Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
asdert wrote:
While some academicians believe that business ethics should be integrated into every business course, others say that students will take ethics seriously only if it would be taught as a separately required course.
(A) only if it would be taught as a separately required course
(B) only if it is taught as a separate, required course
(C) if it is taught only as a course required separately
(D) if it was taught only as a separate and required course
(E) if it would only be taught as a required course, separately
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that students will take ethics seriously only if it is taught as a course that is both separate and required.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses• Habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "separately required course"; the use of the adverb "separately" to modify the adjective "required" incorrectly implies that students will take ethics seriously only if it is taught as a course that is required
in a separate manner; the intended meaning is that students will take ethics seriously only if it is taught as a course that is
both separate and required. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the simple future tense verb "would be taught" to refer to a hypothetical habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future.
B: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrases "take ethics seriously only if" and "separate, required course"; the use of the adverb "only" to modify the verb phrase "take...seriously" and the use of the adjective "separate" to modify "course" correctly imply that students will take ethics seriously
only if it is taught as a course that is
both separate and required. Further, Option B correctly uses the simple present tense verb "is taught" to refer to a hypothetical habitual action.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "taught only as a course required separately"; the use of the adverb "only" to modify "taught" and the use of the adverb "separately" to modify the adjective "required" incorrectly imply that students will take ethics seriously if the
only way it is taught is as a course that is required
in a separate manner; the intended meaning is that students will take ethics seriously
only if it is taught as a course that is
both separate and required.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "taught only"; the use of the adverb "only" to modify "taught" incorrectly implies that students will take ethics seriously if the
only way it is taught is as a course that is required and separate; the intended meaning is that students will take ethics seriously
only if it is taught as a course that is required and separate. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "was taught" to refer to a hypothetical habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "only be taught as a required course, separately"; the use of the adverb "only" to modify "taught" and the use of the adverb "separately" to modify the adjective "required" incorrectly imply that students will take ethics seriously if the
only way it is taught is as a course that is required
in a separate manner; the intended meaning is that students will take ethics seriously
only if it is taught as a course that is
both separate and required. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the simple future tense verb "would...be taught" to refer to a hypothetical habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple future tense is used to refer to actions that will take place in the future.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team