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Another Pronoun SC from Veritas Prep CAT

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Another Pronoun SC from Veritas Prep CAT

by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Sun May 02, 2010 1:49 pm
The abstract paintings made by first year students at the Juliet academy reveal more about their artistic growth than do the realist sketches required during their third year.

A) Original

B) how they grow artistically than

C) growing artistically than

D) how one grows artistically than

E) how the students grow artistically than do

OA [spoiler]E, here's my question for this one. In the other thread, I learned that if the antecedent wouldn't make logical sense, then the pronoun can't refer to that antecedent. In this question, the explanation states that "their" in answer choice A is unclear as it can refer to paintings or students. How can it refer to paintings in the context of the sentence? Is it logical to assume that paintings can grow? That is what you would have to assume in order for the pronoun usage to be unclear in this sentence.[/spoiler]
https://www.beatthegmat.com/the-retake-o ... 51414.html

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by suchoudh » Sun May 02, 2010 3:41 pm
Admittedly, I was stuck between A and E. You should definitely ask Veritas instructors whether A is chucked out only because of pronoun ambiguity.

My take on this SC:

reveal more about their artistic growth than do the realist sketches required during their third year.

A) their artistic growth than do -- reveal about what? Artistic growth is not a mystery

B) how they grow artistically than -- misses do (do replaces verb reveal)

C) growing artistically than -- misses do (do replaces verb reveal)

D) how one grows artistically than -- misses do (do replaces verb reveal)

E) how the students grow artistically than do -- Correct
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by grockit_andrea » Sun May 02, 2010 4:29 pm
I've actually had the opposite experience: often a pronoun is deemed ambiguous even if it makes no logical sense. Although I've seen exceptions to this rule, in general if there are two or more potential antecedents, even if one of them is ludicrous, the pronoun is deemed ambiguous.
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by sumanr84 » Sun May 02, 2010 10:48 pm
I don't think this sentence is correctly formed. It follows the pattern : MORE X THAN Y, X and Y need to be ||el.

their artistic growth than ...... After this a new object the realist sketches comes into picture; whereas I think it should be some property comparable to artistic growth

Also, I think "about" should be repeated after "than".

e.g. more about their artistic growth than about their professional growth.

any opinion ?
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by tanviet » Sun May 02, 2010 11:29 pm
SC tests mechanical grammar error at the entrance round only

here "do" is required. so A and E are left

the MAIN round, the focus of test on SC is logic. Remember this when you are stuck.

"their" in A refers to "first year students" and "the sketchs by third year students reveal more.... of FIRST YEAR STUDENTS" of the last clause is not logic

to realize logic requires very good reading capacity. practice reading NEW gmat like passages in havard magazine will improve verbal

it take me 5 minute to do this so in fact I die already
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by Brian@VeritasPrep » Mon May 03, 2010 11:18 am
Great thread, guys - since it's a Veritas question in question, I figured I should weigh in:

1) "do" is required in the correct answer to set up the proper comparison: do abstract paintings or realist sketches reveal more?

2) the word "about" does not need to be (and actually shouldn't be) present following "do". "About..." is a modifier for the verb "reveal", and so the word "do" covers that entire clause. The sentence is comparing which piece of art reveals the most (about artistic growth); if "about" were to follow "do", it would be separate modifier, comparing "about their artistic growth" to "about the realist sketches".

3) Osirus' question about whether "their" could logically modify "paintings" (as opposed to "students") is interesting. My rule of thumb on this one would be this - choice E leaves no doubt, clearing up any potential ambiguity, whereas A, the way you're reading it, forces you to make a judgment call about whether "paintings" as the antecedent for "their" is logical or could be construed as so. Since there's room for doubt on A, but E leaves it clear, E is correct.
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