Because of a similarity to dance, synchronized swimming—exhibition swi

Question

Because of a similarity to dance, synchronized swimming—exhibition swimming in which the movements  of one or more swimmers synchronize to  a musical accompaniment—is sometimes called water ballet, especially in theatrical situations.

(A) of one or more swimmers synchronize to

(B) of one swimmer or more is synchronized with

(C) of one or more swimmers are synchronized with

(D) by one swimmer or more is synchronized to

(E) by one or more swimmers synchronize to

Skywalker18 · Accepted Answer

Because of a similarity to dance, synchronized swimming—exhibition swimming in which the movements  of one or more swimmers synchronize to  a musical accompaniment—is sometimes called water ballet, especially in theatrical situations.

(A) of one or more swimmers synchronize to - synchronize to is unidiomatic - We either "synchronize " (eg, synchronize our watches) or we "synchronize X with Y" (eg, synchronize your watch with mine)

(B) of one swimmer or more is synchronized with - Subject verb agreement issue - movements is

(C) of one or more swimmers are synchronized with - Correct

(D) by one swimmer or more is synchronized to - movements is

(E) by one or more swimmers synchronize to - synchronize to is unidiomatic

Answer C

ywilfred · Answer

of vs by... go with the former for being idomatic.

D,E are out.

The movements are synchronized with the music, not to the music as A suggests. B uses the wrong tense 'is'.

So C it is.

mikemcgarry · Answer

You see, in this version, the full verb " are synchronized " is the main verb of the subordinate clause that starts with " which ," and " is . . . called " is the main verb of the independent clause. There is absolutely no conflict here. Each clause, independent or subordinate, needs its own verb. Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear rohitmanglik , I'm happy to respond. :-)

Just to be clear, there is absolutely no correct grammar form that involves one independent clause inside another . Your quote from the first sentence omitted the crucial " in which " which marked the beginning of the subordinate clause. Without that, what you quoted is not a correct full sentence at all. In the sentence you quoted from GMAT Prep, the word "that" begins a subordinate clause " that coastal erosion occurs continuously, not just in calamitous bursts such as hurricanes " This subordinate clause is a noun-modifying clause that modifies the subject, " growing evidence ." That's the subject of the main clause, and "has led" is the verb of the main clause. We do not have two independent clauses. Does all this make sense? Mike

jeonghee · Answer

A. of one or more swimmers synchronize to
- missing verb : eliminate 
B. of one swimmer or more is synchronized with
- one or more - are (plural) is needed 
C. of one or more swimmers are synchronized with
- correct 
D. by one swimmer or more is synchronized to
- is : error. plural verb is needed 
E. by one or more swimmers synchronize to
- synchronize with : right idiom

egmat · Answer

Hello jeonghee , You have done a good job of solving the question. Keep up the good job.

However, I would just like to add here that Choice A is not incorrect because of the missing verb. The word synchronize is the verb for the subject movements . Choice A is incorrect because of the incorrect idiom synchronize to as we see in Choice E. Hope this helps.

Thanks. Shraddha

GMAThunterr · Answer

Can somebody please shed some light in the below doubts :
If the subject was " one or more swimmers" ,what would be the verb form(Singular / Plural). According to me, it should be singular as OR cannot change a subject from singular to plural.

One swimmer or More is a correct form ? Is there any difference between One swimmer or More AND one or more swimmers.

Posted from my mobile device

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

This question is based on Idiomatic Usage.

The verb ‘ synchronize ’ should be followed by the preposition ‘ with ’. The verb means to happen at the same time and speed. In this sentence, the idea is that the movements of the swimmers are synchronized with a musical accompaniment.

Since the idiomatic usage is incorrect in options A, D, and E, these options can be eliminated. In all these options,  the verb ‘synchronized’ is followed by the preposition ‘to’.  
 Options D and E also have the phrase ‘movements by’ instead of ‘movements of’. This usage in these two options is also incorrect. So, Options A, D, and E  can be ruled out.

Option B contains a subject-verb disagreement.  The subject of the verb “are/is synchronized” is  “the movements” . So, the verb must be plural. So,  Option B  can be eliminated.

Since Subject-verb agreement is maintained in Option A and the option also contains the appropriate idiomatic usage,  Option A is the most appropriate option.

Jayanthi Kumar.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi,

I'm happy to respond.

The difference between  “one swimmer or more”  and  “one or more swimmers”  has more to do with the reference to singular and plural than anything else.

Technically, both the expressions mean the same. However, usage-wise, the expression  'one or more swimmers' is more apt  because if we put the noun after the adjective ‘one’, we would have to use the singular form and then repeat the plural form after the adjective ‘one'. So we would have to say 'one swimmer or more swimmers'.

On the other hand, if we put the noun after the adjective ‘more’, the noun is taken to apply to both the adjectives ‘one’ and ‘more’.  So, the expression “one or more swimmers” is more appropriate idiomatically.

To answer your first question, in this sentence, the subject is not “one or more swimmers”; it is ‘the movements’. That’s why the verb is also plural – are.

However, if in a sentence the subject is ‘one or more swimmers’, the verb would be plural going by the rule of joining two nouns or pronouns with the conjunction ’or’. The rule is that the verb agrees with whichever noun is closer to the verb in such a case. So, the subject and verb would be – One or  more swimmers   are  participating.

I hope this helps.

Jayanthi Kumar.

Mizar18 · Answer

Even if you do not know the idiom, you can get this one right, lets see:

(A) vs (C)

(A) of one or more swimmers synchronize to

This one conveys that the "movements" synchronize by themselves to a musical accompaniment
 
(C) of one or more swimmers are synchronized with

In this option is clearly stated that movements are synchronized, by the authors of these movements, with a musical accompaniment

C) is the answer.

Best,

saichandrateja · Answer

Hi!
I think there is a typo in the last part of the explanation. The OA is C not A.

KittyDoodles · Answer

Hi  GMATNinja   AndrewN  HaileyCusimano

In Option A, other than the idiom error, can we eliminate the option based on the subject ( movements) performing the action of synchronizing. We expect a passive voice instead of an active voice

Thanks

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  Nonie94 . I would like to find a non-idiomatic issue to point out in the original sentence, but in the clause that begins,  the movements of one or more swimmers synchronize...  it is fine to use the active voice, provided that  with  follows. It is the movements that synchronize, but, more specifically, it is the swimmers who are understood to be moving in a certain way to synchronize with musical accompaniment. (Notice that in answer choice (C), it is still the movements that are synchronized with the music.)

I wish I had a deeper analysis to offer, but some older questions especially were designed more around specific idiomatic usage. Thank you for thinking to ask, and good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

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Because of a similarity to dance, synchronized swimming—exhibition swi

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