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

Redeem

MGMAT SC

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 391
Joined: Sat Mar 02, 2013 5:13 am
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

MGMAT SC

by rakeshd347 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 2:35 am
Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1556
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:18 pm
Thanked: 448 times
Followed by:34 members
GMAT Score:650

by theCodeToGMAT » Wed Oct 02, 2013 2:54 am
Both A & E are grammatically correct; the issue is Meaning

A --> Creature resembles Fish & Land-Animal
E --> Fossils resemble Fish & Land-Animal

So A

If "E" were .. "the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble those of both a fish and a land-animal and provide evidence of" .... then i would have gone with "concision"
R A H U L
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 643
Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:27 am
Thanked: 48 times
Followed by:7 members

by vinay1983 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 3:24 am
rakeshd347 wrote:Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?
Here the meaning is important. It is the creature that resembles both a fish and a land animal and that the fossils provide evidence in this regard.

Having said that A and D makes this clear. But option D has "provides" while Option A has "provide". "Provides" is wrong usage here, though this option makes things pretty much clear than Option A.

Hence option A wins. In option E, it is incorrectly deducible that the fossils resemble both a fish and a land animal.

Still to me though option A is correct. I am not too happy about how it is constructed. End of the day GMAT wins!
You can, for example never foretell what any one man will do, but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to!
Top
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 » Wed Oct 02, 2013 3:24 am
rakeshd347 wrote:Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?
B: A large scaly creature provides fossils
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning of the original sentence is that the fossils provide EVIDENCE.
Eliminate B.

In D, provides (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate D.

C: whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal
E: the fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal
Fossils are BONES.
To resemble means TO BE SIMILAR TO.
C and E imply the following: the BONES are similar to A FISH.
Not the intended comparison.
The intended comparison of the original sentence is that the CREATURE is similar to a FISH.
Eliminate C and E.

The correct answer is A.
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
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1