Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 16:07 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 16:07
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
 1   2   3   
705-805 Level|   Comparisons|   Parallelism|   Verb Tense/Form|               
User avatar
MBA2ran
User avatar
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Last visit: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 64
Own Kudos:
788
 [436]
Posts: 64
Kudos: 788
 [436]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to Updated on: 02 Jul 2021, 02:33
Originally posted by MBA2ran on 17 May 2007, 04:38.
Last edited by Bunuel on 02 Jul 2021, 02:33, edited 4 times in total.
Edited the question.
16
Kudos
Add Kudos
419
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

55% (02:00) correct 45% (02:11) wrong based on 7173 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.


(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West




Show Spoiler
https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/24/science/eastern-quakes-real-risk-few-precautions.html

On top of this, scientists say, an earthquake in the East can shake an area 100 times larger than a quake of the same magnitude in California. This is because the earth's crust is older, colder and more brittle in the East and tends to transmit seismic energy more efficiently. ''If you had a magnitude 7 earthquake and you put it halfway between New York City and Boston,'' Dr. Ebel said, ''you would have the potential of doing damage in both places,'' not to mention cities like Hartford and Providence.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Zarrolou
User avatar
Joined: 02 Sep 2012
Last visit: 11 Dec 2013
Posts: 847
Own Kudos:
5,145
 [122]
Given Kudos: 219
Status:Far, far away!
Location: Italy
Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.8
Posts: 847
Kudos: 5,145
 [122]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 24 Apr 2013, 08:52
94
Kudos
Add Kudos
28
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This sentence can be easily solved if we look at the not underlined part.

Because the Earth's crust is more solid there (where?) and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

Because the first part introduces a "place" using "where", the part after the comma must complete this construct.
Only D and E remains.

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
CORRECT
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
"100 times more area" is wrong, and this option is wordy and unclear compared to D.

Let me know if this helps
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,417
 [76]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,417
 [76]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 25 Jul 2012, 08:47
50
Kudos
Add Kudos
25
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Two things to note here:

The pronoun ‘it’ referring to the earthquake in the east, creates muddle. It looks as though the said earthquake traveled from the east to the west and then we are comparing the devastations. This is wrong. The comparison is between the damage of one earthquake of a magnitude on one side and the damage of another earthquake of a similar magnitude on the other. That is the reason, we should drop A, B and E, which have the vexing pronoun ‘it’

Which is the appropriate one? 100 times the area or 100 times greater area? Both are correct, though mean different things. Therefore, context is the decider. Be concerned about what the original text says. If it says 100 times, then take 100 times. If it says 100 times grater than, then take 100 times greater than. Now you can confidently drop C. C also says 100 times …. than, which is a grammatical flaw. D is the pick
User avatar
gmatisnothard
User avatar
Joined: 16 Apr 2010
Last visit: 24 Feb 2014
Posts: 25
Own Kudos:
304
 [45]
Posts: 25
Kudos: 304
 [45]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 17 Apr 2010, 10:26
21
Kudos
Add Kudos
23
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Some thoughts:
1. “X of Y” means Y’s X.
=> “X of Y” indicates y possesses X. It is a possessive case.
If we say “earthquake of a given magnitude”, we mean “A given magnitude’s earthquake”. It does not make sense, and it is awkward.
=> This rule eliminates A, and B.
2. Comparative Degree:
=> Whenever we see “than”, we expect a comparative form of adjective such as “greater, smaller, taller, more beautiful before “than”.
=> Look at option C. There is no such comparative form of adjective. So, C is out.
3. “100 times more area” is unidiomatic:
=> Then idiomatic usage with 100 times includes:
--- “100 times the area that”
---“100 times the area of X”
---“100 time more likely than”
=> This rule eliminates E.
Besides, the option E has tense problem.

Answer is D.
User avatar
ExpertsGlobal5
User avatar
Experts' Global Representative
Joined: 10 Jul 2017
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,193
Own Kudos:
4,758
 [4]
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT Date: 11-01-2019
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 5,193
Kudos: 4,758
 [4]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 17 Oct 2022, 02:57
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
MBA2ran
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.


(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West

Show more

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to getting this question correct; the intended meaning of this sentence is that an earthquake that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than an earthquake of comparable magnitude that occurs in the West will.

