BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Comparison#13

Expert replies
by gmat_perfect » Sat Sep 25, 2010 2:24 am
Like the thorny ballooning of a frightened pufferfish or the sudden appearance of angry sapphire hoops for which the blue-ringed octopus is named, so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril.

(A) so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(B) so it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning
(C) the California newt's displaying its red underbelly is a clear warning for predators, so they ignore it at their peril
(D) the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(E) it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by niksworth » Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:29 am
D ?

A, B and E do not make the correct comparison.

C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.
scio me nihil scire
Join the discussion

by brijesh » Sat Sep 25, 2010 8:21 am
gmat_perfect wrote:Like the thorny ballooning of a frightened pufferfish or the sudden appearance of angry sapphire hoops for which the blue-ringed octopus is named, so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril.

(A) so the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(B) so it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning
(C) the California newt's displaying its red underbelly is a clear warning for predators, so they ignore it at their peril
(D) the California newt's display of its red underbelly is a clear warning that predators ignore at their peril
(E) it is at their peril that predators ignore the California newt's display of its red underbelly, a clear warning
No reason to put 'So' A & B- out

I will go for D
Join the discussion

by GMATMadeEasy » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:26 am
@niksworth :
C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.
I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .
Join the discussion

by mundasingh123 » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:42 am
GMATMadeEasy wrote:@niksworth :
C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.
I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .
i agree with the doubt on gerund possessive
Join the discussion

by niksworth » Tue Nov 09, 2010 7:16 am
GMATMadeEasy wrote:@niksworth :
C - Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C.
I agree that C is incorrect answer, but i have certain doubts for the reasons mentioned above . Could you please explain.

1. Gerund with a possessive noun is incorrect ? the California newt's displaying its red underbelly

2. Without a conjunction, a comma splice exists in C - > "so" is a conjunction "FANBOYS", so it is NOT INCORRECT to use "so" .
Huh! This was sometime back. And I made a total mess of it. Must have been in some hurry I guess. Thanks for pointing this out.

First let me correct myself.

2. Is an outright oversight. There is no comma splice.

1. displaying is not a gerund here but a participle.

Why?
A - California newt's display of its red underbelly - display as a noun
B - California newt's displaying of its red underbelly - displaying as a gerund
C - California newt's displaying its red underbelly - displaying as a participle

Now the reason why C is incorrect.

A possessive noun cannot be followed by a participle (because a participle acts as an adjective). If we want a participle here, we have to remove the apostrophe s - California newt displaying its red underbelly would have been correct in isolation. (Though it would have created comparison problems with the rest of the sentence)
scio me nihil scire
Join the discussion

by Arcane66 » Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:23 am
I vote A even though this is a very confusing sentence.
Join the discussion

by GMATMadeEasy » Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:10 am
@niksworth : thanks. agreed.

@Arcane66: OA is D. If you are not convinced, let me know your specific question, will try to explain.
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1