GMAT Sentence Correction Discussions

MBA
7765
In the 1970s an elite preschool in New York City had approximately 150 applications per year, and by the 1990s, this number rose to 3,000.

this number rose

the number had risen

the amount had risen

this number was raised

the number of applications had risen


Since both the events are in the past... I believe this should be "the number had risen". I feel "this" is not required here. I am doubtful. whats the OA?

thank you,
Hemanth
7766
Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been

 In June, 1981, six teenagers in the village of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who they say has continued to appear to them over the ensuing years.
(A) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(B) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(C) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(D) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(E) had claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom


1) B. I feel it is B but what is wrong with A? It seems to be pretty clear and seems to convey that the "proportion than it was" ..in

2) D. I feel "Virgin Mary" becomes the Subject of the pronoun who and hence should retain WHO instead of WHOM.

I am not sure on either of these questions. Can someone help us out please?

Thank you,
Hemanth
7767
In the 1970s an elite preschool in New York City had approximately 150 applications per year, and by the 1990s, this number rose to 3,000.

this number rose

the number had risen

the amount had risen

this number was raised

the number of applications had risen


My take in blue.
7768
attiDude Says
....


Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been
 In June, 1981, six teenagers in the village of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who they say has continued to appear to them over the ensuing years.
(A) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(B) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(C) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(D) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(E) had claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom

Errors in red. Takes in blue.
7769

Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1992, a greater proportion than it was in any previous election.
A. a greater proportion than it was
B. a greater proportion than
C. a greater proportion than they have been
D. which is greater than was so
E. which is greater than it has been
 In June, 1981, six teenagers in the village of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who they say has continued to appear to them over the ensuing years.
(A) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(B) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(C) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(D) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(E) had claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom

Errors in red. Takes in blue.



1. OA = b
2. OA = c

Expln - in 1, a uses 'it' but it can't refer to costs. we narrow down to b and c. C is wrong as 'they' is wrongly used. the sentnece is phrased to mean than they have been (soaring) in any prev elec
2. Need a whom... who will be used if the sentence was - blh blah ... visions of the Virgin Mary, who appeared in their dreams. i.e. she did the action, but in the sentence, she did not do the action.
7770
In 2009, most IT companies reduced the salaries employees had been getting.

Isn't this sor of similar to that phosphate question? does anyone think 'are' fits better here?

I still think the clear concise statement should be:
A 1972 agreement between canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump into the great lakes until then.

I am not sure how we can associate a present tense with an action that happened in the past.
It seems to me municiplaties are allowed to dump x tonnes today and in 1972, an agreement reduced this. This sounds strange.
I would be inclined to think municiplities were allowed (or had been allowed to) dump x tonnes and that that got reduced.

Will appreciate it if someone can help to understand how D is the right answer?



shucks no one wants to take this... Ashish, can you pls?
7771
Gail.Wynand Says
My take in blue.


Gail, whats your reason? Did you look at what I thought was the reason for B?

Would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.
7772
In the 1970s an elite preschool in New York City had approximately 150 applications per year, and by the 1990s, this number rose to 3,000.

this number rose

the number had risen
the amount had risen
this number was raised
the number of applications had risen

Gail, whats your reason? Did you look at what I thought was the reason for B?

Would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.


I wish I could put it in a more technical language like the other dudes...
Here is what I saw:
------------------------
In the 1970s an elite preschool in New York City had approximately 150 applications per year, and by the 1990s, this number rose to 3,000.
------------------------
(C) and (D) are clearly out. "amount" and "was raised" kill them.
Since there is only one number there is no ambiguity when we say "the number" so "this" is not needed.
Use of "had" is justified here since the event occurred in the past and we are sure about it.
Option E is lucrative but as per me it is wordy since we need not repeat "number of applications" again.
Left with (B).
Let me research the OA...
Results...
OA happens to be "B" ...so congrats.
7773

OA is B only. But i don't understand what's wrong with the original sentence?

7774
I wish I could put it in a more technical language like the other dudes...
Here is what I saw:
------------------------
In the 1970s an elite preschool in New York City had approximately 150 applications per year, and by the 1990s, this number rose to 3,000.
------------------------
(C) and (D) are clearly out. "amount" and "was raised" kill them.
Since there is only one number there is no ambiguity when we say "the number" so "this" is not needed.
Use of "had" is justified here since the event occurred in the past and we are sure about it.
Option E is lucrative but as per me it is wordy since we need not repeat "number of applications" again.
Left with (B).
Let me research the OA...
Results...
OA happens to be "B" ...so congrats.

austinrulz Says
OA is B only. But i don't understand what's wrong with the original sentence?


My reasoning was similar to Gail's reasoning. I feel the option A has "This" which is a unnecessary pronoun. (This is a pronoun right?... someone plz let me know). I don't know the technicalities. Some verb tense fundaes. Does anyone else know?
7775
1) Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but more effective pest-control methods that were introduced in the 1880s saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region and more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from what was destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.
2) The spatial relationships among the elements of Jan Mickers 1652 masterwork Birds Eye View of Amsterdam, which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in most other seventeenth-century Dutch paintings.
which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted by the artist long before such a vantage point was to become possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those among
which he painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than in
painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those in
3) Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.
Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
Having had more than the usual number of fingers or toes
Having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
4) Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power only after a long struggle by the native people.
Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power
Before independence in 1947, Britain had ruled India as a colony and relinquished power
Before its independence in 1947, India was ruled by Britain as a colony and they relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been ruled as a colony by Britain, which relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been a colony of the British, who relinquished power
7776

1) Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but more effective pest-control methods that were introduced in the 1880s saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region and more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from what was destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.