Concepts tested here: Comparison + Meaning + Awkwardness/Redundancy

A: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly compares “an earthquake of a given magnitude” to “it” (the same earthquake)", incorrectly implying that one earthquake typically devastates an area 100 times greater when it occurs in the eastern United States than when it occurs in the West; the intended meaning of this sentence is that an earthquake that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than an earthquake of comparable magnitude that occurs in the West will.

B: This answer choice incorrectly compares “an earthquake of a given magnitude” to “it” (the same earthquake)", incorrectly implying that one earthquake typically devastates an area 100 times greater when it occurs in the eastern United States than when it occurs in the West; the intended meaning of this sentence is that an earthquake that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than an earthquake of comparable magnitude that occurs in the West will. Further, Option B uses the needlessly indirect phrase "devastate 100 times the area", leading to awkwardness.

C: This answer choice uses the needlessly indirect phrase "devastate 100 times the area", leading to awkwardness.

D: Correct. This answer choice correctly compares “an earthquake of a given magnitude in the eastern United States” with “a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that an earthquake that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than an earthquake of comparable magnitude that occurs in the West will. Further, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E: his answer choice incorrectly compares “an earthquake of a given magnitude” to “it” (the same earthquake)", incorrectly implying that one earthquake typically devastates an area 100 times greater when it occurs in the eastern United States than when it occurs in the West; the intended meaning of this sentence is that an earthquake that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than an earthquake of comparable magnitude that occurs in the West will.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
General Discussion
User avatar
apache
User avatar
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Last visit: 23 Feb 2010
Posts: 87
Own Kudos:
87
 [7]
Posts: 87
Kudos: 87
 [7]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 17 May 2007, 06:17
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
it gives a impression that same quake will occur in the west also
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
same problem as above
(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West
an area 100 times greater...is better than 100 times the area
(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
correct
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the Wests
same problem as A,B
User avatar
monir6000
User avatar
Joined: 14 Mar 2010
Last visit: 28 Sep 2014
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
763
 [2]
Given Kudos: 44
Posts: 36
Kudos: 763
 [2]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 25 Apr 2012, 03:13
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
( "It" has no clear referent)
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
( "It" has no clear referent, here it refers area)
(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
User avatar
BukrsGmat
User avatar
Joined: 27 Jul 2011
Last visit: 24 Jul 2013
Posts: 116
Own Kudos:
1,117
 [3]
Given Kudos: 103
Posts: 116
Kudos: 1,117
 [3]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 24 Apr 2013, 10:13
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Good Question Kudos for that

CharuKapoor
Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West -> after than expecting " in the west"

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West meaning changed ; there is no comparision with the degree of devastation. rather simpley saying one area will be devasted 100 number of times

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of comparable magnitude occurring in the West same issue as B

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West the size is increased not the degree
Show more

Just a quick note: As we not talking about any particular area rather Areas in general usage of THE AREA is wrong ( B,C commit this error)
User avatar
sleepynut
User avatar
Joined: 29 Oct 2016
Last visit: 18 Jul 2017
Posts: 162
Own Kudos:
92
 [3]
Given Kudos: 905
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 620 Q50 V24
GRE 1: Q167 V147
GMAT 1: 620 Q50 V24
GRE 1: Q167 V147
Posts: 162
Kudos: 92
 [3]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 24 Apr 2017, 19:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Pretty tough question !!!
Please find my reasoning below.

If anything is wrong,please feel free to advise :-)

BANON
Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.


(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
INCORRECT... "IT" is problematic.It is not the same earthquake that devastates an area in both the East and the West.

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West
INCORRECT... same as (A)

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
INCORRECT... change in meaning.The intended meaning is to show that a quake devastates the area in eastern United States more severly than a quake of comparable magnitude does in the West.

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West
CORRECT

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
INCORRECT... same as (A)
Show more
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,514
Own Kudos:
5,728
 [1]
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,514
Kudos: 5,728
 [1]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 04 May 2017, 07:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bumping. Good question!!

As per the meaning, we are comparing earthquakes in the Eastern and Western part.

Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West
(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West : Comparison of Eastern earthquake with western part itself.
(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of comparable magnitude occurring in the West What is One referring to? Quake or Area? Not clear. Hence, incorrect
(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West: Correct comparison. Correct answer
(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
42,417
 [10]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,417
 [10]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 04 May 2017, 10:13
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

The subtle clue is in the use of the pronoun 'it'. An earthquake in the east… that if it occurred in the west means that the very same quake in the east will have to relocate to the west to cause the damage. That is not what the passage wants to say. It is talking of quakes of comparable strength in two different geographies. That is the reason we can instantly dump choices A, B, and E.


