According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


• TWO MAJOR CONCEPTS

(1) Constructing a possessive noun: use only one method
On the GMAT, use one construction or the other, but not both

Method #1 to create a possessive noun: use 's = X's Y
Correct: my neighbor's garden

Method #2 to create a possessive noun: use of noun = Y of X
Correct: the garden of my neighbor

GMAC disallows the use of both possessive indicators in the same phrase.
WRONG: Y of X's
WRONG: the garden of my neighbor's

I have never seen an exception to this rule in an official question.

(2) Comparisons that use EQUAL are strict

Comparisons that use "equal to" are a little easier than other kinds of comparisons because equal is strict.
We just ask, "Are those two things the same?"

************
I will lay out two approaches.

I can tell from PMs that I need to address people who are at radically different stages of preparation.
The quick POE is for people who are quite far along in the GMAT journey.

The option-by-option approach is for people who may be just starting or who are at what I call the "horrible hump": at a certain point nearly everyone has tried to digest too much information and becomes stuck for a little while.

I don't need to use a dual approach with every question.

If you understand and are satisfied with the Quick POE, skip the rest (or head straight to "Comments.")

****



• Quick POE

Split #1: use size of Maine or Maine's size

Options A and E incorrectly use both possessive constructions in the same phrase.
--. . . . area the size of Maine's.
Wrong. That version uses both possessive constructions in the same phrase.
Options A and E should use one construction or the other.
Eliminate A and E

Split #2 - comparison error. An area is not a state.

Options C and D both say that ". . . deserts are claiming . . . an area equal to Maine."
An area of land is not equal to a state in a country.
Eliminate options C and D

By POE, the answer is B
-- option B correctly uses ". . . area [that is] the size of Maine
-- option B correctly uses the size of Maine rather than the size of Maine's

• ANALYSIS of EACH OPTION

THE PROMPT



THE OPTIONS


• do not use both ways to make a noun possessive
-- Correct: the size of Maine
-- Correct: Maine's size
-- Wrong: the size of Maine's

• the placement of "each year" on its own is probably not enough to eliminate this answer.
-- "each year" is an emphasis phrase: every single year, the desert expands.
-- when "adverbs of frequency" (how often does this thing happen?) are central to the meaning of the sentence, they are usually placed at the beginning of the clause
-- compare to (B)—option B wins because "each year" (1) is placed for emphasis and (2) does not get in between the description of "area" and its description

• claim/are claiming. I would be careful with this split. I think it is to close to call.
-- are + claiming is constructed in the present progressive tense.
-- present progressive suggests an event that is still happening in the present and can indicate a trend.
-- on the other hand, GMAT prefers simple present, and simple present is used to express repeated actions
I think that this verb tense issue is too close to call

The use of a "double possessive" is fatal.
Eliminate A


• I see no issues
-- the size of Maine uses the correct possessive construction (X of Y)
-- the sentence does equate a portion of land (area) and "an organized political community forming part of a country," here, ([the state of] Maine)
-- "each year" is sensibly placed
KEEP


• an area of land and the state of Maine are not equal
• placement of each year is too close to call. Although adverbs of frequency usually are placed "up front" for emphasis, they can also be placed at the end of the clause or sentence (the middle is not great)
• again, compare. (B) is clearer. When we reach "each year," we know that what follows will describe a repeated event.
In (C) we wait until the end of the sentence to find out that the desert grows each year.

The comparison error is fatal.
Eliminate C


• there is no such thing as a "worldwide desert." No desert extends throughout the [whole] world.
• an area and the state of Maine are not equal
• placement of "each year" is not ideal

The comparison error is fatal
Eliminate D


• there is no such thing as "worldwide deserts"
• size of Maine's incorrectly uses both possessive constructions, as is the case in option A
Eliminate E

The answer is B

COMMENTS

The good news: posters here display really good "test-taking sense."
Yet again I see a nice balance among focus on grammar rules, focus on meaning, and focus on subtle details.
The focus on small or subtle details will expose deal breakers in harder questions.
In easier questions, those small or subtle details often segue into bigger issues.

The bad news: none.

Here and there a few small errors exist—but I am glad to see them. Yep.
Get the wrinkles out here.
Kudos to all.

A) deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s
Size of Maine's is incorrect. We dont need the possessive "'s" if we are clearly specifying that size is the comparison.

B) each year deserts throughout the world claim an area the size of Maine

C) deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year
Area is compared to Maine incorrectly

D) worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine.
Area is compared to Maine incorrectly

E) each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s
Size of maine's is incorrect.

B is the answer IMO

Modifier Issue. What we are trying to say here is "deserts, according to the report...." That is not right.



Same Modifier Issue. "worldwide, according to the report.." That is not right.



This is acceptable. Each year, "According to the report...,"

Option E has 2 issues. worldwide deserts is an incorrect usage. And the size of Maine's is incorrect.

Option B does not commit any mistakes and hence is the right answer.

