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

Redeem

GMAT OG Problem - Important concept

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:53 am

GMAT OG Problem - Important concept

by Ankur Aggarwal » Tue May 22, 2012 5:38 am
Hi, can you help me with this OG problem,
" To develop more accurate population forecasts, demographers have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic determinants of fertility "

A. have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic
B. have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
C. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
D. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economic
E. would have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic

I understand given the options best ans is 'c'....

But what abt if we have one more option :-
"have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economic" which one should we chose - would clause or have to ?
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
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 » Tue May 22, 2012 5:53 am
Ankur Aggarwal wrote:Hi, can you help me with this OG problem,
" To develop more accurate population forecasts, demographers have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic determinants of fertility "

A. have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic
B. have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
C. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economical
D. would have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economic
E. would have to know a great deal more than now about the social and economic

I understand given the options best ans is 'c'....

But what abt if we have one more option :-
"have to know a great deal more than they do now about the social and economic" which one should we chose - would clause or have to ?
If both verbs are in the present tense -- demographers HAVE TO KNOW more than they DO now -- the implication is that both actions are happening in the present.
The result is a nonsensical meaning: how can demographers KNOW more than they KNOW?
To make it clear that the situation is HYPOTHETICAL, the subjunctive is needed: demographers WOULD HAVE TO KNOW more than they DO now.
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
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:53 am

by Ankur Aggarwal » Tue May 22, 2012 8:25 am
Thanks for the reply. I now understand the same. just a quick question - what if we add 'will' instead of would ?, Will the sentence be correct ?
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 122
Joined: Tue May 01, 2012 6:05 am
Thanked: 3 times

by ihatemaths » Tue May 22, 2012 10:29 pm
is C the answer ? does the word economical exist in GMAT ?
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 May 23, 2012 3:05 am
ihatemaths wrote:is C the answer ? does the word economical exist in GMAT ?
The correct answer is D. I posted an explanation here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/gmat-prep-t112336.html
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