Last visit was: 01 May 2026, 05:38 It is currently 01 May 2026, 05:38
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
unraveled
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Apr 2025
Posts: 2,706
Own Kudos:
2,332
 [2]
Given Kudos: 763
Location: India
WE:Sales (Energy)
Posts: 2,706
Kudos: 2,332
 [2]
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,262
Own Kudos:
42,466
 [1]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,262
Kudos: 42,466
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
sauravvirat1986
Joined: 22 Sep 2018
Last visit: 17 Mar 2026
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
Posts: 11
Kudos: 7
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
unraveled
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Last visit: 10 Apr 2025
Posts: 2,706
Own Kudos:
2,332
 [1]
Given Kudos: 763
Location: India
WE:Sales (Energy)
Posts: 2,706
Kudos: 2,332
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
daagh
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.

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.
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,262
Own Kudos:
42,466
 [2]
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,262
Kudos: 42,466
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,432
Own Kudos:
Posts: 19,432
Kudos: 1,010
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
513 posts
363 posts