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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
getgyan wrote:
The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated in a different disposition
A. is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated
B. is some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulating
C. was that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, had metacarpals articulated
D. had been that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulated
E. is that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, having metacarpals articulated
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Idioms + Verb Forms• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
• In modifying a noun, the past participle conveys that the noun took an action that concluded in the past.
• The present participle is used to refer to an ongoing action in any time period.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "some specimens" with the singular verb "has". Further Option A incorrectly uses the simple present tense verbs "is" and "has" to refer to actions that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses "like" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "have" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "articulating" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, in modifying a noun, the past participle conveys that the noun took an action that concluded in the past, and the present participle is used to refer to an ongoing action in any time period.
C: Correct. THis answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "specimens" with "had", which can refer to both plural and singular nouns. Moreover, Option C acts upon the independent noun "specimens" with the active verb "had" to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Further, Option C correctly uses the simple past tense verbs "was" and "had" to refer to events that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the past participle ("articulated" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Besides, Option C correctly uses "such as" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had been" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "have" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses "like" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
E: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "having" is a noun modifier, there is no active verb to act upon the subject "specimens". Further, Option E incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "is" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Like" Versus "As" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Updated on: 07 May 2018, 08:16
45%
(medium)
40%
(01:30)
wrong 
