When a ton of wheat

Expert replies

atulmangal: Legendary Member; Posts: 1112; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 amFollowed by: 49 members; Thanked: 77 times

by atulmangal » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:26 am

When a ton of wheat was being moved from Buffalo to New York City before the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, it took three weeks and cost $100, but when the canal was used, it took less than eight days and cost less than $6.

A. When a ton of wheat was being moved from Buffalo to New York City before the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, it took three weeks and cost $100, but when the canal was used, it
B. Moving a ton of wheat from Buffalo to New York City before the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, it took three weeks and cost $100; using the canal, it
C. Before the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, moving a ton of wheat from Buffalo to New York City took three weeks and cost $100; on the canal the move
D. In 1825, before opening the Erie Canal, to move a ton of wheat took three weeks from Buffalo to New York City, which cost $100; moving it on the canal
E. To move a ton of wheat in 1825 from Buffalo to New York City took three weeks before the opening of the Erie Canal, costing $100, but in using the canal, the move

My question is First the use of IT in Op A is correct or its ambiguous?? second apart from the use of being(leave awkwardness) is there any error in Op A???

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:26 am

vineeshp: Legendary Member; Posts: 965; Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:52 amFollowed by: 34 members; Thanked: 156 times; GMAT Score:720

by vineeshp » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:47 am

Actually, for me, "When a ton of wheat was being moved from Buffalo to New York City" seems to refer to a particular incident that happened. It does not speak of general situation that the sentence is actually trying to convey.

Is the OA C?

Apart from explanation above, B doesnt sound too good. D and E are easily wrong because of the wrong use of which (modifies New York) in B and wrong usage of costing 100 in E.

Vineesh,
Just telling you what I know and think. I am not the expert.

Like this post

Target2009: Legendary Member; Posts: 574; Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:47 pmFollowed by: 5 members; Location: USA; Thanked: 29 times

by Target2009 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:52 am

I think its C.

Regards
Abhishek
------------------------------
MasterGmat Student

Like this post

GMATMadeEasy: Legendary Member; Posts: 768; Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:46 amFollowed by: 7 members; Thanked: 21 times

by GMATMadeEasy » Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:59 am

'it' is not ambiguous in A but rather has no precedent noun to refer to. Incorrecty , 'it' is trying to refer to 'moving a ton of wheat' that does not exist in the previous clause.

I was between C and E, but in E 'in using the canal, move ' shows as if the move was using the canal.So i choose C . can you confirm please.

Like this post

atulmangal: Legendary Member; Posts: 1112; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 amFollowed by: 49 members; Thanked: 77 times

by atulmangal » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:00 am

@ target and @vineeshp

See the OA is C, and thats Okay. No issues

My issue is for this question some said(in earlier discussions) that Op A has parallelism error, i don't understand how??? secondly, the use of IT is correct or not.

Moreover, @vineeshp, we are talking about an incident only, something happened and we are discussing means we are discussing an incident in event in general. So, i personally don't think thats the problem with Op A.

Op C, don't you think a COMMA is requires after "On the canal" to give more clarity??

Like this post

GMATMadeEasy: Legendary Member; Posts: 768; Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:46 amFollowed by: 7 members; Thanked: 21 times

by GMATMadeEasy » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:02 am

E also changes the intended meaning by playing too much with prepositional phrses .

E

To move a ton of wheat in 1825 from Buffalo to New York City

is not what the author meant. The year is in reference to the canal so should stay with it. I am with C .

quesiton took me little longer to do than it should have taken .

Like this post

atulmangal: Legendary Member; Posts: 1112; Joined: Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 amFollowed by: 49 members; Thanked: 77 times

by atulmangal » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:02 am

GMATMadeEasy wrote:'it' is not ambiguous in A but rather has no precedent noun to refer to. Incorrecty , 'it' is trying to refer to 'moving a ton of wheat' that does not exist in the previous clause.

I was between C and E, but in E 'in using the canal, move ' shows as if the move was using the canal.So i choose C . can you confirm please.

Thanks, just saw your post. You are right about the usage of IT.

OA is C only

Like this post

aspirant2011: Legendary Member; Posts: 1574; Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:52 amFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 88 times

by aspirant2011 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:17 am

Hi Atul,

is the usage of "cost $100" correct?????? because i am confused as I feel past form of "cost" should be used............

Like this post

singh181: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 121; Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:44 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 9 times; GMAT Score:610

by singh181 » Fri Apr 08, 2011 7:37 am

The sentence intends to say that the "move" took three weeks and cost $ 100. But after the canal was used, the "move" time and cost were less.

Errors in A:
- "was being" moved in 1825 --> awkward structure and breaks the structure with "when the canal was used".

Also, "it" refers to wrong antecedent ("ton").

When a ton of wheat was being moved from Buffalo to New York City before the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, it took three weeks and cost $100, but when the canal was used, it

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review