Tough question in GMAT Test

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Tough question in GMAT Test

by questionbox » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:04 pm
By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.

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by viju9162 » Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:18 am
I could eliminate A, B as the modifier should explain about researchers.

However, I am not sure why D cannot be the right answer.

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by kvcpk » Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:28 am
questionbox wrote:By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.
D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.

Hence C brings that distinction clearly.

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by viju9162 » Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:36 am
wow wonderful! Thank you kvcpk!

One word missing changes the entire meaning :). Should be very careful while reading the answer choices.

regards,
Viju
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by ansumania » Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:49 am
kvcpk wrote:
questionbox wrote:By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.
D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.


Hence C brings that distinction clearly.
I think so...

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by ayushiiitm » Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:43 am
questionbox wrote:By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.
In both D and E, that and which modifies plants, because relative pronoun is near to plants

But relative pronouns should be near to techniques

the antecedent of 'them' is also not clear.

I dont think use of 'used' makes a difference
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by sumanr84 » Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:27 am
Don't you think in C,D and E -" to genetically enhance" is a split infinitive error.

what is the source of this problem ?
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by gmat_perfect » Tue Jun 29, 2010 4:48 am
By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

Some thoughts:

1. Comma + Present participle:

"Comma + Present Participle" modifies the previous clause. A clause needs a subject and a verb.
=> In option A, there is no verb. used has been used as past participle. So OUT.

2. "With this ring, I will marry you"--with can be used as an opening modifier. In that case, the immediate next noun will be modified.

=> B has made a mistake by modifying "so that they are". OUT.

3. which modifies the immediate preceding noun.

=> Now, read the option D in the following way:
Plants make them pest resistance. Is it right?

=> Them has two reference plural nouns, techniques and plants. So, them is ambiguous. OUT.

4. That refers to plants and makes the sentence wrong. It changes the intended meaning of the sentence.
OUT.

Answer is C.

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by vv126 » Tue Jun 29, 2010 9:15 am
You always "USE" techniques , also the rest of the choices (A & B) remove the parallelism between the first and second part of the sentence

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by kvcpk » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:40 am
viju9162 wrote:wow wonderful! Thank you kvcpk!

One word missing changes the entire meaning :). Should be very careful while reading the answer choices.

regards,
Viju
You are welcome :)

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by loveusonu » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:43 am
sumanr84 wrote:Don't you think in C,D and E -" to genetically enhance" is a split infinitive error.

what is the source of this problem ?
Yep, I agree C should be best amount all because of "genetically enhancing plants" in D.

But yes good question by Sumanr. I saw this error on 1 of the question on OG. Does any one have the answer to it?
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by real2008 » Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:44 am
But anybody there to clarify the point raised by 'sumanr84' on split infinitive error issue?

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by questionbox » Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:21 pm
kvcpk wrote:
questionbox wrote:By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.
D and E can be quickly eliminated because they do not use the word "used".

In both D and E, the meaning of the sentence changes. researchers have been increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco and not in genetically enhancing plants

researchers just used the techniques that were used for genetically enhancing plants.

Hence C brings that distinction clea rly.
sorry, I have difficulty understanding your words, and I think C and E have the same meaning. Could you further explain it for me ? And since 'employ' and 'use' have the same meaning, don't you think the construction is 'needlessly wordy'?

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by adi_800 » Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:47 pm
I think E misses out on Infinitive of purpose...

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by 786 » Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:56 pm
ayushiiitm wrote:
questionbox wrote:By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them disease- or pest-resistant, researchers have been able to increase the amount of protein in potatoes, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.

A.By the same techniques used for genetically enhancing plants, making them
B.With the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, so that they are
C.Employing the same techniques used to genetically enhance plants so that they are
D.Employing the same techniques to genetically enhance plants, which makes them
E.Employing the same techniques for genetically enhancing plants that make them

The answer is C, but how to quickly eliminate E? What is the problem in E? Help me, guys.
In both D and E, that and which modifies plants, because relative pronoun is near to plants

But relative pronouns should be near to techniques

the antecedent of 'them' is also not clear.

I dont think use of 'used' makes a difference
Echo , I really doubt whether 'used' is making a differnce here .