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

Redeem

Pigeons

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:35 pm

Pigeons

by kelly20_00 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:58 pm
The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

The answer is A. My guess was C.

My questions is:

Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?



Many Thanks!


Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 am
Thanked: 137 times
Followed by:5 members

by thephoenix » Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:33 pm
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
.......correct
B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
......trained for some purpose therefore as is incorrect
C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
-----ing form is unnecessary + if is incorrect
D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
.......meaning changed...awkward....tests can not see
E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding
........tests can not see
The answer is A. My guess was C.
My questions is:
Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

just to correct its not help its to help (infinitive phrase) and it is used as an adverb modifier modifying the verb find
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:49 pm
is help a linking verb?
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:35 pm

by kelly20_00 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:03 pm
thephoenix wrote:
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
.......correct
B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
......trained for some purpose therefore as is incorrect
C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
-----ing form is unnecessary + if is incorrect
D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
.......meaning changed...awkward....tests can not see
E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding
........tests can not see
The answer is A. My guess was C.
My questions is:
Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?

just to correct its not help its to help (infinitive phrase) and it is used as an adverb modifier modifying the verb find


Thanks!

Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?

Many thanks!
Top
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1578
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 8:02 am
Thanked: 128 times
Followed by:34 members
GMAT Score:760

by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Thu Feb 04, 2010 4:20 pm
money9111 wrote:is help a linking verb?
No the linking verbs are

is are was were be been being am

appear become look feel grow remain resemble represent

seem smell sound stay taste touch turn
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2109
Joined: Sun Apr 19, 2009 10:25 pm
Location: New Jersey
Thanked: 109 times
Followed by:79 members
GMAT Score:640

by money9111 » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:40 pm
gotcha
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

My story from Pre-MBA to Cornell MBA - New Post in Pre-MBA blog

Me featured on Poets & Quants

Free Book for MBA Applicants

Top
User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:06 am
Location: Mumbai, India
Thanked: 16 times
Followed by:3 members
GMAT Score:700

by viidyasagar » Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:30 pm
Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?
For a start refer to this https://flang1.kendall.mdc.edu/6/611/611 ... 11Lec2.htm

I will try explaining the "participial adverb modifier" - a favorite among test makers....(source: BTG, Manhattan forums and a few years of study)

A phrase starting with an "ing" is known as a participial phrase.

1. A participle phrase at the start of a sentence normally functions as a noun modifier

e.g. Upon leaving the register, the customer received a receipt from the cashier

The underlined participial phrase answers the question "who" hence the answer MUST always follow the comma

Some people love to call it the "touch" rule (applicable in noun and adjective modifiers)


2. A participle phrase after a comma (appearing anywhere in the sentence) functions as an adverb modifier.

Note: if you see an -ing modifier after a full clause and a comma, it WILL be an adverbial modifier

for e.g. The British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

Here the underlined participial phrase answers the question (generally) answers the question "how" an action was performed...... sometimes "when"

An adverbial modifier need not follow the touch rule.... they can be placed anywhere in the sentence, as long as there is no ambiguity about what they modify.

Consume this...

Hoping to restrain economic growth, British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

This sentence contains both noun and adverbial modifiers......hope it makes sense.

Remember - an adverb modifier - always says something more about another adverb - The sun came out quite suddenly.....

"quite" is an adverb modifier modifying suddenly ..... An "adverbial modifier", which we have discussed above, modifies a clause.

Hope it helps
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:07 pm
Thanked: 3 times
Followed by:1 members

by mmon » Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:56 pm
viidyasagar wrote:
Actually I don't know much about adverb modifier. I searched on the net but seems that the information there is not clear and comprehensive. Does anyone can tell me more about this?
For a start refer to this https://flang1.kendall.mdc.edu/6/611/611 ... 11Lec2.htm

I will try explaining the "participial adverb modifier" - a favorite among test makers....(source: BTG, Manhattan forums and a few years of study)

A phrase starting with an "ing" is known as a participial phrase.

1. A participle phrase at the start of a sentence normally functions as a noun modifier

e.g. Upon leaving the register, the customer received a receipt from the cashier

The underlined participial phrase answers the question "who" hence the answer MUST always follow the comma

Some people love to call it the "touch" rule (applicable in noun and adjective modifiers)


2. A participle phrase after a comma (appearing anywhere in the sentence) functions as an adverb modifier.

Note: if you see an -ing modifier after a full clause and a comma, it WILL be an adverbial modifier

for e.g. The British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

Here the underlined participial phrase answers the question (generally) answers the question "how" an action was performed...... sometimes "when"

An adverbial modifier need not follow the touch rule.... they can be placed anywhere in the sentence, as long as there is no ambiguity about what they modify.

Consume this...

Hoping to restrain economic growth, British policymakers raised interest rates, making it more expensive for businesses and consumers to borrow

This sentence contains both noun and adverbial modifiers......hope it makes sense.

Remember - an adverb modifier - always says something more about another adverb - The sun came out quite suddenly.....

"quite" is an adverb modifier modifying suddenly ..... An "adverbial modifier", which we have discussed above, modifies a clause.

Hope it helps[/quoteindeed too nice explanation. Nothing could have been better.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 199
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 4:15 am
Location: India
Thanked: 13 times

by gauravgundal » Fri Feb 05, 2010 11:02 pm
The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding




IMO A.

Now Why I select A as answer

"to see" and "that see"
How the Tests can see...
so the options D and E are wrong.

A,Band C the answers start with "to see" ok..
the other difference is whether /if
'whether' is used in the sent. when there are two possibilites. (Yes/No)
so from this we can take out option as wrong one.

now go for A and B


See Modifiers help us a lot ,but in this case we should not look for it..

Just think a bit
How are the pigeons trained?
If they are trained as a helper or a doctor or an engineer blah blah ..
Does it specify about something? then trained as would have been better.

But nothing is specified as such.
A is the right one.
Last edited by gauravgundal on Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 407
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 1:20 am
Location: India
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:1 members

by hrishi19884 » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:11 am
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

The answer is A. My guess was C.

My questions is:

Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?



Many Thanks!


In case you just have 30 seconds left to answer this question in the real GMAT, how would you go about finding the answer?

https://www.winningprep.com/GMATIdiomList.html

Refer the idiom list above

"trained to" is an idiom which is there only in A-- Rules out B, C, D, E

Answer is A ;)
Hrishi

"As you sow, so shall you reap"
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 941
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 am
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:1 members

by bhumika.k.shah » Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:08 am
Perfect!
i think this is what was mainly needed . The correct idiom is trained to . and not trained as.

:)
hrishi19884 wrote:
kelly20_00 wrote:The Coast Guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find survivors of wrecks at sea.

A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find

B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find

C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find

D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find

E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

The answer is A. My guess was C.

My questions is:

Why are the 2 verbs 'help find' placing together correct?



Many Thanks!


In case you just have 30 seconds left to answer this question in the real GMAT, how would you go about finding the answer?

https://www.winningprep.com/GMATIdiomList.html

Refer the idiom list above

"trained to" is an idiom which is there only in A-- Rules out B, C, D, E

Answer is A ;)
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 941
Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:28 am
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:1 members

by bhumika.k.shah » Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:09 am
IMO A :D
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1