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

Redeem

the thing that was as dispiriting as

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue May 11, 2010 11:22 am
Thanked: 1 times

the thing that was as dispiriting as

by shimbal80 » Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:10 am
the thing that was as dispiriting as the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates engaged has been the winner's self-righteous insistence on the rectitude of his behavior in the face of his opponent's ungentlemanly muckraking.

A) as same as above
B) what has been as dispiriting as the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging
C) no less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates engaged
D) no less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging
E) the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging were no less dispiriting as

Right answer is C

source: kaplan quiz bank

I really do not understand the sentence and its explanation even the meaning. how should I answer the question? I think the subject "no less ..." does not make sense.
Could experts please explain?

Thanks in advance
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:10 am
shimbal80 wrote:the thing that was as dispiriting as the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates engaged has been the winner's self-righteous insistence on the rectitude of his behavior in the face of his opponent's ungentlemanly muckraking.

A) as same as above
B) what has been as dispiriting as the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging
C) no less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates engaged
D) no less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging
E) the mutually slanderous campaigns in which the candidates have been engaging were no less dispiriting as

Right answer is C

source: kaplan quiz bank

I really do not understand the sentence and its explanation even the meaning. how should I answer the question? I think the subject "no less ..." does not make sense.
Could experts please explain?

Thanks in advance
Quickest approach:

In B, D and E, the verb construction have been engaging should not be in the present tense. Since the election has a winner, the candidates are no longer engaging in their campaigns. Eliminate B, D and E.

In A, the past tense verb was does not match the present perfect tense verb has been. Since these actions are happening contemporaneously (at the same time), the two verbs should be in the same tense. Eliminate A.

The correct answer is C.

Perhaps the meaning of C would be clearer if we reversed the order of the essential elements:

The winner's...insistence...has been no less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns.

Answer choice C inverts these elements, but the meaning is the same:

No less dispiriting than the mutually slanderous campaigns...has been the winner's insistence.

Hope this helps!
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3380
Joined: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:20 am
Thanked: 2256 times
Followed by:1535 members
GMAT Score:800

by lunarpower » Sun Dec 26, 2010 6:13 pm
this problem is nearly an exact copy of an OG/gmatprep problem that starts with the following words:
What was as remarkable as the development of the compact disc has been the use of the new technology to revitalize...

if you look up that problem instead, you'll probably find many, many forum threads with completed discussions -- and, since the problems are virtually carbon copies of each other, you should be able to apply what you see on those threads to this problem.
(in fact, that's a good idea in more than one way: it's also good to make sure that your learning / knowledge is transferable. if you understand an explanation only in terms of a single problem, then it's not terribly useful; however, if you can then transfer that explanation onto other, similar problems, then that's genuine learning.)
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

--

Pueden hacerle preguntas a Ron en castellano
Potete chiedere domande a Ron in italiano
On peut poser des questions à Ron en français
Voit esittää kysymyksiä Ron:lle myös suomeksi

--

Quand on se sent bien dans un vêtement, tout peut arriver. Un bon vêtement, c'est un passeport pour le bonheur.

Yves Saint-Laurent

--

Learn more about ron
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1