Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that

Question

Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, while coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to  perform many tasks now asked of bloodhounds.

A. Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, while coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to

B. Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which, while exceeding that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds

C. Even as bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability that have exceeded that of other scenting hounds, still coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds

D. Unlike the impressive tracking ability of bloodhounds, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to

E. Although bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability exceeding that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, are able to

daagh · Answer

Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, while coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to  perform many tasks now asked of bloodhounds.

A. Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, while coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to ----1. 'That of' is wrong. It should be those of. 2. The subordinate clause starting with ‘while’ has no verb of its own. --- wrong

B. Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which, while exceeding that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds---1 that of is wrong. 2. Tracking ability is the subject, but perform is the verb--- SV number error.

C. Even as bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability that have exceeded that of other scenting hounds, still coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds ---' tracking ability that have exceeded that of' is SV number error. --- wrong

D. Unlike the impressive tracking ability of bloodhounds, which exceeds that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, which are able to ---- 1. ‘That of’ should be ‘those of’ 2. The whole sentence lacks a main verb and hence is a fragment.

E. Although bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability exceeding that of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds, are able to—1. Exceeding that of SV number error. 2. The main clause is missing.

The demonstrative pronoun that or this can refer to only singular things. If you want to refer to plural things you must use 'those' or 'these'. 
 Since all the choices display this error, one can't decide the correct choice.

sauravvirat1986 · Answer

Meaning: Blood hounds have impressive tracking ability. the tracking ability of bloodhounds exceed the tracking ability of other hounds, but other hounds perform other tasks that are asked of blood hounds.
A. It is a run on sentence, main verb is missing. Moreover the which modifier does not state the comparison effectively. Furthermore the sentence speaks of the contrasting abilities of two subsets of hounds, while is used for simultaneous action, not for contrast. Incorrect.
B. Again a very confusing sentence. It seems tracking ability exceeds other breeds of hounds. Moreover it has subject verb error. Incorrect
C. Subject verb error. Tracking ability does not agree with plural have. Incorrect.
D. Comparison error. Scenting ability is compared to other hounds. Incorrect.
E. Correct. Notice how tracking ability of bloodhounds has been compared to tracking ability of other hounds using that. All subjects and verbs agree with each other. The contrast is properly shown using although. This is by far the best choice. Correct.
E is correct.

unraveled · Answer

daagh  
Sir,
Thank you prompt response.
I double checked the question again, options are perfectly fine. 
I understand it that demonstrative pronoun 'that' or 'this' can refer to only singular things but here isn't it referring to 'ability' which is a singular noun.

Question:
1. If I use 'those of' then it is referring to plural noun 'other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds'. But if I replace 'that' with 'ability', would the part of sentence(ability of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds) be wrong?
2. Consider option E which is the correct answer as per 800score.com. If I write it as 'Although bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability exceeding  that/those  of other scenting hounds, coonhounds, Swiss Jura hounds, and Bavarian Mountain hounds, as well as several breeds of foxhounds,  they  are able to....' would it be wrong? Here 'they' being used for 'other ... foxhounds'. I see it wrong however, as 'they' ideally should refer back to subject - bloodhounds - of the sentence. But again, if it is so, the original meaning of the sentence is lost.

I was all over the place in this question but if this is it then there's not point in banging head.
Please help.

daagh · Answer

Dear Inm

The problem of ‘that of’ in this case arises from the fact that we are not comparing the quality of one species from another. The tracking abilities of several species are not of the same level to be grouped under one stereotype. They differ widely and do so at various levels. That is the reason we have to make it clear that it is a plural affair by calling it as ‘those of’.

But that is only one part. Look at the choices. The author does not recognize that the designated correct choice E is a flagrant fragment without a subject for the main clause. The main clause is just a predicate phrase. This is totally unacceptable from what we have seen in the GMAT. If the professed correct choice E itself is wrong, which another choice can we take?

I think you said the final word; it is not worth it

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Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Bloodhounds possess an impressive tracking ability, which exceeds that

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