Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation

Thank you all for your responses.

The OA is A. Most of you got the answer right. However, only Folaa3 and desiguy came close to getting the main concept right.

The CONCEPT
When the phrase following the subject is set of by commas, it indicates that the descriptive information conveyed by that phrase may be dropped from the sentence; it is not part of the subject

NOTE: The following words - with, including, accompanied by, along with, as well as, besides, in addition to, together with, do not create compound subjects

Together with, does not create a compound subject. Since Diabetes is singular, the singular verb ranks is most appropriate in the answer choice. A also correctly uses the present tense. "Only" is also correctly placed with precision next to the group of words it actually limits.

I have also listed a few examples below, so that you can understand the concept better.

Wrong: George Bush, as well as Dick Cheney, are politicians

Right: George Bush, as well as Dick Cheney, is a politician

Wrong: George Bernard Shaw, as well as Mahatma Gandhi and River Phoenix, were vegetarians

Right: George Bernard Shaw, as well as Mahatma Gandhi and River Phoenix, was a vegetarian

Hope that helps.

Best regards,
DARTH

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 along with its serious complications, diabetes is the nation's third leading cause of death, and it is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• Only the conjunction "and" can link nouns to form a plural noun phrase.

A: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun "Diabetes" with the singular verb "ranks". Further, Option A uses the phrase "ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death", conveying the intended meaning - that diabetes combined with its serious complications practically is the third leading cause of death. Additionally, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "Diabetes" with the plural verb "rank"; please remember, only the conjunction "and" can link nouns to form a plural noun phrase.

C: This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy phrase "has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "Diabetes" with the plural verb "are"; please remember, only the conjunction "and" can link nouns to form a plural noun phrase. Further, Option D alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "third leading causes of death"; the use of the word "causes" incorrectly implies that diabetes and its serious complications both hold the rank of third leading cause of death; the intended meaning is that diabetes combined with its serious complications is the third leading cause of death.

E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "Diabetes" with the plural verb "have been ranked"; please remember, only the conjunction "and" can link nouns to form a plural noun phrase. Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death"; the use of the passive voice and the word "causes" incorrectly imply that diabetes and its serious complications both have simply been ranked as the third leading cause of death; the intended meaning is that diabetes combined with its serious complications practically is the third leading cause of death.

Hence, A is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "And" vs Other Conjunctions on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

"Rank of" unidiomatic...C is OUT
E, D and B are OUT - Diabetes is not plural (check the sentence, "its serious complications" means the main subject "diabetes" is singular)

I pick A. Straightforward - use simple present tense.

Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer

I also come to A.

however, one question, pls help

in the pattern

X of Y, do-ed

if Y works, comma+do-ed modifies Y
if Y dose not work and Y modifies X, comma+do-ed can jump Y to modifies X

if Y dose not work and Y dose not modifies X, comma+do-ed can not jump

for example
diabettes ranks as the second most dangerous disease by IFO oganisation, supassed by X disease
is wrong.
(I never see this question on og). just for discussion.

pls, comment.

Every one answered correctly, but no one challenged the usage of ed modifier after comma; what ed modifier is modifying.
It is explained further on this thread.
verb-ed-modifiers-vs-verb-ing-modifiers-125611.html

It says ed modifier modifies the entire noun phrase "nation's third leading cause of death"
Technically surpassed is modifying death but logically nothing can surpass death thus as per the rule it can modify entire preceding noun phrase.

Similarly there is another question from Gmat prep: which is quite confusing as right answer is bit difficult to understand, modifier is preferred over verb, but all actions appear at same level and no cause or effect relationship appear b/w them.
found-throughout-central-and-south-america-sloths-hang-from-83510.html

(a) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only
The V agrees in number with S (diabetes), surpassed serves as a modifier, and modifies the nation’s third leading cause of death. The sentence is correct as it is.

(b) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
This choice has a SV error. “only surpassed” is not the same as “surpassed only”, thus leading to meaning error.

(c) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
Has the rank of is wordy – ranks is better. Same meaning error as in b

(d) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
SV error. Are does not agree in number with diabetes.

(e) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed
SV error. Same meaning error as (c) and (b). use of present perfect is not needed when presenting facts.

