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OG verbal sc-108

by vikram4689 » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:57 am
sound can travel through water for enormous distances, prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperature and densities

B. prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by

C. its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by

D. its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of

E. preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by

In C, dissipating is present participle. Can someone explain how such usage is correct.
The question appears in GMAT verbal review second edition problem 108. The OA is C.
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by GmatKiss » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:03 am
IMO: C

Your change is ambiguous; does not fit
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:14 am
Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities.

A. prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a
result of
B. prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by
C. its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by
D. its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of
E preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by
Generally, COMMA + VERBed refers to the immediately preceding noun. Thus, in A and B, prevented seems to modify distances. Since it is not the distances but the ACOUSTIC ENERGY that is prevented from dissipating, eliminate A and B.

Generally, COMMA + VERBing refers to the SUBJECT of the preceding clause. Thus, in E, preventing seems to modify SOUND, implying that the sound is preventing its own energy from dissipating. Not the intended meaning. Eliminate E.

In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION or an EVENT can result in something. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.

In C, dissipating is a GERUND: a verb serving as a NOUN. More specifically, dissipating serves as the object of the preposition from. From what action is the energy prevented? It is prevented from DISSIPATING.

The entire phrase its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating is an absolute phrase. For a description of this grammatical construction, check my posts here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sir-joseph-t59644-15.html

In D, being dissipated is needlessly wordy. It also does not quite convey the intended meaning. Being + VERBed expresses a STATE OF BEING. The intended meaning here is that the energy is prevented not from a state of being but from an ACTION: from DISSIPATING.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by vikram4689 » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:44 am
Thanks Mitch, can you please give a comparative example for other case
Being + VERBed expresses a STATE OF BEING. The intended meaning here is that the energy is prevented not from a state of being but from an ACTION: from DISSIPATING.
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by GMATGuruNY » Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:58 am
vikram4689 wrote:Thanks Mitch, can you please give a comparative example for other case
Being + VERBed expresses a STATE OF BEING. The intended meaning here is that the energy is prevented not from a state of being but from an ACTION: from DISSIPATING.
Here is the OA to SC101 in the OG12:

Being heavily committed to a course of action, especially one that has worked well in the past, is likely to make an executive miss signs of incipient trouble or misinterpret them when they do appear.

Here, the executive does not miss signs of trouble as he is COMMITTING; he misses signs because he is heavily COMMITTED. In other words, it is not the ACT OF COMMITTING but the STATE OF BEING COMMITTED that is likely to make an executive miss signs of trouble.
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by tanviet » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:55 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities.

A. prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a
result of
B. prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by
C. its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by
D. its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of
E preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by
Generally, COMMA + VERBed refers to the immediately preceding noun. Thus, in A and B, prevented seems to modify distances. Since it is not the distances but the ACOUSTIC ENERGY that is prevented from dissipating, eliminate A and B.

Generally, COMMA + VERBing refers to the SUBJECT of the preceding clause. Thus, in E, preventing seems to modify SOUND, implying that the sound is preventing its own energy from dissipating. Not the intended meaning. Eliminate E.

In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.

In C, dissipating is a GERUND: a verb serving as a NOUN. More specifically, dissipating serves as the object of the preposition from. From what action is the energy prevented? It is prevented from DISSIPATING.

The entire phrase its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating is an absolute phrase. For a description of this grammatical construction, check my posts here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sir-joseph-t59644-15.html

In D, being dissipated is needlessly wordy. It also does not quite convey the intended meaning. Being + VERBed expresses a STATE OF BEING. The intended meaning here is that the energy is prevented not from a state of being but from an ACTION: from DISSIPATING.
Thank you HUnt.
In C "boundaries" also result in something and must be incorrect as D is. PLs, explain.
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by vikram4689 » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:08 am
In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate D.
mitch,
from above quote i concluded that "as a result of - must follow an action noun". is fire an action noun ? does following sentence seem incorrect to you ?
As a result of the fire, many people had to stay in temporary shelters.
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:43 am
vikram4689 wrote:
In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate D.
mitch,
from above quote i concluded that "as a result of - must follow an action noun". is fire an action noun ? does following sentence seem incorrect to you ?
As a result of the fire, many people had to stay in temporary shelters.
Result = the outcome of an action, operation, or process.
As a result of X implies that X caused something to happen.
Here, fire suggests the process of BURNING and is the REASON that people had to stay in shelters.
Thus, as a result of the fire is logically sound.
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by vikram4689 » Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:48 pm
GMATGuruNY wrote:
vikram4689 wrote:
In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate D.
mitch,
from above quote i concluded that "as a result of - must follow an action noun". is fire an action noun ? does following sentence seem incorrect to you ?
As a result of the fire, many people had to stay in temporary shelters.
Result = the outcome of an action, operation, or process.
As a result of X implies that X caused something to happen.
Here, fire suggests the process of BURNING and is the REASON that people had to stay in shelters.
Thus, as a result of the fire is logically sound.
can you please help me distinguish between indirect and direct causation as mentioned https://www.beatthegmat.com/verbal-revie ... tml#387142
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by katy_123 » Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:38 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Sound can travel through water for enormous distances, prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a result of boundaries in the ocean created by water layers of different temperatures and densities.

A. prevented from dissipating its acoustic energy as a
result of
B. prevented from having its acoustic energy dissipated by
C. its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating by
D. its acoustic energy prevented from being dissipated as a result of
E preventing its acoustic energy from dissipating by
Generally, COMMA + VERBed refers to the immediately preceding noun. Thus, in A and B, prevented seems to modify distances. Since it is not the distances but the ACOUSTIC ENERGY that is prevented from dissipating, eliminate A and B.

Generally, COMMA + VERBing refers to the SUBJECT of the preceding clause. Thus, in E, preventing seems to modify SOUND, implying that the sound is preventing its own energy from dissipating. Not the intended meaning. Eliminate E.

In D, as a result of boundaries implies that the boundaries themselves are RESULTING in something. Not possible; only an ACTION can result in something. Eliminate D.

The correct answer is C.

In C, dissipating is a GERUND: a verb serving as a NOUN. More specifically, dissipating serves as the object of the preposition from. From what action is the energy prevented? It is prevented from DISSIPATING.

The entire phrase its acoustic energy prevented from dissipating is an absolute phrase. For a description of this grammatical construction, check my posts here:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sir-joseph-t59644-15.html

In D, being dissipated is needlessly wordy. It also does not quite convey the intended meaning. Being + VERBed expresses a STATE OF BEING. The intended meaning here is that the energy is prevented not from a state of being but from an ACTION: from DISSIPATING.




Hi Mitch
In C I feel it is missing something after dissipating eg "dissipating energy"
shouldnt it be "its acoustic energy prevented from dissipation by[/b]
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by vikram4689 » Sun Jul 22, 2012 8:39 am
katy,
we need an action noun 'dissipating' to convey the intention. i don't how to explain this issue. try reading the sentence with dissipation & dissipating and you will realize that dissipating is the one we need
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