Prompted by observations of seemingly related species

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 418
Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:48 pm
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:3 members
Prompted by observations of seemingly related species in neighboring locales
that he made during his five-year voyage around the world on the HMS Beagle,
Charles Darwin conceived his theory of natural selection in which all species
evolved over time from a single ancestor or very few common ancestors
.

A:...
B: in which all species evolve from a single ancestor or very few common
ancestors over time
C: whereby over time all species evolve from a single ancestor or very few
common ancestors
D: whereby all species have evolved over time from a single ancestor or very
few common ancestors
E: whereby all species evolved over time from a single ancestor or very few
common ancestors

which is correct: "theory in which" or " theory whereby"?

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 358
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:47 am
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 34 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:740

by karanrulz4ever » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:21 pm
First of all,we need to use "evolved" and not "evolve". So B and C are out.
Secondly, "whereby" seems to refer to something which happened due to something else. For instance, "We have X,whereby Y" suggests Y happens because of X.This surely isnt applicable here as "species
evolved over time from a single ancestor or very few common ancestors" is Darwin's theory and not something which happens because of the theory. Hence D and E are out.
Hence IMO is A. Do post the OA.

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 164
Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:26 am
Thanked: 49 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:710

by Maciek » Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:00 am
Hi all!

Few answer choices contain verb tense errors. There is 3/2 split.
B, C and D are wrong.

'whereby' means also 'in accordance with which'

I choose A. It is clearer for me.

Read "Top 10 Tips for the Sentence Correction Section" by Chris Black
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2010/09/ ... on-section

Hope it helps!
Best,
Maciek
"There is no greater wealth in a nation than that of being made up of learned citizens." Pope John Paul II

if you have any questions, send me a private message!

should you find this post useful, please click on "thanks" button :)

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:42 am
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 14 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:710

by ankurmit » Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:20 pm
IMO A

evolved is required

B C and D are out because of use of "whereby"
--------
Ankur mittal

Legendary Member
Posts: 712
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2015 4:39 am
Thanked: 14 times
Followed by:5 members

by Mo2men » Sat Jan 26, 2019 2:31 am
gmatdriller wrote:Prompted by observations of seemingly related species in neighboring locales
that he made during his five-year voyage around the world on the HMS Beagle,
Charles Darwin conceived his theory of natural selection in which all species
evolved over time from a single ancestor or very few common ancestors
.

A:...
B: in which all species evolve from a single ancestor or very few common
ancestors over time
C: whereby over time all species evolve from a single ancestor or very few
common ancestors
D: whereby all species have evolved over time from a single ancestor or very
few common ancestors
E: whereby all species evolved over time from a single ancestor or very few
common ancestors

which is correct: "theory in which" or " theory whereby"?
Dear GMATGuru,

This question is from 1000 series. According to it, he OA is D.

1- Is the verb tense correct i the OA? 'have evolved' gives the meaning that it is started in the past and still present or its effect still exists. it is very weird.

2- What is the difference between whereby & in which? which one is correct?

Thanks in dvance

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 » Sun Jan 27, 2019 4:45 am
Mo2men wrote: Dear GMATGuru,

This question is from 1000 series. According to it, he OA is D.

1- Is the verb tense correct i the OA? 'have evolved' gives the meaning that it is started in the past and still present or its effect still exists. it is very weird.
A present perfect verb (has + VERBed or have + VERBed) expresses a PAST ACTION that affects the present.
Generally, the usage of a present perfect verb implies that the subject of the verb still exists.
Incorrect:
The dinosaurs have evolved over time.
The sentence above is illogical because the verb in red (present perfect) implies that the dinosaurs still exist.

D: All species have evolved over time.
Here, the verb in red (present perfect) implies that all species still exist.
Since some species have died out -- the dinosaurs, for example -- option D is illogical and thus not viable.

I recommend that you disregard the SC above.
2- What is the difference between whereby & in which? which one is correct?

Thanks in advance
a theory in which X
a theory whereby X

Both constructions are viable and seem so close in meaning as to be indistinguishable.
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