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

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Neanderthals had a vocal tract

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:41 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 1 times

by gmattest001 » Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:03 pm
B
ektamatta wrote:22. Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape's
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape's
(D) The Neanderthal's vocal tracts resembled the apes'
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 3:07 amFollowed by: 3 members
Location: Bahrain
Thanked: 5 times
GMAT Score:720

by jainpiyushjain » Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:25 pm
sravanth wrote:IMHO: B

Let's go through the sentence once again...

Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes (Stop here)

This is the first mistake...a singular tract is compared with multiple tracts (those). So this should be rectified.

A and C can be eliminated on this basis.

D says "The Neanderthal's vocal tracts...". One Neanderthal cannot have multiple tracts. Sounds illogical. This can be eliminated.

So, we are left with B and E.

Now go on, finish the rest of the sentence...

..and so were probably without language, (Stop here)

Here, "so were" after the conjunction refers to the subject "Neanderthals", which means "...and so Neanderthals were..."

But E begins with "The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals...", which changes the subject of the original sentence from "Neanderthals" to "Vocal tracts", hence the meaning of the second part will be changed to "...and so vocal tracts were..."

So, E can be eliminated.

B is the correct choice!
Very well explained. Good question
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:27 pm

by saugatoghosh » Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:34 am
bluementor wrote:I understand that to refer to a singular, you can't use 'those'...

but my question here is why is vocal tract singular in the first place? Why is it not plural as follows:

Neanderthals had vocal tracts....

by having plural 'vocal tracts', we are decribing the inherent nature of the vocal tracts (of the Neanderthals) in general, which I think what the passage is all about.

From the OA, Neanderthals had a vocal tract... seems to refer to a single vocal tract 'shared' by all Neanderthals which I find illogical.

Can someone please clearify this. Thanks.

BlueMentor
This is a great comparison question where you should pause and think what exactly is being compared. The features of a typical vocal tract of the Neanderthals is being compared to features of a typical ape's vocal tract. Since this is a comparison between two species each taken as a whole it is important for vocal tract to be singular. The comparison is not between Neanderthals (plural) and an ape (singular).
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon May 07, 2012 7:57 am
Thanked: 1 times

by mparakala » Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:14 am
B is correct!

if you put this one back into the sentence, it sound right because the second half of the sentence talks about "Neanderthals were probably without language". all other options sound as if, " vocal tracts were without language".

also, vocal tracts is a noun- so, it does not require "that of" or "those of " when used in comparison.

so, B fits perfectly!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 171
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2013 7:24 am
Thanked: 1 times

by rajeshsinghgmat » Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:42 pm
A for answer.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 1404
Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pmFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 18 times

by tanviet » Wed Feb 13, 2013 4:08 am
WHY in B
"ape's " can be correct

because there is no "of" or possessive at the begining of the sentence.

normaly, we can use this elipsis when at the begining there is "of" or possessive.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:21 am
Thanked: 1 times

by petrifiedbutstanding » Tue Jun 04, 2013 8:13 am
ektamatta wrote:22. Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
Those is incorrect. Subject-verb error since vocal tract is singular. If not, this option would have been fine.

(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape's
I was initially doubtful of this bacause of a gerund usage. But this is the best answer.

(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape's
Vocal tracts become the subject as you read on beyond the underlined portion. I nearly picked this!!!

(D) The Neanderthal's vocal tracts resembled the apes'
Same problem as that of choice C.

(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
Same as C and D.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 1:46 am

by Deepjyoti » Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:19 pm
B.
As noun is Neanderthals, so C,D,E are wrong. A has "a vocal tract that resembled those(tract(singular noun))", so it's also wrong. so ans is B.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 45
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 7:51 pm

by ndqv » Wed Sep 04, 2013 5:57 am
1st split: "Neanderthals had" vs "The vocal tracts"
"were probably without language" => choose "Neanderthals" => cross out C, D&E

2nd split: an ape's vs those of apes
"a vocal tract" should go with "an ape's". "those of apes" should be "the tracts of apes"

Hence, choose B
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 44
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:02 pm

by justharsha » Wed Sep 11, 2013 2:41 pm
My answer: B
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 164
Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:26 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by jaspreetsra » Mon Oct 06, 2014 10:07 am
22. Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape's
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape's
(D) The Neanderthal's vocal tracts resembled the apes'
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes

Problem with A and E is the 'those'
Problem with C and D is the word 'tracts'
So, only B left - correct answer.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:50 am

by FJoelhart » Sat Dec 27, 2014 3:26 am
This is totally confusing who is the administrator?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:43 am
Hi FJoelhart,

What about this SC do you find confusing?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:27 pmFollowed by: 1 member

by gauravpokhriyal » Wed Jun 24, 2015 12:13 am
ektamatta wrote:22. Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes and so were probably without language, a shortcoming that may explain why they were supplanted by our own species.
(A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes
(B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape's
(C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape's
(D) The Neanderthal's vocal tracts resembled the apes'
(E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes
The answer is (B)
(A) is wrong because "resembled those of apes":comparison is between vocal tracts
(B) is right as the comparison is right (ape's)
(C) is wrong because it makes the sentence as " the vocal tracts ..... were probably without language"
(D) is wrong because it make the neanderthal a singular subject.It won't go with "were" and "they".
(E) is wrong because same reason as (C)

"STOP NOT TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED."
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:52 am

by kosingh » Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:47 am
Hi,

E is the answer for the following reasons:

A) Neanderthals had a vocal tract that resembled those of the apes - Incorrect comparison of the a single vocal tract with 'those' of all the apes
B) Neanderthals had a vocal tract resembling an ape's - correct.
The use of 'resembling and ape's' sounds awkward but looks the best among the rest. Please explain if the use of the possessive 'ape's' is correct.
C) The vocal tracts of Neanderthals resembled an ape's - The vocal tracts become the subject for 'so were probably without language....' and ,thus, is incorrect.
D) The Neanderthal's vocal tracts resembled the apes' - Incorrect comparison of apes and vocal tracts.
E) The vocal tracts of the Neanderthals resembled those of the apes - Incorrect as C
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked