Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 10:54 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 10:54
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
TargetMBA007
Joined: 22 Nov 2019
Last visit: 14 Nov 2025
Posts: 256
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 215
Schools: Stanford (S)
GPA: 4.0
Schools: Stanford (S)
Posts: 256
Kudos: 331
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
MyGuruStefan
Joined: 15 May 2017
Last visit: 04 Nov 2025
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
173
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V45
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V45
Posts: 39
Kudos: 173
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
CrackverbalGMAT
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,844
Own Kudos:
8,945
 [1]
Given Kudos: 225
Affiliations: CrackVerbal
Location: India
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 4,844
Kudos: 8,945
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
SebastianN
Joined: 11 Oct 2020
Last visit: 28 Dec 2023
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
parthjain68


In my opinion, COMMA + WHICH is correctly placed here and refers back to "air traffic routes" AND NOT "the North Pole" because "the North Pole" is the object of preposition "over the North Pole" and therefore, is not the closest preceding main noun.

Please tell me whether I am right or wrong.
Hi , which can refer to object of preposition. There are numerous such official questions. For example:

The commission proposed that funding for development of the park, which could be open to the public early next year, be obtained through a local bond issue.

Here, which refers to park (park is the object of preposition of in this example).

However, in the sentence under consideration, which cannot modify North Pole because the sentence says which are. So, which can only modify a plural Noun in this sentence.

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

I'm sorry, I am not sure about that. In my perception 'which' refers back to air traffic routes correctly. Whatever follows the preposition is part of the prepositional phrase, which modifies the previous noun. Now, 'which' refers back to the last noun, hence, the noun 'routes' ('air traffic' would be the compound adjective). Manhattan Prep has some good material on this.

Likewise in your example, 'of the park' is a prepositional phrase, as also is 'for development'. The reason your example is correct is that 'which' refers back to the noun 'funding' which could be 'open to the public early next year' as well.

At least this is how I see it.
User avatar
EducationAisle
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SebastianN
Likewise in your example, 'of the park' is a prepositional phrase, as also is 'for development'. The reason your example is correct is that 'which' refers back to the noun 'funding' which could be 'open to the public early next year' as well.

At least this is how I see it.
This interpretation is not correct.

This sentence is from The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review 2016.

Official explanation (from GMAT official guide): In this sentence, which clearly modifies park.
avatar
SebastianN
Joined: 11 Oct 2020
Last visit: 28 Dec 2023
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EducationAisle
SebastianN
Likewise in your example, 'of the park' is a prepositional phrase, as also is 'for development'. The reason your example is correct is that 'which' refers back to the noun 'funding' which could be 'open to the public early next year' as well.

At least this is how I see it.
This interpretation is not correct.

This sentence is from The Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review 2016.

Official explanation (from GMAT official guide): In this sentence, which clearly modifies park.
Ok, you are probably right. I don't understand the logic though. In my perception the GMAC applies the same rules always on every topic, regardkless of the question. The rule I know is that comma+'which' always refers back to the last noun before the comma.
Why does the explanation say that this option is correct compared to other answer choices? I don't have the material of 2016.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
EducationAisle
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SebastianN
In my perception the GMAC applies the same rules always on every topic, regardkless of the question. The rule I know is that comma+'which' always refers back to the last noun before the comma.
I am not understanding your question. I thought that just a couple of post back, you mentioned that which will not refer to the last noun before the comma, if that noun is a part of prepositional phrase.
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,350
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,350
Kudos: 742
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would be careful using the presence of “it” as the sole basis for elimination of answer A and other such sentence versions that use an expletive “it” as the Subject.

This kind of “it” may be acceptable when it is “pushing back” an Infinitive Phrase or a Substantive Noun Clause to later in the sentence.

In this sentence, the expletive “it” is indeed problematic but it may not always be the case.

Awkward Ex: “To study hard for the exam is crucial.”

—-Awkward, but not necessarily grammatically incorrect)

Better ex: “It is crucial to study hard for the exam.”

Awkward ex: “That he will get a high score on the exam is certain.”

—— awkward but not necessarily grammatically incorrect

Better ex: “It is certain that he will get a high score on the exam.”




MyGuruStefan
When dealing with fully underlined sentences such as this, try to identify a single error first to streamline the elimination process for maximum efficiency. In the sentence as written, the pronoun "it" is ambiguous because it lacks a clear antecedent. Eliminate A and look for any choices that also include ambiguous pronouns. Choices B and C also include the ambiguous or otherwise erroneous pronouns "it" and "which" that do not correctly and clearly refer to a prior subject. Eliminate B and C as well for their pronoun errors.

Choice D properly orders the information in the sentence and eliminates the ambiguous pronouns. Choice E eliminates the main predicate phrasing of the sentence by omitting "are" and leaves it without a clear subject-verb pairing. It also includes the incorrect idiom "found... as", which should be "found... to be". Eliminate choice E. The correct answer is D.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
MyGuruStefan
Joined: 15 May 2017
Last visit: 04 Nov 2025
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V45
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V45
Posts: 39
Kudos: 173
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Fdambro294
I would be careful using the presence of “it” as the sole basis for elimination of answer A and other such sentence versions that use an expletive “it” as the Subject.

This kind of “it” may be acceptable when it is “pushing back” an Infinitive Phrase or a Substantive Noun Clause to later in the sentence.

In this sentence, the expletive “it” is indeed problematic but it may not always be the case.

Awkward Ex: “To study hard for the exam is crucial.”

—-Awkward, but not necessarily grammatically incorrect)

Better ex: “It is crucial to study hard for the exam.”

