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
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Neanderthals had a vocal tract
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gmattest001
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B
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jainpiyushjain
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Very well explained. Good questionsravanth 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!
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saugatoghosh
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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).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
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!
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!
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rajeshsinghgmat
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petrifiedbutstanding
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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.
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
"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
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justharsha
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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.
(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.
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Hi FJoelhart,
What about this SC do you find confusing?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
What about this SC do you find confusing?
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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gauravpokhriyal
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The answer is (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
(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."
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
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
