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by Tega1984 » Tue May 31, 2011 10:28 am
Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

I'm stuck between these two choices, I know that others are wrong.

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or(this is the correct answer)

I realize that it's based either vs since it is based thing. Why was my version wrong and how do I know which one to use and when?
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by cans » Tue May 31, 2011 10:39 am
The sentence explains why most of the development has been due to laws of physics.
in first sentence, it says laws of physics are based on Einstein's.............
but in 2nd sentence, it says that satellite engineering is based on Einstein's work on relativity.
Thus 2nd is correct
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by Tega1984 » Tue May 31, 2011 10:43 am
How do we know that ''it is based'' refers to engineering and not physics?
cans wrote:The sentence explains why most of the development has been due to laws of physics.
in first sentence, it says laws of physics are based on Einstein's.............
but in 2nd sentence, it says that satellite engineering is based on Einstein's work on relativity.
Thus 2nd is correct
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by itsmebharat » Tue May 31, 2011 11:54 pm
I think, your answer lies in your question itself.

Singular --> development in satellite engineering --> "it"
Plural --> laws of physics --> "they"

So it here is referring to engineering, not laws of physics. if 'it' was referring to physics then the ans stem should include they.

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.
I am not an Expert, please feel free to suggest if there is an error.
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by champmag » Tue May 31, 2011 11:56 pm
Nice explaination Bharath.

Thanx.

An important and fundamental concept of subject-verb agreement is tested here.
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by rohu27 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:56 am
itsmebharat wrote:I think, your answer lies in your question itself.

Singular --> development in satellite engineering --> "it"
Plural --> laws of physics --> "they"

So it here is referring to engineering, not laws of physics. if 'it' was referring to physics then the ans stem should include they.

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.
why cant i take it as just "physiscs is based on Einstien blah blha and NEwtons's blah blha"
now i knw it doesnt soudn good, and it has to be tht laws of physics rather tha physics itself is based on the mentione dthngs.
but tht again calls into outside knowledge, doesnt it?
if it is tht physics itslef is based on X and Y, it will be sufficient (physiscs-singluar).
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by g.shankaran » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:27 am
Tega1984 wrote:Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

I'm stuck between these two choices, I know that others are wrong.

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or(this is the correct answer)

I realize that it's based either vs since it is based thing. Why was my version wrong and how do I know which one to use and when?

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

The verb-ed modifier modifies the closed noun. Here it modifies physics. But actually it should modify the development in satellite engineering. So this ans choice is wrong.
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by sameerballani » Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:16 am
This may sound absurd, but just to clarify. Is the usage of SINCE anyhow related to the usage over the past 50 years(past perfect: has been) ??
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by Tega1984 » Wed Jun 01, 2011 4:40 am
O.K. Thanks! I think it's more or less clear to me now.
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by atulmangal » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:20 am
Tega1984 wrote:Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

I'm stuck between these two choices, I know that others are wrong.

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or(this is the correct answer)

I realize that it's based either vs since it is based thing. Why was my version wrong and how do I know which one to use and when?
This is confusing...what's the source of this question???

I believe, COMMA + PAST PARTICIPLE can also modify the preceding NOUN PHRASE too, not only just preceding NOUN...so in that case even the incorrect option seems correct to me. LAWS OF PHYSICS based either on...bla bla bla...so please reveal the source urgently as my exam date is closing in.

Moreover, in the correct option, please take a look at the meaning:

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

In this correct option if IT is referring to DEVELOPMENT, then in that case, because of this word SINCE, the sentence somewhere means that all the "Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity" is considered to be the laws of physics, which is nonsensical.
why i'm saying this is the implied meaning, see the simplified version of the problem:

development in satellite engineering is due to laws of physics
since (because)
development is based on Einstein's / Newton' work

I believe the only possibility for that IT option has to be correct is that IT is referring to "laws of physics" a noun phrase which takes a singular verb.

So please reveal the source.
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by atulmangal » Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:22 am
g.shankaran wrote:
Tega1984 wrote:Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based on either Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

I'm stuck between these two choices, I know that others are wrong.

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or(this is the correct answer)

I realize that it's based either vs since it is based thing. Why was my version wrong and how do I know which one to use and when?

physics,based either on Einstein's work on relativity or (that's my answer and it's incorrect)

The verb-ed modifier modifies the closed noun. Here it modifies physics. But actually it should modify the development in satellite engineering. So this ans choice is wrong.
I think -ed modifier can also modify the preceding NOUN PHRASE just like COMMA + WHICH modifies???
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by atulmangal » Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:18 am
Can anyone answer the questions i asked in my above two posts?????
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by Frankenstein » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:29 am
atulmangal wrote: Moreover, in the correct option, please take a look at the meaning:

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

In this correct option if IT is referring to DEVELOPMENT, then in that case, because of this word SINCE, the sentence somewhere means that all the "Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity" is considered to be the laws of physics, which is nonsensical.
why i'm saying this is the implied meaning, see the simplified version of the problem:

development in satellite engineering is due to laws of physics
since (because)
development is based on Einstein's / Newton' work
Hi,
I will just comment on your quotes and not on the OA.
Since development is based on either of the two works, which in turn are due to the laws of physics, he concludes that the development has been due to laws of physics.
Cheers!

Things are not what they appear to be... nor are they otherwise
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by Frankenstein » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:31 am
atulmangal wrote: I think -ed modifier can also modify the preceding NOUN PHRASE just like COMMA + WHICH modifies???
Hi,
Even I feel the same because a noun phrases performs every role in a sentence that a noun can perform.
Cheers!

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by atulmangal » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:53 am
Frankenstein wrote:
atulmangal wrote: Moreover, in the correct option, please take a look at the meaning:

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

In this correct option if IT is referring to DEVELOPMENT, then in that case, because of this word SINCE, the sentence somewhere means that all the "Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity" is considered to be the laws of physics, which is nonsensical.
why i'm saying this is the implied meaning, see the simplified version of the problem:

development in satellite engineering is due to laws of physics
since (because)
development is based on Einstein's / Newton' work
Hi,
I will just comment on your quotes and not on the OA.
Since development is based on either of the two works, which in turn are due to the laws of physics, he concludes that the development has been due to laws of physics.
Hi Thanks for replying, but still unclear. Let me put my point in other way. Suppose i change the order of the clauses appearing th OA okay....

Original:

Over the past 50 years,most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics,since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity.

Change the order of clauses:

since it is based either on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity, most of the development in satellite engineering has been due to laws of physics.

Now, don't u think the sentence is suggesting that because the development is based on Einstein's work on relativity or on Newton's work on gravity thats why development has been due to laws of physics.

See, logically u agree that all the Newton's work or Einstein's work is not the laws, a part of it become laws right??? that means since development is based on work only (some of which may not be laws) it is illogical to conclude that all the development has been due to laws of physics...right??. If u read the sentence, its moreover like a CR argument, where "since..." part is premise and "moreover..." part is conclusion.

I know m thinking too much but logical and meaning based questions are now common in GMAT, thats why i asked for the source of this problem from the original poster but he didn't replied back.

What do u think on this...
Last edited by atulmangal on Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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