“Whether� vs “If�

[venjam]

Following is a correct answer according to OG

A proposal has been made to trim the horns from rhinoceroses to discourage poachers; the question is whether tourists will continue to visit game parks and see rhinoceroses once the animals' horns have been trimmed.

But I believe the right answer should be by starting with "If"

If tourists will continue to visit game parks to see one after the animals' horns have been

I believe "Whether" is used to provide a list of alternative possibilities and "if" deals with a conditional statement.Shouldn't "the question is" be followed by "if" rather than "weather"?

Kindly clarify
Thanks

[Kasia@EconomistGMAT]

The use of "whether" is correct. The sentence is not a conditional structure but it is an indirectly stated QUESTION. In the GMAT we can use "if" only in conditionals.

[sana.noor]

"IF" is used for a single condition and requires consequence. for example: inflation can hurt profit IF costs increase [it is sure that inflation will hurt profit only in a condition when costs increase] .....whereas "whether" is used when u have a choice or alternative possibilities. for example: i dont know whether i will go. so in above example their is a possibility of tourists to visit, its not a condition that tourists will only visit the park when rhinoceroses have horns.

[rahulajith]

Can someone clarify?

GMAT uses 'IF' only for conditional statements. ie ... it has to be followed by 'Then' . In places where this is not applicable one must use 'whether '

Incorrect: - it does not tell us if someone would still be able to go there
Correct - it does not tell us whether someone would still be able to go there.

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

If anyone is interested in learning about the if vs whether distinction, we have an article here: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/articles/if-vs-whether

Cheers,
Brent