GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: New analyses of the fossil remains of the predator

Explanation

We’ll go for PRECISE because there is a simple grammatical rule we can use.

The singular verb suggests does not agree in number with its subject, analyses. Species can be either singular or plural, but since it describes the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, which is later referred to by the possessive pronoun its, it should clearly be singular in the given context and should thus be preceded by the article a. This sentence also creates a sentence fragment, as it does not complete Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, the subject of the embedded sentence, with a verb. The only answer choice that corrects all these mistakes is (E).

We’ll go for ALTERNATIVE because the original sentence is long and complex, so it’s easier to examine the answer choices than to correct it ourselves.

Let’s examine the differences in the answer options instead of attempting to correct the original by ourselves. (A) The singular verb suggests does not agree in number with its subject, analyses. (C) can be eliminated for the same reason. (B) presents a reversed relationship between cause and effect—it’s not being well-adapted to living on land that made the animal's center of mass lower than previously thought but the other way around: the change in center of mass was what made it well-adapted. In addition, there is an unidiomatic use of presumed, which should be followed by to be. (D) does not use the article a before species, which refers to the singular Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. The correct answer must therefore be (E).
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New analyses of the fossil remains of the predatory theropod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, found in the Bahariya Formation in 1912, suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass was much closer to its hips than previously thought.

Explanation:

Here, the subject of the sentence is "analyses" which is in its plural form. Hence, the verb shall also be in the plural form "suggest".

A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass - Incorrect

Verb "suggests" is in the singular form.

B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass - Incorrect

If we correctly understand the meaning of the sentence, the fact that the species' center of mass was closer to the hips is the premise for the conclusion that it could have lived on land. But this option, suggest this fact to be an effect. Hence, this is incorrect.

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass - Incorrect

Verb "suggests" is in the singular form.

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass - Incorrect

Here, also, like (B) the cause is presented as the effect. Hence, (D) is also incorect.

E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass - Correct

This is the correct option as it solves the verb-form error and also correctly presents the cause with the "as" preceding it.

Answer: (E)

Things to note:

- “analyses” is a plural of “analysis”
- “species” can be either plural or singular. A context will make clear.
- “presumed to be” is idiomatic while “presumed as” is not


A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass

“analyses… suggests” is a subject-verb disagreement. Everything after “suggests that” until “as its center” is a fragment.

B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass

“that was living” is inappropriate to deliver a general idea. “presumed as” is unidiomatic. “so its…” gives illogical meaning. we need “as”.

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass

“analyses… suggests” is a subject-verb disagreement. “presumed as” is unidiomatic. “being that” is inappropriate to talk about a general idea.

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass

Everything after “suggests that” until “as its center” is a fragment.

E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass

Correct choice. Everything is grammatically correct.

So E
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New analyses of the fossil remains of the predatory theropod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, found in the Bahariya Formation in 1912, suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass was much closer to its hips than previously thought.


A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
Analyses is plural, so requires plural ‘suggest’.
Spinosaurus is missing a verb.

B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
SO gives outcome while AS gives reason. We require AS here.

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass
Analyses is plural, so requires plural ‘suggest’.

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
Spinosaurus is missing a verb.

E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
Correct


B

New analyses of the fossil remains of the predatory theropod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, found in the Bahariya Formation in 1912, suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass was much closer to its hips than previously thought.

Analyses is the plural form of analysis

A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
SV agreement

B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
Wroong idiom: presumed to be
as its center of mass vs so its centre of mass
If something is presumed then it is based on some reasoning . so indicates the effect but we need some reasoning on analyses.
In analyses, we could find more about physical properties. based on this , we end up in presuming
so , as is preferred than so

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass
SV agreement

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
reject on basis of so , we need reasoning factor i.e. as is better
well adapted: was well adapted is required else it seems like a modifier.

E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
E fulfills all issues pointed in above options.

i will mark E as the final answer.

New analyses of the fossil remains of the predatory theropod dinosaur Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, found in the Bahariya Formation in 1912, suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass was much closer to its hips than previously thought.


A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
Subject Verb error, analyses is plural, Suggests is singular
B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
so is used wrongly.

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass
Same as A

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass
so is wrong
E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass
Seems correct.

IMO E

IMO-A

A. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass Correct

B. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a to be species that was living in shallow water, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass Incorrect 'suggests' should be used instead of suggest; 'were' instead of 'was'

C. suggests that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed as a to be shallow-water species, was probably also a terrestrial animal, well-adapted to living on land, being that its center of mass Incorrect also usage of being is wrong.

D. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be shallow-water species, probably also well-adapted to living on land, so its center of mass Incorrect 'suggests' should be used instead of suggest.

E. suggest that the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, presumed to be a shallow-water species, was probably also well-adapted to living on land, as its center of mass Incorrect 'suggests' should be used instead of suggest.