Conditional Question

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 462
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:08 pm
Thanked: 10 times
Followed by:4 members

Conditional Question

by confuse mind » Mon May 30, 2011 8:01 am
If the new airboat does what it is to be doing-travel at high speeds undeterred by sandbars, crocodile-infested mudflats, or marshy hippo haunts-it could revolutionize transport on the 2,900-mile-long Congo River.
(A) If the new airboat does what it is to be doing
(B) If the new airboat does what it is supposed to do
(C) If it does as the new airboat is supposed to do
(D) Doing what it is the new airboat is supposed to do
(E) Doing what the new airboat is to be doing

answer - [spoiler]'b'[/spoiler]

doubt -
The 2nd part of condition is in past tense, as can be seen by the presence of 'could'.So I suppose first part of the condition must also be in past tense.But all options are in past tense.Pls tell me where I'm wrong.
Source: — Sentence Correction |

Legendary Member
Posts: 1574
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:52 am
Thanked: 88 times
Followed by:13 members

by aspirant2011 » Mon May 30, 2011 8:35 am
confuse mind wrote:If the new airboat does what it is to be doing-travel at high speeds undeterred by sandbars, crocodile-infested mudflats, or marshy hippo haunts-it could revolutionize transport on the 2,900-mile-long Congo River.
(A) If the new airboat does what it is to be doing
(B) If the new airboat does what it is supposed to do
(C) If it does as the new airboat is supposed to do
(D) Doing what it is the new airboat is supposed to do
(E) Doing what the new airboat is to be doing

answer - [spoiler]'b'[/spoiler]

doubt -
The 2nd part of condition is in past tense, as can be seen by the presence of 'could'.So I suppose first part of the condition must also be in past tense.But all options are in past tense.Pls tell me where I'm wrong.
I don't think so usage of "could" in the second part of the sentence is in past because if you read the sentence carefully then you would realise that the sentence says with uncertainity that it may revolutionize transport and is refering to future if airboat does for what it is built.........
Last edited by aspirant2011 on Mon May 30, 2011 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 439
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:32 am
Location: India
Thanked: 34 times
Followed by:28 members

by sivaelectric » Mon May 30, 2011 9:22 am
B it is
If I am wrong correct me :), If my post helped let me know by clicking the Thanks button ;).

Chitra Sivasankar Arunagiri

Legendary Member
Posts: 544
Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 8:10 am
Thanked: 45 times
Followed by:2 members

by sameerballani » Mon May 30, 2011 9:40 am
could is related to uncertainity not past.

See your post -> https://www.beatthegmat.com/so-that-t83998.html#370009
In this the action that is followed by could occurs in future. But again the uncertainity facctor is there because of the presence of could.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 641
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:07 pm
Location: Madison, WI
Thanked: 162 times
Followed by:45 members
GMAT Score:760

by Jim@Grockit » Mon May 30, 2011 10:20 pm
"could" is both the past tense of "can" and a modal verb indicating irreality/hypothetical situations.

• Page 1 of 1