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25 Apr 2020, 22:52
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
59% (01:20) correct
41%
(01:26)
wrong
based on 389
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A new generation of online tools is aiming to create sophisticated shoppers for medical care, but even when people can access new information, it is not always used effectively by them.
A) it is not always used effectively by them
B) this is not used effectively always
C) its use by them is not always effective
D) their use of this not always being effective
E) they are not always able to use it effectively
25 Apr 2020, 22:53
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
• HIGHLIGHTS
BETTER or WORSE?
Our job is to eliminate the four worst answers, not to find the one best answer.
This question isn't really about ambiguous pronouns.
Can we understand from context what the pronoun refers to? Yes? Then the sentence is almost certainly okay.
Theoretical ambiguity is not ambiguity.
The word "it" refers to the singular noun information.
The word "them" refers to the plural noun people.
You cannot simultaneously argue that pronoun ambiguity disqualifies answers X, Y, and Z and choose an answer such as (E) that uses those very same allegedly ambiguous pronouns.
Pronoun ambiguity analysis should be left as a very last step.
This question tests passive voice and parallel structure.
If an option seems grammatical to you and you cannot eliminate it within 3 seconds of having read it, keep it tentatively, but search for a better answer.
On the GMAT, sometimes two or three options will be grammatical but one answer will clearly outshine the others.
THE PROMPT
The subordinate clause beginning with but matters.
Meaning? Even when people can [finally] access information online, people do not always use that information effectively.
If you see the shortcut, take it. Strip the sentence:
A new generation of online tools is aiming to create sophisticated shoppers for medical care, but even when people can access new information, it is not always used effectively by them.
The sentence, stripped:
Even when people can access new information, it is not always used effectively by them.
THE OPTIONS (in a shortened sentence)
-- it logically refers to information (only one noun is singular)
-- them logically refers to people (only one noun is plural)
-- passive, not great: it is not used by them
-- active, better: they do not use it
• Subject switcheroo?
The "even when" clause begins with the subject people, and the subsequent sentence probably should begin with the subject they
• KEEP tentatively, but look for a better answer
-- Typically, GMAC requires "this" to "point" to a noun: this red chair near me, not that white couch on the other side of the room. (that, used in this way, is also a demonstrative adjective).
-- "this" almost certainly refers to "information," but 99 percent of the time, GMAC requires "this information" in which this is paired with its noun
-- For the first time that I know of, OG 2020 published a question in which THIS was a standalone pronoun rather than (grammar Nazi here
) a demonstrative adjective.
-- That is, GMAC allowed THIS to refer to a situation described but not actually named by a noun.
Spoiler alert: if you click on the link, the correct answer to a new official question is revealed
You can find that official question HERE
• is not used effectively always is terrible phrasing, one that would seem awful if you'd been reading quite a bit.
-- The subject, it, refers to information, but the subject of the previous clause is people, as I mentioned in option A
-- The adverb is misplaced.
→ Always theoretically can be placed at the end of the sentence;
adverbs of time frequently are placed at the beginning or end of clauses.
→ In this case, though, the placement creates two meanings
(1) is not used effectively always probably means "is RARELY used effectively," but
(2) is not used effectively always could be taken to mean "is NEVER used effectively"
-- this way would be better phrasing: is not always used effectively
• If I'm not willing to eliminate B outright, I use a comparison strategy now.
-- I know of one exception to the rule that "this" may not stand alone as a pronoun.
-- I can compare option B to option A.
Option A is not well-written, but it is grammatical and it does not involve a standalone this.
Option A is better than option B.
ELIMINATE B
• I would eliminate A and C because neither is great and they are very similar.
-- I can think of no way to decide between A and C
If you are nervous, KEEP A and C tentatively and look for a better answer.
Otherwise, ELIMINATE OPTION C (and OPTION A)
• being effective? -- the word "being" is not warranted in this sentence
ELIMINATE D.
• this option
-- maintains parallel structure between people and they in the two clauses
-- is not plagued by a standalone "this,"
-- is clear, and
-- is written in active voice
The best answer is E.
COMMENTS
Malikanarang , welcome to SC Butler.
I am glad to see new posters, newer posters, occasional posters, and veterans.
My standing invitation to post is always in effect.
If you have to explain the matter, you understand it.
Without exception in SC Butler questions, I make it clear that you have to explain.
The explanation does not have to be long, but it does have to be helpful.
Suppose that you were someone who were just starting or who were struggling.
(Read that last sentence again. If I simply highlight the word were and write "subjunctive" at the end of the sentence, would most people understand why I used the subjunctive? Nope.)
Abhishekrao12 gets kudos for explaining well. The other answers get smiley faces. Be safe.
• HIGHLIGHTS
BETTER or WORSE?
Our job is to eliminate the four worst answers, not to find the one best answer.
This question isn't really about ambiguous pronouns.
Can we understand from context what the pronoun refers to? Yes? Then the sentence is almost certainly okay.
