Citizens of countries just beginning to institute market economies

Question

Citizens of countries just beginning to institute market economies  lack business experience so profoundly as to take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace that turns  more capitalistic every day.

1. lack business experience so profoundly as to take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace that turns 
2. want business experience so profoundly that it will be years before they can compete in a global marketplace which turns
3. have such a lack of business experience that it will take years before these countries are competing in a global marketplace turning
4. are so lacking in business experience as to take years before these countries do compete in a global marketplace which is turning
5. are so lacking in business experience that it will take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace turning

Can someone take a look at this question?

I narrowed the choice between 1 and 5. I think choice 1 is using the "so...as to" correctly. And choice 2 is using the "so... that" correctly.

Correct answer is 5, but I'm not sure why. The explanation that was provided states that "This is an idiom error that causes  take  to be an incorrect verb tense without a proper subject". But on choice 5, "it" seems ambiguous. Is the "it" supposed to be a placeholder "it"?

Vasa056 · Answer

Why isn???t A right?? Please explain

Thanks

SonalSinha803 · Answer

Hi ,

It is not right because 'so' is always followed by 'that'. But here, the argument uses "as to" which is incorrect.

Hope it helps ,?

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SonalSinha803 · Answer

Hello,

'it' is not ambiguous. Let us take an example of a sentence.

Eg - I was so nervous during the test that it took me a while to calm down my nerves.

Hope it helps

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jooyoung99 · Answer

That's not correct. There are two correct idioms. "So (adjective)" as to "(verb)" and "So (adjective) that (subject) (verb)".

jooyoung99 · Answer

I understand that "It" is used as a placeholder subject. But at the same time, using your example, you can write this:
I was  so  nervous during the test  as to   took a while to calm down my nerves.

abhik1502 · Answer

Citizens of countries just beginning to institute market economies lack business experience so profoundly as to take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace that turns more capitalistic every day.

1. lack business experience so profoundly as to take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace that turns 
 -- Wong because of idiomatic so.....that construction error.
2. want business experience so profoundly that it will be years before they can compete in a global marketplace which turns
 --Illogical meaning. Original sentence doesnt say they want anything. Its about their curent state that is fact.
3. have such a lack of business experience that it will take years before these countries are competing in a global marketplace turning
 --misplace are verb. Again from original sentece we dont know whether they are competeing in market right now or now. SO it changes the meaning of original sentence
4. are so lacking in business experience as to take years before these countries do compete in a global marketplace which is turning
 --so....that construction error
5. are so lacking in business experience that it will take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace turning
 --correct one because so...that construction has been corrected. Turning correctly modified "global marketplace".

SonalSinha803 · Answer

The change does not make much sense, infact it is grammatically incorrect atleast for this sentence.

However, another error in the option 1 is "for these countries"....it is grammatically incorrect.

So...as to..might be correct but sometimes it also depends on the sentence and the meaning it wants to convey.

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Vicky1811 · Answer

GmatNinja please explain i was confused between 4 and 5 and selected 4.. Why is it wrong

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Rashed12 · Answer

Correct structure : so + adj + as to. But in option A, so profoundly is not so+ adj, rather it is so + adverb. Besides, the sentence does not sound very well while reading.therefore option A is incorrect. Correct answer is E.

Pls give me +1 kudos if the explanation helps you.

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Pls give me +1 kudos if the explanation helps you.

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Businessconquerer · Answer

I can help you if you want

Detailed analysis of option 4 and 5

4. are so lacking in business experience as to take years before these countries do compete in a global marketplace which is turning
5. are so lacking in business experience that it will take years for these countries to compete in a global marketplace turning

IN 4
Check what the difference is between 4 & 5

Let's say both so x that y and so x as to y are correct

In the end there is a "which" in 4
which here refers to global market place
In 5 there's turning which refers to Countries

Now 
Intended meaning of sentence wants us to refer to countries and not Global marketplace
as global marketplace is not turning into anything, it is the countries

THAT IS JUST ONE REASON (the main one)

4. Has a "do" in it, which I believe is awkward and may be a typo

REASON NO. 3
When everything else is alright and you're stuck between forms of so x ..... y

try to use so x that y construction ( there are reasons but that's unnecessary if you can remember it as a general rule of thumb)

I hope I was helpful
if I was :tup

aviddd · Answer

GMATNinja , can you please clarify how "turning" is correct in option E? How do we determine "turning" is refers to "countries" and not "marketplace"?

tetraneha · Answer

I didnt understand the difference between "so... that vs so.. as to" Could someone please provide a clearer explaination?

Pranjal3107 · Answer

Can someone please provide the OE ? 
I could not think of any real problem with D. 
Turning countries does not sound right to me.

ankitgoswami · Answer

Correct ans is E

For option D
Usage of so ____ that ____

Something was so ____ that ___

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Pranjal3107 · Answer

Hi Ankit, 
Thanks I missed the point I guess. 
For E though, shouldn't turning be referring to marketplaces and in that sense, turning would in fact sound awkward. 
Can you please explain ?

Punitharv · Answer

Requesting expert solution or OE on this question.
so..as to vs so...that
I rejected E because it's generally not advisable to use continues tense unless very much required. But it seems incorrect. Can an expert help on this?
 bb   Bunuel   VeritasKarishma

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Citizens of countries just beginning to institute market economies

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Citizens of countries just beginning to institute market economies

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