Really Confusing

[Sandman]

Q. The set of propositions which was discussed by the panel have been published in the society journal.

a.
b. which were discussed by the panel have
c. that was discussed by the panel has
d. which were discussed by the panel has
e. which was discussed, by the panel, has

The OA is D

Can anyone explain this one please?

[just_do_it]

The best way to solve this question, is to isolate the middleman - in this case which was discussed by the panel.

This will help you determine the correct subject-verb agreement.

The set of propositions -- the set is singular and hence needs HAS been published. thus options A, B are out.

Now lets look at the middleman - "which was discussed by the panel"
Here WAS (singular) does not agree with PREPOSITIONS (plural). WERE is required - which WERE discussed by the panel.

Hence correct option is D.

[Sandman]

Thanks for the explanation..I looked at "the set of propositions" as a whole and thought that it should be singular....

[lunarpower]

Thanks for the explanation..I looked at "the set of propositions" as a whole and thought that it should be singular.... :lol:

um.

yes, (c) is much, much better than (d).

first, i'll explain why (c) is perfectly correct, and, then, i'll explain why (d) is wrong.

--

why (c) is correct:

* it is absolutely possible for "that" in (c) to stand for the whole set of propositions.
for proof, see problem #50 in the OG11 or OG12 diagnostic test (the part in the front - NOT the regular sentence correction chapter), in which the correct answer contains "...a standardized way of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet that will protect..."
this is the same deal.

in fact, since "set of propositions" is the subject of the following verb, the simplest and most straightforward interpretation of this sentence is precisely the one that leads to answer choice (c).

--

why (d) is wrong:

YOU CANNOT USE "WHICH" WITHOUT A PRECEDING COMMA.
NEVER.

not in gmat world, anyway.
no.
never.

if there's no comma - that is, if the modifier is essential - then you must use that, not which.
if the modifier IS set off by commas - that is, if it's nonessential - then you must use which, not that.

--

are you sure you haven't misread the source?
answer (c) is a perfectly respectable correct answer, while (d) is just incorrect. so, if the source actually cited (c) as the correct answer and you (the original poster) just misread it, then, all good.

if the source actually does cite (d) as the correct answer, then run for your life!

[rahul_bitsp]

Thanks for the explanation..I looked at "the set of propositions" as a whole and thought that it should be singular....

um.

yes, (c) is much, much better than (d).

first, i'll explain why (c) is perfectly correct, and, then, i'll explain why (d) is wrong.

--

why (c) is correct:

* it is absolutely possible for "that" in (c) to stand for the whole set of propositions.
for proof, see problem #50 in the OG11 or OG12 diagnostic test (the part in the front - NOT the regular sentence correction chapter), in which the correct answer contains "...a standardized way of distributing songs and full-length recordings on the Internet that will protect..."
this is the same deal.

in fact, since "set of propositions" is the subject of the following verb, the simplest and most straightforward interpretation of this sentence is precisely the one that leads to answer choice (c).

--

why (d) is wrong:

YOU CANNOT USE "WHICH" WITHOUT A PRECEDING COMMA.
NEVER.

not in gmat world, anyway.
no.
never.

if there's no comma - that is, if the modifier is essential - then you must use that, not which.
if the modifier IS set off by commas - that is, if it's nonessential - then you must use which, not that.

--

are you sure you haven't misread the source?
answer (c) is a perfectly respectable correct answer, while (d) is just incorrect. so, if the source actually cited (c) as the correct answer and you (the original poster) just misread it, then, all good.

if the source actually does cite (d) as the correct answer, then run for your life!

Makes sense! Thanks Ron.

[moshe1234]

D is the correct answer NOT C

which must refer to the preceding noun which is propositions (plural)

(We can discuss propositions)

The set of propositions (ignore the prepositional phrase) HAS been published.

The set of propositions, which were discussed by the panel, has been published.

Yes, there should be commas.

D is correct.