December

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:18 pm
Thanked: 1 times

December

by dreamv » Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:58 pm
The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

A. The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

B. It seems odd that the name of the twelfth month of the year, "December," is derived from the Latin word for "ten," until you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months.

C. The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realized that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

D. It makes perfect sense that the word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, so it's logical.

E. Since December is the twelfth month of our calendar year, it seems odd that the word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

Source: Kaplan CAT. Please choose answer and explain each for why not the answer and why the answer.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 474 times
Followed by:365 members

by VivianKerr » Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:17 pm
"it's" it ambiguous since it could refer to either "December" or "ten" so A, C, and D are out.

Between B and E, E is clearly the more wordy and muddled meaning-wise. B is correct.
Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 425
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:00 am
Thanked: 56 times
Followed by:7 members
GMAT Score:690

by LalaB » Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:34 pm
one more vote for B. B sounds great.

@VivianKerr, dont u think, that in option A along with "it's", the word "which" is also not really good?

Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Mon Feb 13, 2012 6:18 am
The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

A. The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense. - Wordy

B. It seems odd that the name of the twelfth month of the year, "December," is derived from the Latin word for "ten," until you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months.

C. The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realized that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense. - wordy too

D. It makes perfect sense that the word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," which seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, so it's logical.

E. Since December is the twelfth month of our calendar year, it seems odd that the word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten," but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense. - Extremely wordy

IMO: B

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 110
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:01 am
Thanked: 2 times

by rajatvmittal » Mon Feb 13, 2012 10:15 am
My answer is B

I think the word which is not placed right.
'which' has been used as a non-essential clause for Latin word for "ten" in options A, C and D. Is the latin word for "ten" odd or the the act of deriving. Hence, these are incorrect.
Option B rights points what is odd.
E is quite wordy, hence, not considered appropriate.
Rajat

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 85
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 7:18 pm
Thanked: 1 times

by dreamv » Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:37 pm
Thank you guys. OA is B. IMO was E. It is wordy as everybody mentioned here.

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2010 4:19 am

by GMAT_2010_2707 » Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:31 pm
If option (A) had to be corrected we need to replace ',which' by 'that'.
Isn't 'It' acting as a placeholder here?


The word "December" is derived from the Latin word for "ten", which that seems odd considering it's the twelfth month, but when you realize that the earliest Roman calendar had just ten months, it all makes perfect sense.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 418
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:48 pm
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:3 members

by gmatdriller » Wed Feb 15, 2012 9:04 pm
VivianKerr wrote:"it's" it ambiguous since it could refer to either "December" or "ten" so A, C, and D are out.

Between B and E, E is clearly the more wordy and muddled meaning-wise. B is correct.
At first glance, options A, C, and D are wrong because the use of "which" modifies the wrong subject.
Easier to sight than the issue of ambiguity right?

Vivian, please what's your take on this?