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joeh11: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:01 am

by joeh11 » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:56 pm

Those who have visited the Grand Canyon have typically seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors that mark the passage of time like the rings in a tree trunk.
(A) seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors that mark
(B) see layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, whose different colors mark
(C) been seeing layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, whose different colors are markers of
(D) been able to see layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors marking
(E) seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, marking by different colors

The answer is (D), but I don't know why (A) is wrong. "Be able to" in D is more exact expression in the line of thought?

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:56 pm

800GMAT: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 174; Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:51 am; Thanked: 1 times

by 800GMAT » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:27 pm

(A) has more problem than the exact expression. It distorts the meaning of the sentence:

(A) "seen layers of sediment in the gaping canyon, with different colors that mark"
Do the colors mark the passage of time?.....No....The layers do.

(A), by suggesting that the colors mark the passage of time, distorts the original meaning.
Whereas D clearly states that the layers mark the passage of time.

BTGmoderatorRO: Moderator; Posts: 772; Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:29 pmFollowed by: 6 members

re:

by BTGmoderatorRO » Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:39 pm

option A is not correct as it is more or less directly related to the original sentence. so has no for emphasis.
option B with the word "see" is a misuse of tense as it doesn't really mean they have been there. so it's not right.
option C, BEEN seeing also can mean those who visited gaping canyon didn't leave so not suitable.
option D is quite right because it lay emphasis with 'been able'. So, it means they have personal experience of the place.
option , marking by different colors here seem to look as if the marking still continues which it is not

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