According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s.

for simplicity, Many deserts are equal to Maine or area of many deserts is equal to maine's

A) deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s
In this option, each year is modified by the size of Maine's suggesting each year is the size of Maines. whereas it should modify deserts area. Additionally it uses double possessive size of Maine's. What does Maine's refer to? Area. So, deserts area is equal to size of maine's area ; is not comparative.

B) each year deserts throughout the world claim an area the size of Maine
deserts claim an area the size of maine -> here 'the size of Maine' is a noun modifier modifying 'an area' meaning an area is about the size of Maine. the size of Maine means the land area of Maine. Keep the answer!

C) deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year
deserts claim an area = to Maine ; is not comparative. it should be deserts claim an area equal to Maine's area

D) worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine
worldwide is now modifying the deserts, suggesting which type of deserts - worldwide deserts. there is no type as worldwide deserts.
deserts claim an area equal to maine - is not comparative

E) each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s
deserts claim an area the size of Maine's . Just as A, this one has double possessive the size of Maine's. hence not comparative..

B is the answer!

According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s.

since we are talking about a fact that happens every year its preferable to use simple present tense

A) deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s

present progressive tense is used to describe an even that is happening right now at this moment!
simple present is preferred when we are talking about facts or habits or something that happens at regular intervals

size of Maine's is wrong as we need to compare the size of Maine itself and not of Maine's

B) each year deserts throughout the world[b] claim an area the size of Maine

the use of simple present tense-claim is correct![/b]- correct!

C) deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year

area should be compared with the area of Maine/size of Maine and not Maine itself- comparison error-wrong!

D) worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine

are claiming is the wrong verb tense!- wrong!

E) each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s
size of Maine's -wrong!
_________________

A quick read-through shows that the sentence definitely tests meaning and comparison.

A) deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s
- What does the size of Maine's really mean? We are trying to compare the area that is claimed by deserts (they are extending every year) with the area of Maine. We cannot compare the area of something with the size of the area... This makes no sense.

B) each year deserts throughout the world claim an area the size of Maine
Correct option in IMO. What area is being claimed by deserts? The area [that has] the size of Maine. This makes sense.

C) deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year
It would be correct to say "deserts claim an area that is equal to the area of Maine", "deserts claim an area that is equal to that of Maine", or "deserts claim an area that is equal to the Maine's [area]".

D) worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine
Do we need Present continuous (to be + V+ing) if we say each year? Well, Present Simple makes more sense, i.e. deserts claim. Also, the highlighted part in this choice is very similar to (C) and one should be warned by this fact, even if one missed the comparison issue in (C).

E) each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s
- Same issue as in (A).

According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s.

Stimulus: They are stating the each year deserts claim a size of maines the size deserts claim is being compared to Maines Size.

A) deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s. The placement of each year is incorrect

B) each year deserts throughout the world claim an area the size of Maine Correct comparison

C) deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year incorrect comparison desert is being compared to Maine

D) worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine same error as D

E) each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s the omition of the word though out changes the meaning

Meaning: There was a UN conference on Desertification. According to a report of the conference, deserts worldwide claim an area each year. The area claimed is comparable to the size of Maine or the land area of Maine.

Split#1: claim vs are claiming
A report is made during the conference in relation to an event that occurs every year. It is better to use the simple present tense to report such events compared with the present progressive tense. The use of the present progressive tense suggests that the action is ongoing right at this moment, but that is not the meaning conveyed by the sentence. The sentence is only stating a fact. Based on this, we can eliminate options A and D.

Split#2: an area the size of Maine vs an area the size of Maine's.
An area the size of Maine is appropriate as qualitatively the area claimed by deserts worldwide is compared with the size of Maine.
An area the size of Maine's is redundant. It means an area the size of Maine's area. As a result, option E can be eliminated. The same error exists option A as well.

In option C, an area claimed by deserts worldwide is equated to Maine. This is incorrect. An area cannot be compared to Maine. At best it should be an area equal to the area of Maine or equal to Maine's. Eliminate option C.

The right answer is option B. The area claimed by deserts worldwide each year is compared to the size of Maine.


Option A: According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine’s.

Option B: According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, each year deserts throughout the world claim an area the size of Maine.

Option C: According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, deserts throughout the world claim an area equal to Maine each year.

Option D: According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, worldwide deserts each year are claiming an area equal to Maine.

Option E: According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification, each year worldwide deserts claim an area the size of Maine’s.

I have posted the official explanation here

generis the OA, as always, is superb. IMHO, we should sign a petition asking GMAC to offer you a lucrative contract to write explanations for SC questions in OG as the quality of your explanations is far better than that in the OG Thanks a ton!

In option A, deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine???s, can't the possessive Maine's stand for Maine's area i.e deserts worldwide are claiming an area each year the size of Maine???s area. Does that make the sentence wrong?

Also I was wondering whether size and area means the same.

Please help.

Thanks in advance!

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________