Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel.
A. that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved
B. that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving
C. suggesting that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal with its trunk originally evolving
D. to suggest that the elephant has descended from an aquatic animal and its trunk originally evolved
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
my doubt : why "has suggested" is wrong in option B
Thanks
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Australian embryologists have found evidence
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aditya8062
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Hope you find this thread useful:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/aus ... t2938.html
the two constructions have different meanings.
is descended --> used to talk about evolution, ancestry, etc. (as in this context)
has descended --> has moved, literally or figuratively, in a downward direction: the larynx has descended (literally) during the process of human evolution; our culture has descended (figuratively) into mindless entertainment
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/aus ... t2938.html
the two constructions have different meanings.
is descended --> used to talk about evolution, ancestry, etc. (as in this context)
has descended --> has moved, literally or figuratively, in a downward direction: the larynx has descended (literally) during the process of human evolution; our culture has descended (figuratively) into mindless entertainment
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my question is regarding "has suggested" not "has descended"
also i have read that post but this point (about "has suggested") is not very clear to me
also i have read that post but this point (about "has suggested") is not very clear to me
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The problem is {B} is meaning..
{B} says :
...evidence that has suggested the elephant.... --> this gives the meaning that the evidence has suggested elephant something..
{B} says :
...evidence that has suggested the elephant.... --> this gives the meaning that the evidence has suggested elephant something..
R A H U L
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Incorrect: Embryologists have found evidence that has suggested that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.aditya8062 wrote:Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel.
A. that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved
B. that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving
C. suggesting that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal with its trunk originally evolving
D. to suggest that the elephant has descended from an aquatic animal and its trunk originally evolved
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
my doubt : why "has suggested" is wrong in option B
Thanks
Here, has suggested (present perfect) implies that -- at some unknown moment in the past -- the evidence suggested that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.
But the act of suggesting is not tied to a particular moment in time.
Hence, the use of the present perfect is inappropriate.
Another issue:
The juxtaposition of two verbs in the present perfect (have found and has suggested) conveys an unclear sequence.
The OA cleverly avoids these issues by expressing the act of suggesting in the form of an INFINITIVE MODIFIER:
Embryologists have found evidence TO SUGGEST that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.
Here, because the act of suggesting is expressed in the form of a modifier, it is not tied to a particular moment in time.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Thu Jan 19, 2017 4:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi GMATGuruNY,GMATGuruNY wrote:Incorrect: Embryologists have found evidence that has suggested that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.aditya8062 wrote:Australian embryologists have found evidence that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved as a kind of snorkel.
A. that suggests that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal, and its trunk originally evolved
B. that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving
C. suggesting that the elephant had descended from an aquatic animal with its trunk originally evolving
D. to suggest that the elephant has descended from an aquatic animal and its trunk originally evolved
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
OA: E
Here, has suggested (present perfect) implies that -- at some unknown moment in the past -- the evidence suggested that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.
But the act of suggesting is not tied to a particular moment in time.
Hence, the use of the present perfect is inappropriate.
Two other issues:
The juxtaposition of two verbs in the present perfect (have found and has suggested) conveys an unclear sequence.
It is best to avoid two successive that-clauses.
The OA cleverly avoids these issues by expressing the act of suggesting in the form of an INFINITIVE MODIFIER:
Embryologists have found evidence TO SUGGEST that the elephant is descended from an aquatic animal.
Here, because the act of suggesting is expressed in the form of a modifier, it is not tied to a particular moment in time.
A quick clarification reqd. on your above reply.
I think, in the OG Option B is given as : that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving -- so there is NO two successive that-clauses!
Correct me please if wrong!
That said, another potential ERROR in B: evidence that has suggested the elephant -- DISTORTED MEANING as B seems to imply that EVIDENCE suggests something to the ELEPHANT - clearly nonsensical. Right ?
P.S: The correct IDIOM is, I think : Evidence of and Evidence that. So,isn't EVIDENCE TO unidiomatic ?
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Hi GMATGuruNY - any update on my above concerns Sir ?
