Although the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be

This is a classic case of an SC question with a terrible-sounding correct answer. (And if I remember correctly, I got this !&$!^$%ing question wrong the first time I saw it a decade or so ago, for exactly that reason.) But in case you aren’t tired of hearing me say it yet: sound doesn’t matter on SC, right?

We have all sorts of problems here. For starters, “it” seems to refer to “the first pulsar”, and that makes no sense: “the first pulsar had not been announced until February, 1968”? What the heck does it mean to “announce a pulsar”? You could announce a sighting, but not the pulsar itself.

The use of the past perfect tense (“had not been announced”) also isn’t great in (A). That verb tense needs to describe an action that happens BEFORE some other action in the past. But in this case, it’s backwards: the pulsar was observed in 1967, but then it was announced later, in 1968 – so it’s awfully strange to use the past perfect tense to discuss the 1968 announcement, given the context of the sentence.

That’s enough to eliminate (A). But for whatever it’s worth, there’s other goofy stuff here: why would you say that the “first pulsar… to be sighted was in the summer of 1967”?? You could say that it “was observed in the summer of 1967” or “was first seen in the summer of 1967” or maybe even “was first sighted in the summer of 1967”, but the version in (A) doesn't make much sense.

But even if you ignore everything I said in that last paragraph, we still have plenty of reasons to eliminate (A).


The biggest problem with (B) is that funky modifier at the beginning of the sentence: “Although not announced until February, 1968….” needs to be followed by the thing that was (eventually) announced – presumably, the observation of the pulsar. But that doesn’t really happen. Instead, the phrase is followed by “in the summer of 1967 graduate student Jocelyn Bell…” And that makes no sense, because neither the summer of 1967 nor Jocelyn Bell was announced in 1968.

So (B) is gone, too.


(C) has some of the same problems as (A) and (B). That opening modifier is still a problem: the opening phrase “Although observed… in the summer of 1967, the the discovery of the first sighted pulsar…” suggests that the discovery was observed in the summer of 1967, and that’s nonsense.

I’m also still uncomfortable with the use of past perfect tense (“had not been announced”) at the end of the sentence. It’s odd to say that the discovery “had not been announced before February, 1968” unless that action comes before some other action – and it doesn’t, since the pulsar was first observed in 1967.

Finally, I don’t love the way the word “sighted” is used here. It’s structured as an adjective in (C), and “sighted” generally means “having the ability to see” (i.e., not blind) when it’s used as an adjective. So if we say “the first sighted pulsar”, we’re literally saying that the pulsar has eyesight. Sounds cool, but not terribly reasonable.

So we can get rid of (C).


I’ll be honest: I think this sounds lousy. That initial clause (“the first pulsar… to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967”) SOUNDS redundant. I mean, it just doesn’t SOUND right to say that the pulsar was both “sighted” and “observed.”

But if you’re answering SC based on sound, you’re not doing it right (more on that here). In this case, there’s actually a pretty good reason the sentence is written the way it is: if it just said “the first pulsar was observed in the summer of 1967”, that would imply that the pulsar Bell observed was the first pulsar that ever existed. And that makes no sense.

So we actually need the phrase “to be sighted” in order to understand which pulsar Bell observed.

And I don’t see anything else that’s really a concern. Let’s keep (D).


For starters, it’s illogical to say that “the first pulsar… was not announced until February, 1968.” You might announce the discovery of the pulsar; you wouldn’t announce the pulsar itself.

Second, we still have that problem with the adjective “sighted.” See answer choice (C) for more on this, but it literally suggests that the pulsar has eyesight; if we want to say that it was the first pulsar anybody had ever seen, then we could say something like “the first pulsar to be sighted” or “the first pulsar ever seen”… or something along those lines.

And finally, the sequencing of the sentence is odd. When you read the first half of the sentence – telling us that the “pulsar… was not announced”, we have no context for it yet, since we don’t know when it was first observed by Bell. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s one more reason that (E) isn’t awesome.

So (E) is out, and (D) is our answer.
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Step 1. The use of past perfect for the later event is totally illogical and inappropriate and hence A and C are out
Step 2. B suffers from bad modification; after the modifier phrase, “Although not announced until February, 1968”, the modified noun 'the discovery of the first pulsar' should be mentioned. Hence B can be dropped.

To decide between D and E, I feel that the phrase ‘the first sighted pulsar’ as used in E rather changes the original meaning of the text which uses the phrase ‘the first pulsar to be sighted’. To be sighted in the context does not mean yet to be sighted but simply that has been sighted. In addition, the term ‘sighted pulsar’ may in a weird sense mean a pulsar that is blessed with the power of sight.