(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West -- 'it' is wrong as explained above

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West -- same as A; in addition, there is slip - up in the prepositional parallelism. It should be 'in the west" rather than simply 'the west'

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of comparable magnitude occurring in the West- because we comparing an action namely devastate, we must match the verb in the first arm with a matching verb in the second arm, lest the comparison turns out between a devastation and an earthquake

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West -- This is the best choice with proper comparison and prepositional parallelism and no pronoun error

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West-- same pronoun problem of it. The sentence is also wrong as per the construct of the second conditional. You can't use a simple future in the main clause
User avatar
BillyZ
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Nov 2016
Last visit: 03 May 2025
Posts: 1,143
Own Kudos:
22,214
 [1]
Given Kudos: 926
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Sloan '23 (D) Tuck '23 (D) Darden '23 (D) Ross '23 (D) Kellogg '23 (D) Wharton '23 (D) Booth '23 (D) Fuqua '24 (A) Harvard '24 (D) Stanford '24 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V40 (Online)
GPA: 3.53
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Sloan '23 (D) Tuck '23 (D) Darden '23 (D) Ross '23 (D) Kellogg '23 (D) Wharton '23 (D) Booth '23 (D) Fuqua '24 (A) Harvard '24 (D) Stanford '24 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V40 (Online)
Posts: 1,143
Kudos: 22,214
 [1]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 25 Jul 2017, 06:29
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West

GMATNinjaTwo Why A is incorrect? I selected A because it states a general fact and we need present tense to state a general fact.

Could you help to explain the "will" clause in (D)?
User avatar
sayantanc2k
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Last visit: 09 Dec 2022
Posts: 2,393
Own Kudos:
15,523
 [5]
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Germany
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
WE:Corporate Finance (Pharmaceuticals and Biotech)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools:
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V47
Posts: 2,393
Kudos: 15,523
 [5]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 26 Jul 2017, 07:48
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
hazelnut
Because the Earth's crust is more solid there and thus better able to transmit shock waves, an earthquake of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West.

(A) of a given magnitude typically devastates an area 100 times greater in the eastern United States than it does in the West

(B) of a given magnitude will typically devastate 100 times the area if it occurs in the eastern United States instead of the West

(C) will typically devastate 100 times the area in the eastern United States than one of the comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(D) in the eastern United States will typically devastate an area 100 times greater than will a quake of comparable magnitude occurring in the West

(E) that occurs in the eastern United States will typically devastate 100 times more area than if it occurred with comparable magnitude in the West

GMATNinjaTwo Why A is incorrect? I selected A because it states a general fact and we need present tense to state a general fact.

Could you help to explain the "will" clause in (D)?
Show more

Option A has a meaning problem - option A implies that ANY earthquake (originated anywhere on the face of earth) would devastate 100x area in eastern US and x area in the west (i.e. one earthquake causing devastation to both areas). This does not make sense.

However option D correctly conveys that an earthquake in eastern US would cause devastation in 100x area, while an earthquake of same magnitude in western US would cause devastation in x area. (2 different earthquakes in two different regions are referred to.)
avatar
Selfmotivated
avatar
Joined: 29 May 2017
Last visit: 18 Apr 2018
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 58
Location: India
Schools: McCombs '20 Tepper '20 Duke '20 Goizueta '20 Tuck '20 Anderson '20 Haas '20 Kenan-Flagler '20
GMAT 1: 530 Q45 V19
GMAT 2: 640 Q49 V28
GPA: 3.45
WE:Operations (Energy)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: McCombs '20 Tepper '20 Duke '20 Goizueta '20 Tuck '20 Anderson '20 Haas '20 Kenan-Flagler '20
GMAT 2: 640 Q49 V28
Posts: 15
Kudos: 8
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 08 Oct 2017, 06:16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I got the right answer D by eliminating choices B,C, & E for using phrase "devastate 100 times the area".
As per the question stem, we are comparing degree of devastation in a particular area "devastate an area 100 times".

