GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

MBA
3547
hi all, plz help me with this one :

The woodland sub-species were in isolation from contact with humans longer than either their marsh cousins or the tree-dwelling sub-species.

A. in isolation from contact with humans longer than
B. isolated from contact with humans longer than
C. in isolation from contact with humans longer than were
D. isolated from contact with humans longer than were
E. in isolation and without contacts with humans longer than

my answer B but that's not correct according to explanations


D should be correct.

Explanation:
(A) in isolation from contact - wrong usage, "isolated from contact" is the correct usage
C, E - wrong usage again, E also changes the meaning
B - isolated from contact is correct, but wrong comparision
D - correct usage, correct comparision

Correct Usage:
in isolation: He was left in isolation to deal with the trauma
isolated: He was isolated from contact with the outside world

Wrong Usage: He was in isolation from contact with the outside world ...
-- see the difference ...
3548

thanks all for ur inputs but i am more convinced with explanations provided by PearlCrystal as the usage examples make it very clear. another question :

is quicker than or more quickly than correct in the following sentence??

The U.S. Forest Service, then five years old, decided to put out every fire in its
domain, and within three decades the agency formulated what it called the 10 A.M.
policy, directing that fires be extinguished quicker than they had been in the past.

I am not sure about the source of questions but I have downloaded them from esnips.com

3549
The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910, and has since quickly spread throughout most of the range of five-needle pines in the West.

A. The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
B. The blister rust fungus is a native in Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
C. The blister rust fungus are natives to Asia but were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
D. The blister rust fungus had been native of Asia and were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
E. The blister rust fungus had been natives to Asia but was introduced at British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
3550
The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
, and has since quickly spread throughout most of the range of five-needle pines in the West.


A. The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
nothing wrong with this
B. The blister rust fungus is a native in Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
should be 'native to'
C. The blister rust fungus are natives to Asia but were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
should be singular
D. The blister rust fungus had been native of Asia and were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
had been is not correct

E. The blister rust fungus had been natives to Asia but was introduced at British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
had been is not correct

Soit should be A in my opinipn.
3551

This is tricky;

"native to" seems incorrect idiom when used in currecnt context.. it should be "native of" in the present context.. else it should be something like, "Asia is native to Fungus"..

Fungus is singular and Fungi is Plural.. Fungus should be accompanied by was and NOT were..

use of "has since" clears one more thing.. something happened in the past.. and the subject is singular..

I would have marked option A.

The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
, and has since quickly spread throughout most of the range of five-needle pines in the West.


A. The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
Looks best among the choices/options provided.
B. The blister rust fungus is a native in Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
NOT sure if this is correct usage of Idiom.
C. The blister rust fungus are natives to Asia but were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
Plural = wrong
D. The blister rust fungus had been native of Asia and were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
Plural = wrong
E. The blister rust fungus had been natives to Asia but was introduced at British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
Plural = wrong



What is the OA??
3552
This is tricky;

"native to" seems incorrect idiom when used in currecnt context.. it should be "native of" in the present context.. else it should be something like, "Asia is native to Fungus"..

Fungus is singular and Fungi is Plural.. Fungus should be accompanied by was and NOT were..

use of "has since" clears one more thing.. something happened in the past.. and the subject is singular..

I would have marked option A.


What is the OA??


u have got it right...but as far as I know "native of" is correct idiom usage...pls xplain why it shud be native to
3553

"native to" and "native of" are both correct idioms...depending upon the context they are used in.. as cited before in my reply..

Ex:
native of
Svetlana is a native of Poland

native to
The cobra is native to Africa


the reason why I chose the option A is bcoz all the other options were self-eliminating options... I have realized that SC is not always about choosin the best sentence, however its about choosing the best among the provided options..

Hope that helps!!

This is tricky;

"native to" seems incorrect idiom when used in currecnt context.. it should be "native of" in the present context.. else it should be something like, "Asia is native to Fungus"..

Fungus is singular and Fungi is Plural.. Fungus should be accompanied by was and NOT were..

use of "has since" clears one more thing.. something happened in the past.. and the subject is singular..

I would have marked option A.