Second, the term ‘discovery’ is a crucial factor that is conspicuous by its absence in E. IMO, we should also appreciate the chronological sequence maintained in D and therefore D is superior to E.
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Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that the first pulsar to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, but the discovery was not announced until February 1968.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Tenses + Pronouns + Idioms

• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• 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".
• “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast.
• “while” is used for actions that take place simultaneously, irrespective of whether these actions are positive, negative, or neutral.

A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "the first pulsar...was in the summer of 1967"; the construction of this clause leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that the first pulsar to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had not been announced" to refer to the later of two actions that concluded in the past - the pulsar being discovered and the discovery being announced; please remember, 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". Additionally, Option A suffers from pronoun ambiguity, as the pronoun "it" lacks a clear referent.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses "Although not announced until February, 1968" to modify "in the summer of 1967 graduate student Jocelyn Bell"; as "in the summer of 1967" is also a modifier, "Although not announced until February, 1968" modifies "graduate student Jocelyn Bell, illogically implying that Jocelyn Bell was not announced until February 1968; the intended meaning is that the Jocelyn Bell's discovery of the pulsar was not announced until February 1968; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.

C: This answer choice incorrectly uses "Although observed...1967" to modify "the discovery of the first sighted pulsar", illogically suggesting that the discovery of the pulsar was observed by Jocelynn Bell in the summer of 1967; the intended meaning is that the pulsar itself was observed by Jocelynn Bell in the summer of 1967; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had not been announced" to refer to the later of two actions that concluded in the past - the pulsar being discovered and the discovery being announced; please remember, 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".

D: Correct. This answer choice uses the clause "The first pulsar...to be sighted was observed", avoiding the modifier errors seen in Options B and C and conveying the intended meaning - that the first pulsar to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, but the discovery was not announced until February 1968. Further, Option D correctly uses the simple past tense verb phrase "was not announced" to refer to the later of two actions that concluded in the past - the pulsar being discovered and the discovery being announced. Additionally, Option D avoids the pronoun error seen in Option A, as it employs no pronouns. Besides, Option D correctly uses "but" to convey contrast.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The first sighted pulsar...was not announced until February, 1968"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the pulsar itself was not announced until February 1968; the intended meaning is that the discovery of the pulsar was not announced until February 1968. Further, Option E incorrectly uses "while" to illustrate contrast; please remember, “although” and “despite” are used to show contrast, and “while” is used for actions that take place simultaneously, irrespective of whether these actions are positive, negative, or neutral.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



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 "Although", "Though", "Despite", and "While" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Opted D and E,

but rejected D because of -" to be sighted was observed"

Can any one pls explain

"To be sighted was observed" is indeed a tricky construction. Remember infinitives can be adverbs, nouns, and adjectives. In this case, the infinitive is used as an adjective to "the first pulsar." The infinitive, like other verbals, carry an idea of action, and the idea of action is that "someone sighted the first pulsar." In passive tense, that is "the first pulsar was sighted by someone"; without the agent, it is "the first pulsar was sighted"; in infinitive-modifier form, we have "the first pulsar to be sighted." So, the blurb "the first pulsar to be sighted was observed..." is a bit less confusing once it's broken down.

I hope this helps.

what is wrong with E please explain ??

Regards
SG

E says: The first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, was not announced until February, 1968, while it was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell.

So, it basically says: The first sighted pulsar was not announced until February, 1968

It is nonsensical to say that pulsar was not announced; pulsar cannot be announced/unannounced.

Actually the observation/discovery (about the sighting of pulsar) was not announced until February, 1968. This is what E says.
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In the option c, is it not correct to use ' had not been announced before/until 1968' ? because to emphasize that ' announcement' has not been made before 1968. 'no announcement' is before 1968 so i thought it should be past perfect tense. i understand first sighting in 1967 and then announcement in 1968 . so, use of past perfect for announcement is wrong. but, without the first clause is it right to use past perfect for the second clause?

Use of past perfect is redundant when using "before".
Correct: I left home before my father arrived.
Wrong: I had left home before my father arrived.

The following is an excerpt from Manhattan SC guide:

"Note that we do not always use the Past Perfect for earlier actions. In general, you should use Past Perfect only to clarify or emphasize a sequence of past events. The earlier event should somehow have a bearing on the context of the later event. Moreover, if the sequence is already obvious, we often do not need Past Perfect.

