NandishSS wrote:
HI
GMATNinja,
generis,
AndrewN In Option A, Pronoun ambiguity is not a hard rule eliminate so wanted to check, here Isn't they logically refers 64 million workdays ? How to eliminate A?
Hello,
NandishSS. I agree with what
CrackVerbalGMAT has posted above. Speaking to your concern about pronoun ambiguity, no, it is not in itself a death sentence if an answer choice incorporates less-than-100-percent clear pronouns. Just do not lose sight of the five options presented. If a safer, harder-to-argue against alternative presents itself, as occurs in (B) above, then choose that option instead, every time. Watch the correct answers come rolling in. You may even think in terms of caution signs against different answer choices in the first pass, particularly if you cannot spot any clear violations. Take (A) and (B), for instance:
Quote:
Migraine, the most debilitating common form of headache, afflicts perhaps 18 million Americans, who collectively lose 64 million workdays a year, and they cost the nation $50 billion in medical expenses and lost work time.
(A) year, and they cost the nation $50 billion in medical expenses and lost
(B) year and thus cost the nation $50 billion in medical expenses and lost
Now, between the two answer choices, you should ask yourself whether it is necessary to turn the sentence into a compound sentence. Is the comma warranted? Also, what about
they? If it is not entirely clear, then you have two caution signs in that answer. In (B), though, the lack of a comma indicates two parallel elements, and
lose and
cost match up perfectly. Between the two answer choices, (B) is the clear winner.
I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this one.
- Andrew