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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATBootcamp Starts Sep 21
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE BOOTCAMP

Live Online Bootcamp Class with Top GMAT Expert Chris Peckover

Sep 21 to Oct 9, 2026

Schedule
Mon to Fri · 7:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
Live classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class
  • 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included
View bootcamp & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

The use of " ; "

Expert replies
by amysky_0205 » Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:03 am
OG13-SC#26

Tropical bats play important roles in the rain forest ecosystem, aiding in the dispersal of cashew, date, and fig seeds; pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help produce tequila by pollinating agave plants.

(A)pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help produce

(B)pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly helping to produce

(C)pollinating banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and they indirectly help to produce

(D)they pollinate banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; and indirectly help producing

(E)they pollinate banana, breadfruit, and mango trees; indirectly helping the producing of

OA: B

I narrowed down the answer to BD.

I want to ask how to use the ";"
is D wrong because of the "they", we don't know what it exactly refers to?

thank u!
Join the discussion
Source: — Sentence Correction |

by ceilidh.erickson » Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:23 am
There are two different situations in which semicolons are used - that makes this question particularly tricky!

One way that a semicolon is used (by far the most common way) is to separate two independent clauses. For example:
The GMAT can be frustratingly difficult to master; it requires knowledge of many arcane grammar rules.

In this case, we can think of it almost like a period. If we swapped a period in for that semicolon, we'd have two complete sentences on either side.

The other situation that requires a semicolon is actually unrelated to clauses. Consider the following sentences:
She has traveled to London, England, Tokyo, Japan, and Mumbai, India.
She has traveled to London, England; Tokyo, Japan; and Mumbai, India.


In the first sentence, it looks like we have a list of 6 places... but with the "and" in the wrong place. In the second sentence, though, it's clear that we're talking about 3 cities. If there is a list in which the list elements already have commas in them, we have to use semicolons to separate our list items. You can think of these semicolons as "super-commas"!

In this sentence, the GMAT is trying to trick us into thinking that we're looking at the first semicolon situation. There is an independent clause before the semicolon, so we think that we want another independent clause after it: something that says "they pollinate and produce" rather than "pollinating," which would be a modifier. When we look at D and E, however, we see that there's a second semicolon, and what comes after it is a subordinate clause. So, D and E are wrong.

Looking back at A, B and C, it's clear that we're looking at the second situation: the "super-comma" list. Any time there's a list, we know that we have to make the list parallel. So what are our list elements?
aiding... pollinating... and helping...

In A and C, we have "help" and "they help" respectively, so we don't have a parallel list. B is the only one that has "aiding," "pollinating," and "helping."

Answer: B
Join the discussion

• Page 1 of 1