is comparison of plural with singular wrong? I saw a few questions in the OG that do that.Besides even in MGMAT SC book they say it should be fine.(cars-toes example)

A singular noun can be compared to a plural noun, but C incorrectly implies that THE modern library (singular) serves as REPOSITORIES (plural).

2. The right answer is A(acc to kaplan), however, "like modern libraries" is a noun modifier, right? Shouldn't it be touching the the modified phrase "Early ,medieval monasteries"?

A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying, but it need not be adjacent to what it modifies. Regardless, the SC above does not offer an answer choice that is free of errors and places like modern libraries next to early medieval monasteries. In the OA, since there is no noun other than medieval libraries that could be like modern libraries, the comparison is clear.

Thanks a lot Mitch!

When I see the "while" I think a subordinate clause. Shouldn't those only modify verbs? At least that's what I see in my mgmat SC guide. however, I also noticed this subordinate clause "while clearly less accessible to outsiders" has no verb. So what kind of modifier is this?

This is from Mitch's response, eliminating D.

"In D, the phrase while clearly less accessible to outsiders should follow not the noun libraries but the noun monasteries in order to make clear that it was the monasteries that were less accessible to outsiders. Eliminate D. "

pinchharmonic wrote:When I see the "while" I think a subordinate clause. Shouldn't those only modify verbs? At least that's what I see in my mgmat SC guide. however, I also noticed this subordinate clause "while clearly less accessible to outsiders" has no verb. So what kind of modifier is this?

This is from Mitch's response, eliminating D.

"In D, the phrase while clearly less accessible to outsiders should follow not the noun libraries but the noun monasteries in order to make clear that it was the monasteries that were less accessible to outsiders. Eliminate D. "

You are right to be skeptical.

Outside the GMAT, while + adjective is a common construction, used to indicate contrast: John, while not the best player on the team, is still my favorite.
But this sort of construction is to be avoided on the GMAT.
Two reasons:
Generally, while should be followed by both a subject and a verb.
To indicate contrast, the GMAT prefers words such as whereas and although. While is used to show an action happening AT THE SAME TIME as another action.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

pinchharmonic wrote:When I see the "while" I think a subordinate clause. Shouldn't those only modify verbs? At least that's what I see in my mgmat SC guide. however, I also noticed this subordinate clause "while clearly less accessible to outsiders" has no verb. So what kind of modifier is this?

This is from Mitch's response, eliminating D.

"In D, the phrase while clearly less accessible to outsiders should follow not the noun libraries but the noun monasteries in order to make clear that it was the monasteries that were less accessible to outsiders. Eliminate D. "

You are right to be skeptical.

Outside the GMAT, while + adjective is a common construction, used to indicate contrast: John, while not the best player on the team, is still my favorite.
But this sort of construction is to be avoided on the GMAT.
Two reasons:
Generally, while should be followed by both a subject and a verb.
To indicate contrast, the GMAT prefers words such as whereas and although. While is used to show an action happening AT THE SAME TIME as another action.

Mitch, that was very very helpful, thank you.

*edit added

can we consider all subordinating conjunctions used like "subordinating conjunction + adjective" incorrect for the GMAT? The below is an example

"John, although not the best player on the team, is still my favorite"

GMATGuruNY wrote:

krathi wrote:Hi Mitch,

As per your answer, I had 2 questions:

1. Is comparison of plural with singular wrong? I saw a few questions in the OG that do that.Besides even in MGMAT SC book they say it should be fine.(cars-toes example)

A singular noun can be compared to a plural noun, but C incorrectly implies that THE modern library (singular) serves as REPOSITORIES (plural).

2. The right answer is A(acc to kaplan), however, "like modern libraries" is a noun modifier, right? Shouldn't it be touching the the modified phrase "Early ,medieval monasteries"?

A modifier should be as close as possible to what it's modifying, but it need not be adjacent to what it modifies. Regardless, the SC above does not offer an answer choice that is free of errors and places like modern libraries next to early medieval monasteries. In the OA, since there is no noun other than medieval libraries that could be like modern libraries, the comparison is clear.

Hi Mitch, sorry to open an old thread. I am confused between a and b. Both the choices are not perfect and look ambiguous. As per your comment, there is no noun other than medieval libraries in choice A. But if "text repositories" can create ambiguity in option B, then why can't "texts"(which is also a noun ) create an ambiguity in option A. I just want to know how to eliminate an answer choice if you are stuck between two equally wrong options. Please shed some light.