Theoretical ambiguity is not ambiguity.
The word "it" refers to the singular noun information.
The word "them" refers to the plural noun people.
You cannot simultaneously argue that pronoun ambiguity disqualifies answers X, Y, and Z and choose an answer such as (E) that uses those very same allegedly ambiguous pronouns.
Pronoun ambiguity analysis should be left as a very last step.
This question tests passive voice and parallel structure.
If an option seems grammatical to you and you cannot eliminate it within 3 seconds of having read it, keep it tentatively, but search for a better answer.
On the GMAT, sometimes two or three options will be grammatical but one answer will clearly outshine the others.
THE PROMPT
Quote:
The first clause is not very important.
The subordinate clause beginning with but matters.
Meaning? Even when people can [finally] access information online, people do not always use that information effectively.
If you see the shortcut, take it. Strip the sentence:
The sentence, stripped:
Even when people can access new information, it is not always used effectively by them.
THE OPTIONS (in a shortened sentence)
Quote:
• Grammatical but awkward and not parallel, in part because it is written in the passive voice
-- it logically refers to information (only one noun is singular)
-- them logically refers to people (only one noun is plural)
-- passive, not great: it is not used by them
-- active, better: they do not use it
• Subject switcheroo?
The "even when" clause begins with the subject people, and the subsequent sentence probably should begin with the subject they
• KEEP tentatively, but look for a better answer
Quote:
• THIS without a clear reference is almost always wrong
-- Typically, GMAC requires "this" to "point" to a noun: this red chair near me, not that white couch on the other side of the room. (that, used in this way, is also a demonstrative adjective).
-- "this" almost certainly refers to "information," but 99 percent of the time, GMAC requires "this information" in which this is paired with its noun
-- For the first time that I know of, OG 2020 published a question in which THIS was a standalone pronoun rather than (grammar Nazi here
) a demonstrative adjective. -- That is, GMAC allowed THIS to refer to a situation described but not actually named by a noun.
Spoiler alert: if you click on the link, the correct answer to a new official question is revealed
You can find that official question HERE
• is not used effectively always is terrible phrasing, one that would seem awful if you'd been reading quite a bit.
-- The subject, it, refers to information, but the subject of the previous clause is people, as I mentioned in option A
-- The adverb is misplaced.
→ Always theoretically can be placed at the end of the sentence;
adverbs of time frequently are placed at the beginning or end of clauses.
→ In this case, though, the placement creates two meanings
(1) is not used effectively always probably means "is RARELY used effectively," but
(2) is not used effectively always could be taken to mean "is NEVER used effectively"
-- this way would be better phrasing: is not always used effectively
• If I'm not willing to eliminate B outright, I use a comparison strategy now.
-- I know of one exception to the rule that "this" may not stand alone as a pronoun.
-- I can compare option B to option A.
Option A is not well-written, but it is grammatical and it does not involve a standalone this.
Option A is better than option B.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• Same problems as those in option A (passive voice, subjects of clauses are different but should probably be the same)
• I would eliminate A and C because neither is great and they are very similar.
-- I can think of no way to decide between A and C
If you are nervous, KEEP A and C tentatively and look for a better answer.
Otherwise, ELIMINATE OPTION C (and OPTION A)
Quote:
• same problems with "this" as a standalone pronoun that I described in option B
• being effective? -- the word "being" is not warranted in this sentence
ELIMINATE D.
Quote:
• By POE, this option is the answer
• this option
-- maintains parallel structure between people and they in the two clauses
-- is not plagued by a standalone "this,"
-- is clear, and
-- is written in active voice
The best answer is E.
COMMENTS
Malikanarang , welcome to SC Butler.
I am glad to see new posters, newer posters, occasional posters, and veterans.
My standing invitation to post is always in effect.
If you have to explain the matter, you understand it.
Without exception in SC Butler questions, I make it clear that you have to explain.
The explanation does not have to be long, but it does have to be helpful.
Suppose that you were someone who were just starting or who were struggling.
(Read that last sentence again. If I simply highlight the word were and write "subjunctive" at the end of the sentence, would most people understand why I used the subjunctive? Nope.)
Abhishekrao12 gets kudos for explaining well. The other answers get smiley faces. Be safe.
General Discussion
25 Apr 2020, 23:26
Kudos
Bookmarks
A) “it” reference is ambiguos
B) “this is” what? New information? Wrong meaning
also “used effectively always” changed the intended meaning
C) its use by them wrong construction
D) “their” wrong reference. Also “being” is wrong
E) “they” refer back to people and “it” refer back to new information. Correct
Posted from my mobile device
B) “this is” what? New information? Wrong meaning
also “used effectively always” changed the intended meaning
C) its use by them wrong construction
D) “their” wrong reference. Also “being” is wrong
E) “they” refer back to people and “it” refer back to new information. Correct
Posted from my mobile device