Please guide me whether my reasoning is correct.
User avatar
ShashwatPrakash
User avatar
Joined: 14 Dec 2016
Last visit: 22 Apr 2022
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 150
Location: India
Schools: Schulich Sept '21 Ivey '21 Rotman '21 XLRI"20 HKUST '21
GMAT 1: 200 Q49 V37
GPA: 4
Schools: Schulich Sept '21 Ivey '21 Rotman '21 XLRI"20 HKUST '21
GMAT 1: 200 Q49 V37
Posts: 31
Kudos: 7
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 08 Oct 2017, 07:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I understand the OA, but I have one silly doubt. Please bear with me: In option D 'earthquake....devastate an area', shouldn't it be 'devastates'?
User avatar
EducationAisle
User avatar
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,891
Own Kudos:
3,579
 [3]
Given Kudos: 159
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: ISB
Posts: 3,891
Kudos: 3,579
 [3]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 19 Feb 2018, 10:44
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ShashwatPrakash
I understand the OA, but I have one silly doubt. Please bear with me: In option D 'earthquake....devastate an area', shouldn't it be 'devastates'?
Show more
Hi ShashwatPrakash, this is something that you need to be comfortable with:

In future tense, we always use a plural form of the verb, irrespective of whether the subject is singular or plural.

D is in future tense: earthquake....will devastate...

Hence, despite a singular subject (earthquake), we use the plural verb devastate.

p.s. Our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana has a note on this property. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.
Attachments

Subject Verb.pdf [10.14 KiB]
Downloaded 232 times

User avatar
goaltop30mba
User avatar
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Last visit: 18 Oct 2025
Posts: 188
Own Kudos:
68
Given Kudos: 407
Posts: 188
Kudos: 68
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 09 Sep 2019, 13:05
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi AjiteshArun

Why is option a incorrect? Why can’t the same earthquake devastate both the eastern and western area? The non-underlined part clearly tells us that the eastern area is pretty vulnerable as compared to the western area? How do we know that we are supposed to compare two separate earthquakes of comparable magnitudes ? How do we make that distinction? As per the original sentence it is the same earthquake no?

I don’t have any problem eliminating option b, c and e..

Kindly help

Best Regards,
Adit

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [1]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [1]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 09 Sep 2019, 19:12
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aditliverpoolfc
Hi AjiteshArun

Why is option a incorrect? Why can’t the same earthquake devastate both the eastern and western area? The non-underlined part clearly tells us that the eastern area is pretty vulnerable as compared to the western area? How do we know that we are supposed to compare two separate earthquakes of comparable magnitudes ? How do we make that distinction? As per the original sentence it is the same earthquake no?

I don’t have any problem eliminating option b, c and e..

Kindly help

Best Regards,
Adit
Show more
Hi aditliverpoolfc,

This question asks us to take a meaning call. Let's take a look at the non-underlined portion first:

Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there (eastern United States) and thus better able to transmit shock waves

Now we need to take a call: should we restrict what the sentence has to say to just one earthquake? Let's assume that the epicentre of this one earthquake is somewhere in the west. Will that earthquake really cause "100x devastation" in the east, thousands of kilometres away? Or is it more likely that the intended meaning is that if the same amount of energy is ~applied in the east and in the west, the devastation in the east will be 100x that in the west?
User avatar
lakshya14
User avatar
Joined: 31 Jan 2019
Last visit: 27 Jul 2022
Posts: 360
Own Kudos:
45
 [1]
Given Kudos: 529
Posts: 360
Kudos: 45
 [1]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 29 Mar 2020, 11:34
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Isn't this question checks S-V agreement, by the word "devastates" and "devastate"?
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,949
Own Kudos:
5,080
 [1]
Given Kudos: 732
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 5,949
Kudos: 5,080
 [1]
Because the Earth’s crust is more solid there and thus better able to 29 Mar 2020, 20:43
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
lakshya14
Isn't this question checks S-V agreement, by the word "devastates" and "devastate"?
Show more
Hi lakshya14,

Here are the five options:
1. an earthquake... devastates
2. an earthquake... will devastate
3. an earthquake... will devastate
4. an earthquake... will devastate
5. an earthquake... will devastate

In the first option, devastates is a verb, but in 2-5, the verb is actually will devastate. The will (helping verb) in those verbs effectively means that the devastate will not change even if the subject is singular. For example:

He studies.
They study.

He will study.
They will study.

Switching from he to they makes no difference if we use a will.
 1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts