Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundr

Expert replies

aditya8062: Legendary Member; Posts: 774; Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:32 amFollowed by: 14 members; Thanked: 46 times

by aditya8062 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:15 am

Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is usually over two hundred pages.

A) Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is usually
B) A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, while a Ph.D thesis is generally
C) A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, so a Ph.D thesis is usually
D) While typical Master's theses is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is generally
E) Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, a Ph.D thesis is

my doubt : i dont find any reason to select B over E

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Mon Apr 07, 2014 4:15 am

Cutsona25: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 3; Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:36 am

by Cutsona25 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:14 am

I would say that 3 of the 4 choices which set a contradiction all set the contradiction before the first object. I try changing the contradiction word. "But a Masters is 100 pages, a Ph.D is over 200." It's more linear to say, "A Masters is 100, but a Ph.D is over 200." I think of it similarly to rewording a sentence that is set in the passive voice.

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

[email protected]: Elite Legendary Member; Posts: 10392; Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members; Location: Palo Alto, CA; Thanked: 2867 times; GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:12 pm

Hi aditya8062,

This SC is based on Comparison rules (which also involve Parallelism rules.

Answers B and E are remarkably similar: both compare "like" things and offer a comparison "keyword" ("while" in answer B, "whereas" in answer E). Notice how the lengths of both the Master's thesis and the PHD thesis are meant to be discussed in general terms....

B: "....Master's thesis is APPROXIMATELY 100 pages long....PHD thesis is GENERALLY over 200 pages."
E: "....Master's thesis is APPROXIMATELY 100 pages long....PHD thesis IS over 200 pages."

To maintain parallelism, I'd have to choose answer B. I believe that is the author's intent.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Contact Rich at [email protected]

Like this post

GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Apr 07, 2014 2:27 pm

aditya8062 wrote:Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is usually over two hundred pages.

A) Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is usually
B) A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, while a Ph.D thesis is generally
C) A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, so a Ph.D thesis is usually
D) While typical Master's theses is approximately one hundred pages long, Ph.D theses is generally
E) Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, a Ph.D thesis is

my doubt : i dont find any reason to select B over E

I received a PM requesting that I comment.

I'm a bit skeptical of the OA.
B: A Ph.d thesis is generally over two hundred pages.
Just as we wouldn't say a giraffe is eighteen feet, we shouldn't say a thesis is two hundred pages.
While it could be argued that the presence of long is implied in the second clause, I'm not sure that the GMAT would employ this sort of ellipsis.

Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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

Like this post

aditya8062: Legendary Member; Posts: 774; Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:32 amFollowed by: 14 members; Thanked: 46 times

by aditya8062 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 6:46 pm

thanks gmat guru
i still have some doubt about this .when i tried this SC then i thought that both E and B are correct
i thought that ellipses had taken care of "long" in the sentence .
i read E as follows :Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, a Ph.D thesis is over two hundred pages long.
AND
i read B as follows : A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, while a Ph.D thesis is generally over two hundred pages long .

kindly tell me if my thinking is in the right direction
thanks and regards

Like this post

GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:28 pm

aditya8062 wrote:thanks gmat guru
i still have some doubt about this .when i tried this SC then i thought that both E and B are correct
i thought that ellipses had taken care of "long" in the sentence .
i read E as follows :Whereas a typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, a Ph.D thesis is over two hundred pages long.
AND
i read B as follows : A typical Master's thesis is approximately one hundred pages long, while a Ph.D thesis is generally over two hundred pages long .

kindly tell me if my thinking is in the right direction
thanks and regards

Your interpretation is reasonable, but I'm not sure that the GMAT would employ this sort of ellipsis.
If we accept that long is implied in the second clause, then either B or E is a viable answer choice.

While the GMAT would never make us choose between B and E, there is a take-away here.
If the original sentence conveys a sensical meaning, we should strive for an answer choice that preserves this meaning.
Here, the original sentence implies that a Ph.d thesis is USUALLY over two hundred pages [long].
B preserves this meaning.
But in omitting an adverb of the sort usually/generally/typically, E implies that a Ph.d thesis is -- not usually, but ALWAYS -- over two hundred pages long.
Since E changes the intended meaning of the original sentence, B seems the better of the two options.

Like this post

aditya8062: Legendary Member; Posts: 774; Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:32 amFollowed by: 14 members; Thanked: 46 times

by aditya8062 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:43 pm

thanks Gmat guru and Rich for this wonderful discussion
regards

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review