What is the OA??

d2rockstar Says
u have got it right...but as far as I know "native of" is correct idiom usage...pls xplain why it shud be native to
3554
d2rockstar Says
u have got it right...but as far as I know "native of" is correct idiom usage...pls xplain why it shud be native to


Try this.. I hope u find it helpful!! ;)

GMAT Idiom List
3555

One doubt for the #3 question; how is the correct sentence option D

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there.
A. the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there
B. the Meadowvale district, where the crimes growth is consistent with these findings
C. the Meadowvale district, findings consistent to its growth of crime
D. the district of Meadowvale, findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
E. the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there


"detectives have" - Plural
"observed" - singular
"large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district" - observation (only 1 observation = singular)

findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
-- "findings" is plural.. doesnt fit with the single observation

IMPORTANT WORD: "consistent"
form used in: A is consistent with B
Ex: Your story is not consistent with Joel's story.

So as per me option A, B, C and D are definitely the WRONG options.:nono:

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there.

I have marked the sections in the sentence which I believe are consistent with the idiom (wow.. what a perfect use of idiom as a regular expression.. ).. so I believe option E should be the correct option.

I dunno your source of answer(s) and explanation(s).. but please feel free to prove me wrong and bring me down.. :cheerio:

convincing enough buddy...

here u go...its BCD

In England, a larger percentage of the students take their A Level exams in college than is the case in Northern Ireland.

A. In England, a larger percentage of the students take their A Level exams in college than is the case in Northern Ireland.

B. In England, a larger percentage of students take their A Level exams in college than do so in Northern Ireland.

C. A larger percentage of students in England than is the case in Northern Ireland, take their A Level exams in college.

D. A larger percentage of the students in England than do so in Northern Ireland, take their A Level exams in college.

E. In England, a larger percentage of the students take their A Level exams in college than the Northern Ireland students do.


Despite objection to the tax policies of town auditor, the yearly expenses have increased from 500,000 to two million, an amount that is about the size of the entire education budget.

A. have increased from 500,000 to two million, an amount that is about the size of the entire education budget
B. have increased from 500,000 to two million, about the size of the entire education budget
C. have increased from 500,000 to two million, an amount about the size of the entire education budget
D. has increased from 500,000 to two million, an amount which has about the size of the entire education budget
E. has increased from 500,000 to two million, about the entire education budgets size


Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there.
A. the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there
B. the Meadowvale district, where the crimes growth is consistent with these findings
C. the Meadowvale district, findings consistent to its growth of crime
D. the district of Meadowvale, findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
E. the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there
3556
d2rockstar Says
u have got it right...but as far as I know "native of" is correct idiom usage...pls xplain why it shud be native to

native of is used for person and native to is used for other animals and birds.
3557
D should be correct.

Explanation:
(A) in isolation from contact - wrong usage, "isolated from contact" is the correct usage
C, E - wrong usage again, E also changes the meaning
B - isolated from contact is correct, but wrong comparision
D - correct usage, correct comparision

Correct Usage:
in isolation: He was left in isolation to deal with the trauma
isolated: He was isolated from contact with the outside world

Wrong Usage: He was in isolation from contact with the outside world ...
-- see the difference ...


yes .
'isolated from contact ' is correct usage. take a look at 224Q official guide 10g.

rgds-
sri
3558
guy with guts Says
native of is used for person and native to is used for other animals and birds.


Well.. I guess it's more like "a group" in context is referred by saying "native to".. for example, tigers, lions, green baret etc.. and in case of a single person/noun we would use "native of".. for example, Obama, my parrot Romeo etc..
3559
The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
, and has since quickly spread throughout most of the range of five-needle pines in the West.


A. The blister rust fungus is native to Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
B. The blister rust fungus is a native in Asia but was introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
C. The blister rust fungus arenatives to Asia but were introduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
D. The blister rust fungus had been native of Asia and wereintroduced to British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910
E. The blister rust fungus had been natives to Asia but was introduced at British Columbia via Europe on a shipment of seedlings in 1910


A is the best ans.
native to/native of is idiomatic phrase

Ans choices have obvious errors you can easily eliminate them. no strong contender for A.
3560
One doubt for the #3 question; how is the correct sentence option D

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there.
A. the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there
B. the Meadowvale district, where the crimes growth is consistent with these findings
C. the Meadowvale district, findings consistent to its growth of crime
D. the district of Meadowvale, findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
E. the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there


"detectives have" - Plural
"observed" - singular
"large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district" - observation (only 1 observation = singular)

findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
-- "findings" is plural.. doesnt fit with the single observation

IMPORTANT WORD: "consistent"
form used in: A is consistent with B
Ex: Your story is not consistent with Joel's story.

