Using hidden cameras that are triggered by motion, reclusive animal

if an answer choice distinguishes only between the use of that (evrythgn else remainig the same), make sure the verb is not a reporting one (such as indicate,claim contend etc-pg 212 MGMAT) then read both the choices with /without that. If the choice without that is clear in its meaning, go for it.
That usage can be tricky. Reporting verbs always take that also
if you have a noun referring to a feeling or an idea, than you're always going to need to use "that" if a description of that feeling or idea follows.
e.g.
the notion that his own family would vote against him
confidence that the economy will improve
(got the above examples from a forum)
these are the only 2 ones I know. there may be many.

But i seriosuly do not think any original GMAT Q would want us to decide only between that and lack of it.. there would sure be something else to fall upon.

IMO, there isn’t any critical difference between D and E; E uses a past participle phrase ‘threatened’ while D unnecessarily converts it into a longer subordinate clause. In terms of precision alone, I think E instantly wins.

But I have a different issue with this example regarding the use of the main verb, ‘are studying”. Is it right to use a progressive tense verb for an event that seems to be the order of the day and that which seems likely to extend even in future? Isn’t the use of a simple present as biologists ‘study’ a better one than “are studying”?

In other words, when the fine distinction between ‘threatened’ and ‘that are threatened’ is big enough to separate the grain from the chaff, how can a glaringly inappropriate use of tense be ignored?
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You can reach Answer (E) in < 15 seconds. Here's how:

Step 1) I see an -ING verb that starts the phrase and then gets separated by the comma. So I know the phrase must describe the subject of the main sentence.

Step 2) I recognize that "reclusive animals" don't "use hidden cameras" so I scan through the answer choices for other options. I see (D) and (E) mention "biologists" so I narrow it down to those 2.

Step 3) I read through both (D) and (E)--both are grammatically correct---but on the GMAT exam, if I'm choosing between two good choices---always choose the simpler one. If you can express the same thing in fewer words--why choose the longer answer choices? It's not testing me on "that" versus "which"--it's just simply testing me on whether I should include "that" at all.

In this case, go simple, and choose (E). No need to think about fancy grammar rules like "pronoun ambiguity" or "subordinate clause" or "reporting verbs."

You see? Not bad! Didn't have to think that much and still arrived at the right answer!

So you say "biologists study" should be better than "biologists are studying"----ok sure.
But more importantly, is this what the GMAT guys are testing you on here? No! They are not asking you come up with the most optimal way of expressing an idea. They are asking you to choose the BEST option from what is available.

Since there's nothing wrong with "biologists are studying" and the option for "biologists study" does not exist in the answer choices, don't waste time thinking about alternatives choices that aren't on the exam question. Just choose the best one. That's it!

Not so; you need //ism only between comparable things. ‘Using’ is a present participle while "are studying’ is a working verb. Both need not be parallel. Look at the following example (I think this is an OG question)

Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy

A. Using a Doppler ultrasound device, fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy
B. Fetal heartbeats can be detected by the twelfth week of pregnancy, using a Doppler ultrasound device
C. Detecting fetal heartbeats by the twelfth week of pregnancy, a physician can use a Doppler Ultrasound device
D. By the twelfth week of pregnancy, fetal heartbeats can be detected using a Doppler ultrasound device by a physician
E. Using a Doppler ultrasound device, a physician can detect fetal heartbeats by the twelfth week of pregnancy

The correct answer is E. You can see that ‘using’ isn’t paralleling ‘can detect’.
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My answer is D.
Biologists are studying "reclusive animals that are threatened" not the whole "reclusive animals". Any specific thoughts about difference between D and E?
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I happened to guess E within 10-15 seconds. Here's how:

Step 1) "using" followed by a comma suggests that whatever follows the comma must be the one who is "using hidden cameras"

Step 2) browse own the first word of each answer choice - and only (D) and (E) make sense.

Step 3) Compare (D) and (E) - they're basically saying the same thing - nothing necessarily wrong with either. But when it comes to the GMAT, you want to choose the one that is simpler. USUALLY, that means the one that is shorter.
So at first glance, I'm tempted to choose (E). Let's read it through.

Step 4) "animals threatened by extinction" versus "animals that are threatened by extinction"
It's the same idea - and you're not really losing anything in (E) as you keep it simple.
No red flags.

So go ahead and pick (E) as your final answer and move on to the next one.

Hope that helps!

this is an example of a question where one should not bring its outside knowledge. One could argue reclusive animals may not be threatened by extinction, well if you say so we are bringing in outside knowledge. D, E are essentially saying same thing, reclusive animals threatened by extinction is the concise way to saying the same thing. That is totally unnecessary.

Point noted!

I would like to ask egmata query regarding the omission of words in this question.

In option D we have:

Using hidden cameras that are triggered by motion, biologists are studying reclusive animals that are threatened by extinction

In the OA, in the red clause, "that are threatened" by extinction reduces to "threatened".

I have read in one of your posts that we can drop "that" , when it is merely used as a connector for two clauses ( AS A RELATIVE PRONOUN ). "That" cannot be dropped when it acts as the subject of the DC.

The DC here is "that are threatened by extinction", and "that" acts as the subject for this DC.

How can we omit "are threatened" in this case?

A, B, C - out Using hidden cameras that are triggered by motion should modifybiologists

Out of D and E, Chose E because in D animals are plural and that is singular

Using hidden cameras that are triggered by motion, reclusive animals threatened by extinction are studied by biologists.


A. reclusive animals threatened by extinction are studied by biologists
B. reclusive animals, threatened by extinction, are studied bby biologists
C. reclusive animals are studied by bilogists that are threatened by extinction
D. biologists are studying reclusive animals that are threatened by extinction
E. biologists are studying reclusive animals threatened by extinction

Hi Experts,

I marked option E because, in option D, "that" is referring to animals. Since "those" is used for plural noun and not "that". Can you please confirm if the logic is right ?

Hi Monu, when used as relative pronoun (as is the case here), that can refer to both singular and to plural nouns.

So, both the following statements are correct:

Peter stays at a place that is in the countryside.

Peter prefers places that are in the countryside.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the various avatars of "that", their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.
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