Sentence correction doubt

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:49 am
Thanked: 6 times

Sentence correction doubt

by hellother » Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:46 am
Please answer the following question.

The physical structure of the human eye enables it to sense light of wavelengths up to 0.0005 millimeters; infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength-0.1 millimeters- is too long to be registered by the eye.

(A)infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength-0.1 millimeters- is too long to be registered by the eye.

(B)however the wavelength is infrared radiation-0.1 millimeters-is too long to be registered by the eye making it invisible.

(C) infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength-0.1 millimeters-is too long for the eye to register it.

(D)however, because the wavelength of infrared radiation is 0.1 millimeters, is too long for the eye to register and thus invisible.

(E) however, infrared radiation has a wavelength of 0.1 millimeters that is too long for the eye to register, thus making it invisible.


I have a doubt between [spoiler](A)[/spoiler] and [spoiler](C)[/spoiler]. The correct answer is [spoiler](A)[/spoiler]. But why can it not be [spoiler](C)[/spoiler] ?
Source: — Sentence Correction |

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 130
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:13 am
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Thanked: 16 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:650

by tisrar02 » Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:13 am
"it" at the end of the sentence is redundant. When choosing between two options, the shorter one is usually more desirable but it should not be redundant. "It" in this sentence can refer to "wavelength" or the "infrared radiation". Logically we know what the sentence means but the GMAC wants you to be as clear as possible.

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:49 am
Thanked: 6 times

by hellother » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:13 am
Thanks for the reply.

Ok . But the "its" in " its wavelength" refers to infrared radiation . So doesn't the final 'it' also refer to infrared radiation ?

Or do you mean to say that the 'it' does not follow the above rule because of the ambiguity you mentioned ?

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 130
Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:13 am
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Thanked: 16 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:650

by tisrar02 » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:24 am
Logically both of the "its" refer to the infrared radiation but because you have a better answer choice (A) which does not produce any redundancy, you have to go with that answer choice. Both A and C are very tempting answer choices but when you compare just those two, you can see that anyone reading (A) will not be confused with what the last "it" is referring to.

Just a general GMAC rule that when you see some sort of redundancy or ambiguous statement, hold onto that choice and eliminate only if another answer choice eliminates that ambiguity.

Hope this helps

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:49 am
Thanked: 6 times

by hellother » Thu Aug 02, 2012 7:04 am
Ok ... Yes. So, even if it is logically correct, there must not be any ambiguity .'it' could have several antecedents .. Thanks for the reply

• Page 1 of 1