2) The spatial relationships among the elements of Jan Micker's 1652 masterwork Bird's Eye View of Amsterdam, which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in most other seventeenth-century Dutch paintings.

which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted by the artist long before such a vantage point was to become possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those among
which he painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than in
painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those in

3) Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.

Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
Having had more than the usual number of fingers or toes
Having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes

4) Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power only after a long struggle by the native people.

Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power
Before independence in 1947, Britain had ruled India as a colony and relinquished power
Before its independence in 1947, India was ruled by Britain as a colony and they relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been ruled as a colony by Britain, which relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been a colony of the British, who relinquished power

7778
ok, so the sentence is:

A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.
(A) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump
(B) reduced the phosphate amount that municipalities had been dumping
(C) reduces the phosphate amount municipalities have been allowed to dump
(D) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump
(E) reduces the amount of phosphates allowed for dumping by municipalities

First of all, there is nothing in the question that gives an impression that municipalities are no longer allowed to dump phosphates into the Great Lakes (later on, I will also address if you believe this assumption is not correct). That being the case, following is a hypothetical conversation between Mr. X and Mr. Y. This coversation is taking place now:

Mr. X: You know what...the 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates.

Mr. Y: What do you mean? I don't understand what you are saying. Which phosphates are you talking about? You need to be more specific.

Mr. X: Oh I am talking about phosphates that municipalities can dump into the Great Lakes.

Mr. Y: Ok..so you mean phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.

Mr. X: Yep..you got it.

Mr. Y: Aah...I get it. A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.

Mr. X: Yep..you got it.

Mr. Y: This is exactly what Option D says!!

Mr. X: Amen!!

Now, lets assume that municipalities can actually no longer dump phosphates into the Great Lakes (say sometime in 2002, municipalities were totally forbidden to dump any phosphates into the Great Lakes). Even in that case (in line with the above conversation), the sentence would be:

A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities were allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.

Since we don't have were in any of the answer choices, D is the correct answer. In any case, had been is not appropriate.



That was incredible, thanks Ashish, but just to reiterate, will you also endorse the following statement for political correctness:

In 2008, a few companies reduced the salaries we are getting.

Basically I would like to know if we are choosing D because it is gramatically correct, or because 'had been' is definitely inappropiate so we default to B.

Mr. X: You know what...the 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates.

Mr. Y: What do you mean? I don't understand what you are saying. Which phosphates are you talking about? You need to be more specific.

Mr. X: Oh I am talking about phosphates that municipalities were dumping into the Great Lakes.

Mr. Y: Ok..so you mean phosphates that municipalities were allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.
7779

wrong post

7780
1) Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but more effective pest-control methods that were introduced in the 1880s saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region and more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from what was destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.

2) The spatial relationships among the elements of Jan Mickers 1652 masterwork Birds Eye View of Amsterdam, which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in most other seventeenth-century Dutch paintings.

which he painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted by the artist long before such a vantage point was to become possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those among
which he painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than in
painted long before the possibility of such a vantage point, are much more subtle and intricate than they are in
painted long before such a vantage point became possible, are much more subtle and intricate than those in

3) Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly.

Having more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes
Having had more than the usual number of fingers or toes
Having more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual number of fingers or toes
To have more than the usual numbers of fingers or toes

4) Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power only after a long struggle by the native people.

Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish power
Before independence in 1947, Britain had ruled India as a colony and relinquished power
Before its independence in 1947, India was ruled by Britain as a colony and they relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been ruled as a colony by Britain, which relinquished power
Before independence in 1947, India had been a colony of the British, who relinquished power



- B/C, will probably discount C for being slightly wordy.
- E.
- C (to have more toes is to suffer from polydactly)
- E
7781

@ attidude..for 2 E is correct..i missed out those...for 3 to have should be correct bcoz infinitives can be used as nouns (here subject)...having (gerund) more than the usual number of fingers or toes... is like an adjective phrase...without subject..also infinitives are not tense specific..whereas having indicates continuing action...thus D...any other explaination is welcome...

7782

scorpion - i wouldn't quite agree
Read this:
410 Grammar: Gerunds and Infinitives

it does not help get the right answer, but does help to learn something new :)

even still, i might not endorse this setence - to write in Eng i difficult... think about it

7783

@ attidude..having(subject) xyz is termed as polydactyly...is this sentence correct?? both sides of is should be parallel..this condition is termed as polydactyly... having is not termed as polydactyly...so an alternative can be..the condition in which a person has more than the usual number of fingers or toes on the hands or feet is termed polydactyly...what say friend??...and infinitive vs gerund issue still remains unresolved...:)

7784

Starting with "having more than" looks to be fine, try googling it, you will see many sentences. Maybe the idela sentence will be "the condition of having more than 5 toes is termed as polydactly".
Having gone thru a rough patch in 2008, saurav practiced harder and worked his way back into the team.

7785

Early success and the arrogance it often fosters may lead growing companies to the creation of new divisions that are, increasingly, less related to their core business.

the creation of new divisions that are, increasingly, less related
the creation of new divisions that are increasingly less related
create new divisions that are increasingly unrelated
be increasingly less related while creating new divisions
increasingly create new divisions with less relation

OA is C which has unrelated instead of less related. Can someone explain this?