So as per me option A, B, C and D are definitely the WRONG options.:nono:

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there.

I have marked the sections in the sentence which I believe are consistent with the idiom (wow.. what a perfect use of idiom as a regular expression.. ).. so I believe option E should be the correct option.

I dunno your source of answer(s) and explanation(s).. but please feel free to prove me wrong and bring me down.. :cheerio:



Hi varun

i hope this will help you.

offical guide 10g
38. Scientists have observed large concentrations of
heavy-metal deposits in the upper twenty centimeters of Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent with the
growth of industrial activity there.
(A) Baltic Sea sediments, which are consistent with the growth of industrial activity there
(B) Baltic Sea sediments, where the growth of industrial activity is consistent with these findings
(C) Baltic Sea sediments, findings consistent with its growth of industrial activity
(D) sediments from the Baltic Sea, findings consistent with the growth of industrial activity in the area
(E) sediments from the Baltic Sea, consistent with the growth of industrial activity there

Answer to Question 38
All of the choices but D contain ambiguities. In A and B the words which and where appear to refer to
sediments, and in E it is not clear what consistent describes. In A, C, and E, there is no logical place to which
there or its could refer. In D, the best choice, the phrase sediments from the Baltic Sea tells where the
sediments originate, findings provides a noun for consistent to modify, and in the area clearly identifies where
the industrial activity is growing.
3561
"native to" and "native of" are both correct idioms...depending upon the context they are used in.. as cited before in my reply..

Ex:
native of
Svetlana is a native of Poland

native to
The cobra is native to Africa


the reason why I chose the option A is bcoz all the other options were self-eliminating options... I have realized that SC is not always about choosin the best sentence, however its about choosing the best among the provided options..

Hope that helps!!


Hi guys,

Here is the explanation for native to/ native of. Hope this will help you.

Bufo marinus toads, fierce predators that will eat frogs, lizards, and even small birds,
are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an
attempt to control pests in the state's vast sugarcane fields.
(A) are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in
an attempt to control
(B) are native in South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's as
attempts to control
(C) are natives of South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in
an attempt at controlling
(D) had been native to South America but were introduced to Florida during the
1930's as an attempt at controlling
(E) had been natives of South America but were introduced to Florida during the
1930's as attempts at controlling
Choice A is best. The phrasing are native to correctly suggests that the toad
species is indigenous to, and still exists in, South America. In B, native in is
unidiomatic; in C and E, natives of illogically suggests that each toad now in
Florida hails from South America. In D and E, had been inaccurately implies that
the toads are no longer native, or indigenous, to South America, and introduced to
Florida is unidiomatic. Both as attempts in B and E and as an attempt in D are wrong
because the attempt consists not of the toads themselves, but of their introduction
into the environment. The correct phrase, in an attempt, should be completed by an
infinitive (here, to control), as in A.

Note:
Native of v/s. Native to: Native of can be used when referring to human beings.Native to usage is otherwise correct.
Rgds-
sri
3562

one more; ;)


The Red-tailed Sportive Lemur are, as all lemurs, native to Madagascar.
a. are, as all lemurs, native to


b. are, like all lemurs, native of


c. is, as all lemurs, native of


d. is, like all lemurs, native of


e. is, like all lemurs, native to



Explanation

Lets look at the changes which occur in the answers.
Firstly answers A and B begin with are and C, D and E with is different forms of the verb to be, which shows that we face a subject/verb agreement problem.
The subject in this case is the Red-tailed Sportive Lemur which is singular so we should use the singular form of the verb to be i.e. is.
A and B incorrectly use are and can be eliminated.

The second change is from as all lemurs in A and C to like all lemurs in B, D and E. We are comparing things rather than actions and so we should use like rather than as, see comparison problems for more details.
Therefor A and C which incorrectly use as can be eliminated.

Finally A and E use native to and B, C and D use native of.
The correct idiomatic expressions are native to or a native of .
B, C and D all incorrectly use the idiomatic expression a native of because this miss out the "a".

This leaves only E which uses is, like and native to correctly.

