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Metal prices

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Metal prices

by gmat009 » Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:02 pm
If present metal prices continue to sharply rise, the value of the copper in a penny will soon be greater than the face value of the coin.
(A) If present metal prices continue to sharply rise,
(B) If present metal prices are continuing their sharp rise,
(C) Should present metal prices continue their sharp rise,
(D) Continuation of sharply rising metal prices should mean that
(E) Metal prices’ sharp rise continuing should mean that

Can someone plz. explain.....
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by Bidisha800 » Fri Oct 31, 2008 8:09 pm
This question is rotten old and has been discussed in recent past. Please do a search. I would really appreciate if you post questions from a not-so-familiar source.
Drill baby drill !

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by rohangupta83 » Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:01 am
This question has been discussed here....

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sc-test-1-do ... l%20prices
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by gmat009 » Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:57 am
Bidisha800 wrote:This question is rotten old and has been discussed in recent past. Please do a search. I would really appreciate if you post questions from a not-so-familiar source.
I would really appreciate if instead of posting your comments (which nobody is interested) you can post something useful which can help all of us. You could have posted link for this question instead of your same old comments, you are posting to everyone.
BTW I searched for this question and couldn't find, that's why I posted it.
Last edited by gmat009 on Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by gmat009 » Sun Nov 02, 2008 7:58 am
rohangupta83 wrote:This question has been discussed here....

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sc-test-1-do ... l%20prices
Thanks Rohan
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by rohangupta83 » Sun Nov 02, 2008 4:46 pm
hey, no problem gmat009 - good luck!

if you need any input on this question, just let me know.

cheers!
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doubt

by iamcste » Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:12 pm
Hi,

we have "will " in the not underlined part which means that output is certain

while answer has "should" which means uncertian output

As per MG SC , Chpt 1,

if output is certain, words like "must" or "will"should be used

so, is C just a fairly correct ans since all other get rejected
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by logitech » Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:39 pm
STACEY STACEY STACEY!!!!
LGTCH
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by logitech » Wed Nov 05, 2008 5:48 pm
gmat009 wrote:
Bidisha800 wrote:This question is rotten old and has been discussed in recent past. Please do a search. I would really appreciate if you post questions from a not-so-familiar source.
I would really appreciate if instead of posting your comments (which nobody is interested) you can post something useful which can help all of us. You could have posted link for this question instead of your same old comments, you are posting to everyone.
BTW I searched for this question and couldn't find, that's why I posted it.
Dont worry gmat009, I am sure this is not his/her first time doing this.

Even tough, we have a split infinity problem at option A, I think A is still better than C since should is not a very decisive or concrete word. and I conveys the idea better.

Anyways, I PMed Stacey.
LGTCH
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by sam98034 » Wed Nov 05, 2008 11:58 pm
It cannot be A because the infinitive...but I'm not sure about it, the rule is up in the air. I know you can't put an adverb between a verb and it's object (he threw swiftly the ball) but isn't that saying that "to boldy go where no man has gone before" and "I expect it to more than double" are wrong?

B should be continue, not are continuing, otherwise, it would say "...value of the copper in a penny is going to be..."

D needs to start off with "The"
And should is a funny word. Should is a question that needs answering.
But in this case I think D and E are probably 100% incorrect, maybe (possibly).

C is correct. And the should is not a problem. You could rearrange it to say "If this should happen, this will happen." In fact, just replace "if" with "should" in C...its meaning is the same in the context, then you get:

If present metal prices continue their sharp rise, the value of the copper in a penny will soon be greater than the face value of the coin.
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by Stacey Koprince » Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:34 am
Got your PM and am responding. :)

Although people break the "no split infinitive" rule all the time, to the point that it has become somewhat accepted in the mainstream, the GMAT is old school: it still holds to the "no split infinitive" rule. So eliminate A.

The general set-up to this sentence is an if-then set-up: If X happens, then Y will happen. Sam's right that the word "should" can be substituted for the word "If" in this context - it's an old-fashioned construction but perfectly correct. (Notice that we're not saying "Barney should eat his Wheaties" - meaning I think Barney should eat his Wheaties. That's a different connotation. When you see the set-up "Should Barney eat his Wheaties, he will be healthy," you're just seeing a classic if-then set-up.)

So, C fixes that infinitive problem we had and is the correct answer.

B is wrong because of the "are continuing." When your connotation is "if something happens" that should be in simple present, not present continuous.

D messes up the "should" thing! Now, the sentence actually is saying "I think this should be this way."

E same thing. (Not to mention: "metal prices' sharp rise continuing"? Ouch.)

Also: watch out for the old-fashioned constructions. They often sound wrong to our ears because no one speaks that way anymore. ("Shall we have tea now?") But there's nothing wrong grammatically! And this is one very common way in which they tempt us to eliminate the right answer.
Please note: I do not use the Private Messaging system! I will not see any PMs that you send to me!!

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by vivek.kapoor83 » Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:27 am
Stacey ,
U r the God of SC :) ...
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by k2gopal » Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:08 am
vivek.kapoor83 wrote:Stacey ,
U r the God of SC :) ...
I presume you mean "Goddess" :wink: . I concur :lol: .
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by Carloblacksun » Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:46 am
My 2 cents...

Stacey is right that A is wrong due to the split infinitive, however in the REAL GMAT I can bet my house that a construction with "SHOULD" like this one would be considered AKWARD and uncommon (which is true) and therefore, though right in reality, uncorrect for GMAT purposes.

I have read the OG several times and I found NO CASE in which a sentence with a SHOULD like that is correct.

Conclusion: SPLIT infinitive is a mistake, but SHOULD is also AKWARD
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