Curious to know your feedback. Much thanks in advance!
Curious to know your feedback. Much thanks in advance!
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B: evidence that has suggested [that] the elephant is descendedRBBmba@2014 wrote: I think, in the OG Option B is given as : that has suggested the elephant descended from an aquatic animal, its trunk originally evolving -- so there is NO two successive that-clauses!
Here, the that in brackets is omitted, but its presence is required in order for the portion in red to serve as the direct object of has suggested.
As a result, two successive that-clauses are implied.
This line of reasoning is valid.That said, another potential ERROR in B: evidence that has suggested the elephant -- DISTORTED MEANING as B seems to imply that EVIDENCE suggests something to the ELEPHANT - clearly nonsensical. Right ?
evidence to suggest is a correct idiom.P.S: The correct IDIOM is, I think : Evidence of and Evidence that. So,isn't EVIDENCE TO unidiomatic ?
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Hello Mitch,
shouldn't it be is evolved in E.
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended
from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
evolved seems to be adjective here rather than verb.
Best
shouldn't it be is evolved in E.
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended
from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
evolved seems to be adjective here rather than verb.
Best
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The elephant IS descended from an aquatic animal.aflaam wrote:Hello Mitch,
shouldn't it be is evolved in E.
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended
from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
evolved seems to be adjective here rather than verb.
Best
Here, is (simple present tense) serves as the verb for the elephant (subject).
One purpose of the simple present tense is to express a GENERAL TRUTH.
The sentence above expresses a GENERAL TRUTH about the elephant.
Its trunk originally EVOLVED as a kind of snorkel.
Here, evolved (simple past tense) serves as the verb for its trunk (subject).
What did the trunk do?
It EVOLVED.
The sentence above expresses an action that happened IN THE PAST.
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Can u pls explain how the usage of descended from is correct in the right answer?GMATGuruNY wrote:The elephant IS descended from an aquatic animal.aflaam wrote:Hello Mitch,
shouldn't it be is evolved in E.
E. to suggest that the elephant is descended
from an aquatic animal and that its trunk originally evolved
evolved seems to be adjective here rather than verb.
Best
Here, is (simple present tense) serves as the verb for the elephant (subject).
One purpose of the simple present tense is to express a GENERAL TRUTH.
The sentence above expresses a GENERAL TRUTH about the elephant.
Its trunk originally EVOLVED as a kind of snorkel.
Here, evolved (simple past tense) serves as the verb for its trunk (subject).
What did the trunk do?
It EVOLVED.
The sentence above expresses an action that happened IN THE PAST.
The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes in the animal.
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AnjaliOberoi wrote:Hope you find this thread useful:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/aus ... t2938.html
the two constructions have different meanings.
is descended --> used to talk about evolution, ancestry, etc. (as in this context)
has descended --> has moved, literally or figuratively, in a downward direction: the larynx has descended (literally) during the process of human evolution; our culture has descended (figuratively) into mindless entertainment
Can u pls explain how the usage of descended from is correct in the right answer?
The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes in the animal.
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Check my two posts here:rahulk123 wrote:Can u pls explain how the usage of descended from is correct in the right answer?
https://www.beatthegmat.com/og13-sc-ques ... 78363.html
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Thank u for the post,GMATGuruNY wrote:Check my two posts here:rahulk123 wrote:Can u pls explain how the usage of descended from is correct in the right answer?
https://www.beatthegmat.com/og13-sc-ques ... 78363.html
but i read somewhere on mgmat that using descend as a verb, as it is used here is to convey a literal descending/ coming down verb
The following is a quote from ron purewal from mgmat
" descended" (without "is") --> if you mean to state an evolutionary relationship, you should use "is descended"�. "descended"�, used alone, signifies literal downward motion."
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One definition of to descend from is to develop from.rahulk123 wrote:Can u pls explain how the usage of descended from is correct in the right answer?
The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago.
Conveyed meaning:
The domestic cat DEVELOPED FROM the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago.
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