President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
A) President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
B) President Obama in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon got to know about the killings.
C) Getting to know about the killings in Siberia, President Obama, during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
D) During the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon, President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia.
E) At the Pentagon, President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting.
Source: e-gmat
Can you please explain why A is wrong?
What is wrong with the placement of the prepositional phrase "during the chiefs of staff meeting"?
President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia
This topic has expert replies
- EconomistGMATTutor
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 555
- Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 4:18 pm
- Thanked: 180 times
- Followed by:12 members
Hello!
By putting the phrase "during the chiefs of staff meeting" after Siberia, readers may assume the killings and the meeting took place in Siberia.
Answer D is correct because it's clearer to readers that Obama was at the Pentagon when he heard about what happened in Siberia.
I hope that helps. I'm available if you'd like any follow up.
By putting the phrase "during the chiefs of staff meeting" after Siberia, readers may assume the killings and the meeting took place in Siberia.
Answer D is correct because it's clearer to readers that Obama was at the Pentagon when he heard about what happened in Siberia.
I hope that helps. I'm available if you'd like any follow up.
GMAT Prep From The Economist
We offer 70+ point score improvement money back guarantee.
Our average student improves 98 points.
We offer 70+ point score improvement money back guarantee.
Our average student improves 98 points.
GMAT/MBA Expert
- ceilidh.erickson
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 2095
- Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:22 pm
- Thanked: 1443 times
- Followed by:247 members
This is a pretty terrible example of an SC practice question. For one, no one says "chiefs of staff meeting." That is not the correct phrase in American English (which, for better or worse, is what the GMAT tests). We would saying "during a meeting with his chief of staff" (always singular) or "during a meeting with senior advisors," etc.bounce87 wrote:President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
A) President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
B) President Obama in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon got to know about the killings.
C) Getting to know about the killings in Siberia, President Obama, during the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon.
D) During the chiefs of staff meeting at the Pentagon, President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia.
E) At the Pentagon, President Obama got to know about the killings in Siberia during the chiefs of staff meeting.
Source: e-gmat
Can you please explain why A is wrong?
What is wrong with the placement of the prepositional phrase "during the chiefs of staff meeting"?
For another, "got to know" is both too colloquial and not properly used here. You "get to know" a person or a city you've spent time in; you don't "get to know about" an issue. It should say "he learned about," "he was briefed on," etc.
I would strongly recommend not studying SC from any sources that have such a poor command of idiomatic American English - especially anyone whose own first language is not English. This will likely cement incorrect ideas about what's tested on the GMAT, and what's correct/incorrect.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education