Laura LOCKED the deadbolt before she LEFT for work."

'To be sighted' and 'was observed' are they not redundant in option D ? or do they take different stance here ? Why not simply say 'was observed'

They can't be redundant. The sentence focuses on the time of the observation of the first special star that was sighted. "To be sighted" means the first one was sighted from the Earth. "was observed" is simply the main verb in that sentence.

Also, if you combine them: "The first pulsar was observed in the summer of 1967", this sentence distorts the meaning. First, "the first pulsar" means first of what? Second, this sentence indicates that people observed that star in 1967, this observation is not necessarily the first observation of that star.
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(A) Although the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted was in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, it had not been announced until February, 1968. - 'it' refers to the 'first pulsar', resulting in an illogical meaning. Also, there is an issue with the tenses. The earlier event has a simple past tense but the later event has a past perfect tense.

(B) Although not announced until February, 1968, in the summer of 1967 graduate student Jocelyn Bell observed the first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted. - Modifier error.

(C) Although observed by graduate student Jocelyn Bell in the summer of 1967, the discovery of the first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, had not been announced before February, 1968. - Same as B.

(D) The first pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, to be sighted was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell, but the discovery was not announced until February, 1968. - Correct.

(E) The first sighted pulsar, or rapidly spinning collapsed star, was not announced until February, 1968, while it was observed in the summer of 1967 by graduate student Jocelyn Bell. - 'while' creates a meaning issue.

Answer: D

GMATNinja
I have a question, in answer choice d, isn't "sighted was observed " redundant?@

'To be sighted was observed' does sound redundant actually. GMATNinja, could you please explain that?
But nevertheless, D sounds better than the other choices, so would go with that!

Do not agree.

The first pulsar to be sighted was observed.

"the first to be sighted" is an attribute of this pulsar. it was the first pulsar that somebody has been seen.
And then we say that it was observed. In some year, by some guy and so on.
So no redundancy.

Sorry for the wait on the OE, Samakshkapoor92 & nithinjohn! I think the potential redundancy is actually the hardest thing about this question, and I say quite a bit about it in the explanation. Though DharLog is spot-on, and beat me to it.

Welcome to GMAT Club, Samakshkapoor92!
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Dear @GMATNinja,mikemcgarry, GMATNinjaTwo, GMATNinja, MagooshExpert Carolyn,
sayantanc2
VeritasPrepKarishma

I genuinely need you experts' help

verb tens is so hard for foreigners.

As GMATNinja explains above, I think I can understand what your point.
but, I am still confused.

I read a correct example from Manhattan guide,


my interpretation of HAD fully ECLIPSED is the timeframeless than ten years later,
more important point of this sentence is that a past perfect HAD fully ECLIPSED is not earlier action in the sentence,

similarly, in this case, I think HAD not BEEN ANNOUNCED is not a earlier action although HAD fully ECLIPSED is correct because the timeframe "UNTIL FEBRUARY 1968",
So I think the meaning is sound.

please help explain further.

Thanks in advance

have a lovely day.

>_~

First, you want to be very, very careful about interpreting a non-official sentence as an authoritative representation of how the GMAT handles a certain concept. If you want to analyze official GMAT sentences in an effort to figure out how, exactly, the GMAT handles the past perfect tense, that would be fine. But I think it's a mistake to assume that questions written by a test-prep company (my own included!) -- perfectly mimic the GMAT's handling of any particular grammar issue.

In other words: official GMAT sentences are a good authority on the GMAT's usage of past perfect tense; non-official sentences are not.

So I won't analyze the U2 example, but let's get back to the original sentence:


I think that part of the confusion is that the action in past perfect ("had not been announced") isn't really an action at all -- it's the absence of any action, since the discovery "had NOT been announced". But still, the sentence is very clearly trying to draw a distinction between two time periods: in 1967 (the earlier period), the discovery was made, and in 1968 (the later period) the discovery was announced. And it's just nonsensical to use past perfect to describe what happened -- or didn't happen -- in the LATER period (1968).

And even if you don't believe a word of that, there are still plenty of other reasons to eliminate (A).

I hope this helps!
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In the sentence about U2, "had fully eclipsed" is an earlier action. What is it earlier than? "less than ten years later."

Consider the following alternative, which also has an action occurring before ten years later.

By the 1990's, the band had eclipsed its earlier rivals.

Now, the action the band's eclipsing its rivals precedes the 1990's.
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