Hi Folks,

Surpassed by..... is a participial modifier so it should modify a noun or a noun phrase.

Could you please tell me which is th noun or phrase being modified here.

I think its Diabetes.

Also,

How did you decide that " nation's third..." is a noun phrase.I often get confused while finding them.
I thought diabetes is getting modified

Regards

Let's analyze nation's third leading cause of death.

- cause is a noun.
- So, cause of death will also be a noun.
- third leading is just an adjective (an attribute/property/characteristic) of cause of death
- So, third leading cause of death is a noun (more specifically a noun phrase, because these group of words do not have a verb)
- Nation's is just making this entire noun phrase a possessive noun phrase.

Let's look at other example: India's third successive win in the tournament.

- win is a noun.
- So, win in the tournament will also be a noun.
- third successive is just an adjective (an attribute/property/characteristic) of win in the tournament
- So, third successive win in the tournament is a noun (more specifically a noun phrase, because these group of words do not have a verb)
- India's is just making this entire noun a possessive noun phrase.

Let me know if something is not clear.

The OA says that "only" should be placed after "surpassed", not before, because it limits "by hear disease and cancer", not "surpassed".

..., only surpassed by heart disease and cancer. ---> Wrong
..., surpassed only by heart disease and cancer. ---> Right

Could you please explain this observation in further detail?

The idea is to place "only" as close as possible to what it's modifying. We're not saying that diabetes is "only surpassed" (as opposed to some other more extreme verb). We're saying that it is surpassed by two other causes, and only by those two causes. Take a look at these:

I only sing in the band. (The only thing I do in the band is sing. I may also sing in other contexts.)
I sing only in the band. (I don't sing outside of the band. I may also do other things in the band, such as play an instrument.)

The door can be unlocked only by someone pure of heart. (Only someone pure of heart can unlock the door.)
The door can only be unlocked by someone pure of heart. (Someone pure of heart can only unlock the door. Perhaps they can't open it or pass through.)

If these seem weird to you, it's because very few of us actually speak or write like this. I don't generally follow this rule in my own writing, as I find there are other ways to make my meaning clear, and I often find the "correct" version to seem awkward or stuffy. However, the GMAT didn't ask my opinion!

Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer
(a) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only - Correct - Diabetes is singular/ hence ranks is correct More over Surpassed should precede only as only should be nearer to the item description.
(b) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(c) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(d) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
(e) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed

The concept that a past participle modifier (or any modifier as such) MUST always follow the touch rule is not correct (there is no "nearest noun" rule whatsoever - the "touch rule" states that modifier should refer to the noun it touches). Nonetheless there are exceptions to the "touch rule" - Manhattan SC guide summaries them all.

This question falls under the following exception:
A short predicate falls between, shifting a long modifier back.

Karanagrawal, it may help to think of "cause of death" as one thing. Similarly, we can say "The President of France, who visited . . . " or "The jar of peanut butter, which shattered." True, France didn't visit and the peanut butter didn't shatter. But those short prepositional modifiers just clarify who did visit and what did shatter.

Of course, another way to tell that this modifier usage isn't problematic is to note that it appears in all five answer choices, so we have to accept it.

Hi can some please why E is wrong ?

Sent from my ONE E1003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

The subject "Diabetes" is singular, whereas the verb "have been ranked" is plural. Hence E is wrong. Note that the part "together with its serious complications" is only a modifier of the subject "Diabetes". It does not change the number (i.e. singular/plural) of the subject.

If we scan options vertically, we can see a split of ‘ranks’ vs. ‘rank’. ‘ranks’ is singular and ‘rank’ is ‘plural. When we read the sentence, subject is ‘Diabetes’ which is singular. Eliminate B, D and E.

If we compare last words of A and C,
In C, ‘only’ modifies ‘surpassed’ means ‘Diabetes’ is only surpassing and not doing anything else. Wrong usage. Also, we are stating a fact, so simple present is required.

Hence A is the correct answer

Diabetes, together with its serious complications, ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer

(a) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only
(b) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(c) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(d) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
(e) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed

One point to highlight is the usage of "only" is important here.

Only when placed before "by heart disease and cancer" is limiting to those diseases

Only when placed before "surpassed" is limiting surpassed and not those diseases, which distorts the meaning.

Hence, Answer is A

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