Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Nihit wrote:
The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.
(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.
(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
(E) Scientists’ ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Idioms• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
• “ability + to” is the preferred construction.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "ability" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option A alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The ability of scientists...have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists'
ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the
models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses "like" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists'
ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the
models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Further, Option B uses the construction "ability + in"; please remember, "ability + to" is the preferred construction.
C: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "Scientists" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option C uses the clause "Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models", conveying the intended meaning - that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Additionally, Option C correctly uses "such...as" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions". Besides, Option C uses the preferred construction "ability + to".
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "Scientists have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the
scientists have become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the
models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Further, Option D incorrectly uses "like" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples. Additionally, Option D uses the construction "ability + for"; please remember, "ability + to" is the preferred construction.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "ability" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "Scientists’ ability...have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists'
ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the
models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Like" versus "As" on the GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team