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

Redeem

Sentence correction : Sub - Verb and MM problem

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:16 pm

Sentence correction : Sub - Verb and MM problem

by santoshs » Tue Dec 14, 2010 2:55 am
Analysts blamed May's sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.

(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed
(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing
(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed
(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing
(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed

I feel "A" is the right answer
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:21 pm
Location: Karachi, Pakistan
Thanked: 7 times

by Salman Ghaffar » Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:48 am
Analysts blamed May's sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture

The part within the commas (colder and wetter....some regions) should act as a modifier. This is OK here, except the usage of "was" before usual - it should read "colder and wetter than IS usual".

B is the best answer.

C changes the meaning by using since.
D uses "being" needlessly and also uses teh adverb "usually" where the adjective "usual" is required
E creates a passive with "having" and also uses "was" where "is" would be better.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 7:57 pm
Location: India
Thanked: 1 times

by YellowSapphire » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:02 am
Yes B is the right

"colder and wetter than usual in some regions" refers to weather.

slowing => is a COMMA+ING modifier correctly used.
Yellow Sapphire
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:16 pm

by santoshs » Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:30 am
Given options has 2/3 split (slowed / slowing). Since sentence referred to specific past instance "Analysis blamed May's" slowed should be used instead of slowing.

A : correct
B : Verb Tense error
C : Since change the meaning
D : Verb Tense error ; being
E : having been (passive voice)
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:17 pm
Thanked: 4 times

by muralimba » Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:21 am
santoshs wrote:Given options has 2/3 split (slowed / slowing). Since sentence referred to specific past instance "Analysis blamed May's" slowed should be used instead of slowing.

A : correct
B : Verb Tense error
C : Since change the meaning
D : Verb Tense error ; being
E : having been (passive voice)
Santhosh,

your peception is wrong.

the sentence is :
Analysts blamed something on a particular weather, <explaining the characteristics of that weather> colder and wetter, <"which" here has to refer to the weather that has slowed down the sales. but "which" refers to the nearest noun i.e "some region">.

Hence the place of "which" is wrong...eliminating A and C


"which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions" in B correctly modifes the "weather"
and
"slowing (the participle)" after that comma gives the result of that kind of weather.

Regards,
Murali.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 406
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:36 am
Location: Syracuse, NY
Thanked: 23 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:740

by tomada » Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:24 am
Does anyone know the source of this question?
I'm really old, but I'll never be too old to become more educated.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:36 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by winner's attitude » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:29 am
I would also choose B
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 516
Joined: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:42 am
Location: Mumbai
Thanked: 14 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:710

by ankurmit » Sun Dec 19, 2010 11:54 pm
IMO B
--------
Ankur mittal
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 752
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 2:47 am
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:10 members
GMAT Score:700

by prachich1987 » Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:12 am
santoshs wrote:Analysts blamed May's sluggish retail sales on unexciting merchandise as well as the weather, colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed sales of barbecue grills and lawn furniture.

(A) colder and wetter than was usual in some regions, which slowed---which should refer to weather & not to region
(B) which was colder and wetter than usual in some regions, slowing---Correct
(C) since it was colder and wetter than usually in some regions, which slowed---"than usually" is wrong.
(D) being colder and wetter than usually in some regions, slowing---"than usually" is wrong
(E) having been colder and wetter than was usual in some regions and slowed---the construction is awkward

I feel "A" is the right answer
C would be the best choice
what's OA???
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1