subject -verb mismatch question

Expert replies

\'manpreet singh: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 271; Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 3:22 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 7 times

by \'manpreet singh » Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:48 pm

The ongoing debate as to whether Pluto and its satellite, Charon, comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are outside of Pluto.

A. comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

B. comprises a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

C. are a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon were settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

D. comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass is

E. are a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled and led to the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:48 pm

patanjali.purpose: Legendary Member; Posts: 784; Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:51 amFollowed by: 12 members; Thanked: 114 times

by patanjali.purpose » Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:14 pm

'manpreet singh wrote:The ongoing debate as to whether Pluto and its satellite, Charon, comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are outside of Pluto.

A. comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

B. comprises a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

C. are a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon were settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

D. comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass is

E. are a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon was settled and led to the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass are

The ongoing debate {as to whether Pluto and its satellite, Charon, comprise a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon } was settled following the discovery that the system's center of mass and a significant portion of its mass areoutside of Pluto.

THE ONGOING DEBATE....WAS (CORRECT);
PLUTO AND ITS SATELLITE ....COMPRISE (CORRECT)
THE ..MASS AND A..ITS MASS......ARE (CORRECT)

using them, we can drop D (IS at the end); drop B (COMPRISES); drop C (WERE);

E - changes the meaning (it replaced COMPRISE by ARE, meaning Pluto and its satellite ACTUALLY {ARE} a double dwarf planet system or a planet and its moon); Same problem we have in C also

another problem in E: use of LED TO (also changes meaning; original sentence says "debate was settled following the discovery" but E says 'debate led to the discovery)

IMO A

Like this post

Patrick_GMATFix: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1052; Joined: Fri May 21, 2010 1:30 amFollowed by: 98 members; Thanked: 335 times

by Patrick_GMATFix » Thu Aug 16, 2012 11:44 am

3 actions require us to match a verb and its subject.

1) the debate...was settled (A,B,D,E) vs the debate...were settled(C).

2) Pluto and its satellite comprise/are (A, C, D, E) vs Pluto and its satellite comprises (B)

3) the center of mass and a portion of mass are (A, B, C, E) vs the center of mass and a portion of mass is (D)

From these, we can eliminate C, B, and D.

The significant difference between A and E is one of meaning. Think about the intended story: There was a debate about Pluto. This debate was settled because a certain discovery was made.

Answer A correctly ties the ideas "The debate...was settled following the discovery" whereas Answer E does not "The debate...was settled and led to the discovery". Eliminate E

The answer is A

Check out my site: GMATFix.com

To prep my students I use this tool >> (screenshots, video)

Ask me about tutoring.

Like this post

\'manpreet singh: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 271; Joined: Tue May 22, 2012 3:22 amFollowed by: 3 members; Thanked: 7 times

by \'manpreet singh » Thu Aug 16, 2012 8:08 pm

Thanks patanjali and patrick for the explanation..

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review