MGMAT SC

[rakeshd347]

Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?

[theCodeToGMAT]

Both A & E are grammatically correct; the issue is Meaning

A --> Creature resembles Fish & Land-Animal
E --> Fossils resemble Fish & Land-Animal

So A

If "E" were .. "the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble those of both a fish and a land-animal and provide evidence of" .... then i would have gone with "concision"

[vinay1983]

Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?

Here the meaning is important. It is the creature that resembles both a fish and a land animal and that the fossils provide evidence in this regard.

Having said that A and D makes this clear. But option D has "provides" while Option A has "provide". "Provides" is wrong usage here, though this option makes things pretty much clear than Option A.

Hence option A wins. In option E, it is incorrectly deducible that the fossils resemble both a fish and a land animal.

Still to me though option A is correct. I am not too happy about how it is constructed. End of the day GMAT wins!

[GMATGuruNY]

Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.

"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
"¢ a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
"¢ a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
"¢ the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

OA is A. But why is E wrong?

B: A large scaly creature provides fossils
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning of the original sentence is that the fossils provide EVIDENCE.
Eliminate B.

In D, provides (singular) does not agree with fossils (plural).
Eliminate D.

C: whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal
E: the fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal
Fossils are BONES.
To resemble means TO BE SIMILAR TO.
C and E imply the following: the BONES are similar to A FISH.
Not the intended comparison.
The intended comparison of the original sentence is that the CREATURE is similar to a FISH.
Eliminate C and E.

The correct answer is A.