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Doubt-Expert Reply Needed

by harsh.champ » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:01 pm
(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
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by cans » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:06 pm
IMO D
would is used for hypothetical cases..
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by kareem.firoz » Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:19 pm
D)believe that it will be or could, become

Why is 'be' required here? Wouldn't the 'become' that follows 'could' (in the original sentence) serve the purpose?

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by harsh.champ » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:33 am
kareem.firoz wrote:D)believe that it will be or could, become

Why is 'be' required here? Wouldn't the 'become' that follows 'could' (in the original sentence) serve the purpose?
I am also doubtful about the will 'be'.

Expert Help needed!!
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by GmatKiss » Thu Sep 22, 2011 2:38 am
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
Hi harsh.champ,

Please underline/differentiate the portion of the question under study.
I dont think your post will keep any reader interested.
Please edit the post and underline the portion on focus!

-GK

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by mankey » Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:38 am
From where can one find BTG Practice Questions?

Mankey

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by harsh.champ » Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:36 am
Go to magoosh.com.
GMAT BTG Practice Questions can be found there.
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



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by harsh.champ » Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:38 am
GmatKiss wrote:
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
Hi harsh.champ,

Please underline/differentiate the portion of the question under study.
I dont think your post will keep any reader interested.
Please edit the post and underline the portion on focus!

-GK
The spoiler contains my doubt.
Sorry if it was not clear.
It takes time and effort to explain, so if my comment helped you please press Thanks button :)



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by mankey » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:14 am
On magoosh.com, is it available for free or for a price? If available free, could someone please provide me the link. Will really appreciate help. (I tried but could not find the link).

Thanks
Mankey

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by Jim@Grockit » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:31 am
harsh.champ wrote:(Source:BTG Practice Questions)
A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but that it will, or could, become less volatile in the future.

A)that it will, or could,
B)that it would, or could,
C)it will be or could
D)believe that it will be or could
E)think the Middle East would or could

The OA is D.

The explanation is as follows:-
[spoiler]The main issue here is parallel structure.
(D) adds the necessary verb to parallel "see" and uses the correct tense.

(A), (B), and (C) all share the same parallel structure problem: what follows "but" has to be parallel to something that precedes it, but "that it will or could" isn't parallel to either "see" or "unstable" (E) needlessly repeats "Middle East"; also, "would" is incorrect.[/spoiler]


My question is - Why are we considering different verb tense "will" and "could".Why using "would" is incorrect but using "could" is right?
There is nothing naughty about using more than one verb tense in a sentence (I have been busy, so I will go shopping tomorrow instead), so the future "will" and present "could" can coexist.

"Would" as a modal verb (as opposed to a past tense of "will") expresses hypothetical preference/interest, where "could" expresses potential. A region cannot have a preference (though obviously the people there can).

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by GmatKiss » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:07 am
IMO: D,

A majority of observers interviewed see the Middle East as unstable at present but believe that it will be or could become less volatile in the future.

see is for the current state.
believe is for the future state (prediction)

SEE and BELIEVE are not redundant.

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by mankey » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:21 am
On magoosh.com, is it (BTG Practice Questions) available for free or for a price? If available free, could someone please provide me the link. Will really appreciate help. (I tried but could not find the link).

Thanks
Mankey

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by rajeevrks27 » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:32 am
+1D
good one
Fire the final bullet only when you are constantly hitting the Bull's eye...till then KEEP PRACTISING...