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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women

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Bunuel
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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   20 Aug 2021, 08:00
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63% (01:55) correct 37% (01:57) wrong based on 611 sessions
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The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers, who read and analyzed data at the Langley Research Center during the years 1943-1958.


A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,



 


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Re: GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   21 Aug 2021, 09:30
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Bunuel wrote:
The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers, who read and analyzed data at the Langley Research Center during the years 1943-1958.


A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,



 


This question was provided by The Economist
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

Win over $40,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 



Explanation
We’ll go for ALTERNATIVE because it is not obvious whether the original sentence needs to be corrected.

The original sentence seems fine, but we can eliminate the other answers to be sure. The sentence structure used in (B) makes the relative pronoun who refer to an entity (NASA's predecessor) rather than to people. (C) presents a similar mistake: who refers to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Likewise, in (D), who refers to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The structure of (E) is similar to that of (A), but the phrasing is unnecessarily wordy. So (A) must be our answer.

We’ll go for LOGICAL because we must understand the structure of the sentence.

The sentence talks about women, the entity that employed them, the tasks they performed, and when and where they performed those tasks. The original sentence makes clear and logical connections among all those parts. All the other answer choices produce faulty modification, assigning the modifying relative clause who read and analyzed data to non-human entities rather than to the women.
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Re: GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   20 Aug 2021, 09:09
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The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers, who read and analyzed data at the Langley Research Center during the years 1943-1958.


A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,...correct

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,...modifier error...who should modify human computers

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics...modifier error...who should modify human computers

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,....modifier error...who should modify human computers

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,...which is referring to nasa...modifier error
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Re: GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   20 Aug 2021, 09:26
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We can see “who…” modifier following the underlined portion. Logically people should precede “who”, not an organization. Keeping this in mind let’s check the answer choices.


A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,

If an inessential appositive in between “the National… Aeronautics” is removed, we have “hired as human computers, who…” - correct modification.

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,

“who” illogically tries to modify either “NASA's predecessor” or “the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics”, both of which are ineligible referents.

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

“who” illogically tries to modify either “NASA's predecessor” or “the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics”, both of which are ineligible referents.

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,

“who” illogically tries to modify either “NASA's predecessor” or “the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics”, both of which are ineligible referents.

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,

“which” may refer to either “predecessor” or “NASA” – ambiguous.


So A
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Re: GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   20 Aug 2021, 21:14
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The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers, who read and analyzed data at the Langley Research Center during the years 1943-1958.

Modifier in the end will eliminate all but A and E.

A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,
Correct

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,
Modifier issue: the portion after underline is a modifier and should modify human computers.

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics
Modifier issue: the portion after underline is a modifier and should modify human computers.

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,
Modifier issue: the portion after underline is a modifier and should modify human computers.

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,
Usage of which


A
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Re: GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2021, 06:47
Bunuel wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers, who read and analyzed data at the Langley Research Center during the years 1943-1958.


A. by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,

B. to serve as so-called human computers by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, NASA's predecessor,

C. to perform the function of so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics

D. so that they can serve as so-called human computers by NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,

E. by the predecessor of NASA, which was called the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, as so-called human computers,



 


This question was provided by The Economist
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

Win over $40,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 



Explanation
We’ll go for ALTERNATIVE because it is not obvious whether the original sentence needs to be corrected.

The original sentence seems fine, but we can eliminate the other answers to be sure. The sentence structure used in (B) makes the relative pronoun who refer to an entity (NASA's predecessor) rather than to people. (C) presents a similar mistake: who refers to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Likewise, in (D), who refers to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The structure of (E) is similar to that of (A), but the phrasing is unnecessarily wordy. So (A) must be our answer.

We’ll go for LOGICAL because we must understand the structure of the sentence.

The sentence talks about women, the entity that employed them, the tasks they performed, and when and where they performed those tasks. The original sentence makes clear and logical connections among all those parts. All the other answer choices produce faulty modification, assigning the modifying relative clause who read and analyzed data to non-human entities rather than to the women.



Hi Bunuel

I am a but confused here. For option A if we remove the modifiers we get the structure as one given below.

The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by X, as so-called human computers, who (modifier clause)

in my opinion the "as so-called human computers" should have a verb right ? (For the as clause ). Can you please explain ? I am a bit confused here. Thanks in advance
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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2021, 07:03
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SohGMAT2020 wrote:


Hi Bunuel

I am a but confused here. For option A if we remove the modifiers we get the structure as one given below.

The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by X, as so-called human computers, who (modifier clause)

in my opinion the "as so-called human computers" should have a verb right ? (For the as clause ). Can you please explain ? I am a bit confused here. Thanks in advance



When you remove the name of NASA’s predecessor, the NACA, we get
The West Computers is the name given to the women hired by X as so-called human computers, who (modifier clause)

AS does not function as conjunction, but acts as a preposition as shown in red in this sentence too. :)

So, it is actually hired as so-called….
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GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: The West Computers is the name given to the women [#permalink]
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