3563
One doubt for the #3 question; how is the correct sentence option D

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there.
A. the Meadowvale district, which is consistent to the growth of crime there
B. the Meadowvale district, where the crimes growth is consistent with these findings
C. the Meadowvale district, findings consistent to its growth of crime
D. the district of Meadowvale, findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
E. the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there


"detectives have" - Plural
"observed" - singular
"large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the Meadowvale district" - observation (only 1 observation = singular)

findings consistent with the growth of crime in the area
-- "findings" is plural.. doesnt fit with the single observation

IMPORTANT WORD: "consistent"
form used in: A is consistent with B
Ex: Your story is not consistent with Joel's story.

So as per me option A, B, C and D are definitely the WRONG options.:nono:

Undercover police detectives have observed large concentrations of gang members in the west end of the district of Meadowvale, consistent with the growth of the crime there.

I have marked the sections in the sentence which I believe are consistent with the idiom (wow.. what a perfect use of idiom as a regular expression.. ).. so I believe option E should be the correct option.

I dunno your source of answer(s) and explanation(s).. but please feel free to prove me wrong and bring me down.. :cheerio:


I think you are getting it wrong.

Many people have observed something .... so many people observed something ...Is it written that they observed something in a group and conculded on a common finding .. had they been doing that, then "findings" would be wrong ... else "findings" is correct

"consistent with" is the correct idiom

E cannot be correct, since the latter part of the sentence doesn't specify what is consistent with the growth of crime.
3564
  1. The endurance and consistency of baseball star Lou Gehrig, known as "The Iron Horse," are legendary.
(A) The endurance and consistency of baseball star Lou Gehrig, known as "The Iron Horse," are legendary.
(B) The endurance and consistency of Lou Gehrig, a baseball star known as "The Iron Horse," is legendary.
(C) Known as "The Iron Horse," the endurance and consistency of Lou Gehrig, the baseball star, is legendary.
(D) The reason baseball star Lou Gehrig is known as "The Iron Horse" is because of his legendary endurance and consistency.
(E) Known as "The Iron Horse," baseball star Lou Gehrig's endurance and consistency are legendary.
3565
one more; ;)


The Red-tailed Sportive Lemur are, as all lemurs, native to Madagascar.
a. are, as all lemurs, native to


b. are, like all lemurs, native of


c. is, as all lemurs, native of


d. is, like all lemurs, native of


e. is, like all lemurs, native to



Explanation

Lets look at the changes which occur in the answers.
Firstly answers A and B begin with are and C, D and E with is different forms of the verb to be, which shows that we face a subject/verb agreement problem.
The subject in this case is the Red-tailed Sportive Lemur which is singular so we should use the singular form of the verb to be i.e. is.
A and B incorrectly use are and can be eliminated.

The second change is from as all lemurs in A and C to like all lemurs in B, D and E. We are comparing things rather than actions and so we should use like rather than as, see comparison problems for more details.
Therefor A and C which incorrectly use as can be eliminated.

Finally A and E use native to and B, C and D use native of.
The correct idiomatic expressions are native to or a native of .
B, C and D all incorrectly use the idiomatic expression a native of because this miss out the "a".

This leaves only E which uses is, like and native to correctly.

The Red-tailed Sportive Lemur are, as all lemurs, native to Madagascar.


a. are, as all lemurs, native to


b. are, like all lemurs, native of


c. is, as all lemurs, native of


d. is, like all lemurs, native of


e. is, like all lemurs, native to


  1. As the subject is singular, the verb should be is and not are
  2. Same as a
  3. A lemur is compared to other lemurs. It should be like and not as.

Between native of and native to, here I will choose native to here.

As per me the answer should be E.
3566
  1. The endurance and consistency of baseball star Lou Gehrig, known as The Iron Horse, are legendary.
(A) The endurance and consistency of baseball star Lou Gehrig, known as The Iron Horse, are legendary.



(B) The endurance and consistency of Lou Gehrig, a baseball star known as The Iron Horse, is legendary.
(C) Known as The Iron Horse, the endurance and consistency of Lou Gehrig, the baseball star, is legendary.
(D) The reason baseball star Lou Gehrig is known as The Iron Horse is because of his legendary endurance and consistency.
(E) Known as The Iron Horse, baseball star Lou Gehrigs endurance and consistency are legendary.




A is definately the right answer