Awkward ex: “That he will get a high score on the exam is certain.”

—— awkward but not necessarily grammatically incorrect

Better ex: “It is certain that he will get a high score on the exam.”

All good points, although in this sentence the "it" clearly isn't expletive as the word is used in the referential form. Hooray for the ambiguities of English, though. Keep up the good GMAT verbal practice! ~Stefan
avatar
Ccccc1111111
Joined: 06 Aug 2020
Last visit: 17 May 2023
Posts: 25
Given Kudos: 270
Posts: 25
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.

1.
1-1
S find O to be OC
I find the book interesting.
*
S+find+O (to be)
Russian study has found opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year to be both feasible and desirable. (E)
Russian study has found if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year to be both feasible and desirable.。


1-2
O is found by S to be OC/O is found to be OC by S
the book is found by me to be interesting.
the book is found to be interesting by me .
*
Opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is found by Russian study to be both feasible and desirable.
Opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is found to be both feasible and desirable by Russian study.


1-3
S find it to be OC O
I find it to be interesting the book
*
S+find+it (to be) OC O
Russian study has found it to be both feasible and desirable to open those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year. (C)
Russian study has found it to be both feasible and desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a yearIf

1-4
it is found by S to be OC O/it is found to be OC O by S/
it is found by me to be interesting the book /it is found to be interesting the book by me/
*
It is found by Russian study to be both feasible and desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.(A)

1-5
S find that S+V+C
*
Although air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is both feasible and desirable.

2.
when/if/whether can both use as adj/noun clause


noun clause: used to introduce a clause, often in indirect speech, that shows two or more possibilities
adjective clause: used to say that a particular thing can or will happen only after something else happens or becomes true





A. Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.
a-1
we can not use it for the whole thing(Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day)
a-2
and we can not use it for expletive because:
"if" in this sentence means adjective clause: used to say that a particular thing can or will happen only after something else happens or becomes true
it for expletive+ tov/noun clause.
a-3
both feasible as well as desirable


B. Currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that if air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year, it would be both feasible and desirable.
if-adv clause.

b-1
if S are..., it would be...
it(wrong) can not mean the whole sentence: air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year
would be(wrong)
if air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year, it is/will both feasible and desirable.
b-2
Currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study



C. A joint Canadian–Russian study, finding it to be both feasible as well as desirable to open air traffic routes over the North Pole, which are currently used by only two or three planes a day, to thousands more commercial planes a year.
c-1
S+V+O
c-2
both feasible as well as desirable

D. Although air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is both feasible and desirable.(OA)

E. With air traffic routes over the North Pole currently used by only two or three planes a day, opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study as both feasible and desirable
opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study TO BE both feasible and desirable
User avatar
desertEagle
Joined: 14 Jun 2014
Last visit: 03 Aug 2025
Posts: 567
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 413
Posts: 567
Kudos: 344
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.


A. Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.

B. Currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that if air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year, it would be both feasible and desirable.

C. A joint Canadian–Russian study, finding it to be both feasible as well as desirable to open air traffic routes over the North Pole, which are currently used by only two or three planes a day, to thousands more commercial planes a year.

D. Although air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is both feasible and desirable.

E. With air traffic routes over the North Pole currently used by only two or three planes a day, opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study as both feasible and desirable

GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep KarishmaB AndrewN

"currently used by" - use of currently means that it should be present continuous tense as the action is continuing in present time - why used is correct here - this makes it present perfect
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 16,267
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 482
Location: Pune, India
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,267
Kudos: 76,997
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
desertEagle
AbdurRakib
Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.


A. Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.

B. Currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that if air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year, it would be both feasible and desirable.

C. A joint Canadian–Russian study, finding it to be both feasible as well as desirable to open air traffic routes over the North Pole, which are currently used by only two or three planes a day, to thousands more commercial planes a year.

D. Although air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is both feasible and desirable.

E. With air traffic routes over the North Pole currently used by only two or three planes a day, opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study as both feasible and desirable

GMATNinja MartyTargetTestPrep KarishmaB AndrewN

"currently used by" - use of currently means that it should be present continuous tense as the action is continuing in present time - why used is correct here - this makes it present perfect

They have not switched the tense. It is a passive construction.

Only 2-3 planes use the routes over NP.
Routes over NP are used by only 2-3 planes.
Present tense is shown by the use of 'are.'

Active - A does B.
Passive - B is done by A.
User avatar
GMATmona07
Joined: 23 Jun 2022
Last visit: 13 Sep 2023
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 79
Posts: 24
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.


A. Air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, but it was found by a joint Canadian–Russian study to be both feasible as well as desirable if those routes are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year.
it-has no singular referent, both-as well as is incorrect

B. Currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that if air traffic routes over the North Pole are opened to thousands more commercial planes a year, it would be both feasible and desirable.
The starting modifier is modifying the study, which is incorrect

C. A joint Canadian–Russian study, finding it to be both feasible as well as desirable to open air traffic routes over the North Pole, which are currently used by only two or three planes a day, to thousands more commercial planes a year.
Both-as well as is incorrect, it-has no singular referent

D. Although air traffic routes over the North Pole are currently used by only two or three planes a day, a joint Canadian–Russian study has found that opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year is both feasible and desirable.-Correct

E. With air traffic routes over the North Pole currently used by only two or three planes a day, opening those routes to thousands more commercial planes a year has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study as both feasible and desirable
opening has been found by a joint Canadian—Russian study - incorrect structure & meaning
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,829
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,829
Kudos: 986
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts