GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 8): Modern optical telescopes can detect

I think the issue here is pronoun ambiguity.

Option A says:

While the first pronoun refers to the telescope, the pronouns later refer to the black holes. This could be written in a clearer way, and I think that's the issue we're dealing with in option A. Hence, it's incorrect.

Let's take a look at the other options:


The subject is changed to black holes. The verb is plural and is in agreement with the subject. The pronouns make sense and refer to black holes. I think this is what we're looking for. Let's hold on to it and eliminate the rest before marking this.


The thing that stands out the most to me is the glaring 'due to', which is incorrect.


Same as option C. The 'due to' is a big no here.


The error is similar to option A. The subject is the modern telescopes and the pronouns later on in the sentence seem to refer to the telescopes, which is illogical and distorts the meaning.

Hence, the correct answer is option B.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them: they has to be close to main subject. Reject

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them: Hold it. looks fine

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus: reject

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them: reject

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them: Remove the ambiguous from option A. Correct

E is the correct answer

with use of ; we need an IC



A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them them adjective error

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them correct option

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus same as A

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them same as A

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them meaning issue

OPTION B is correct

Modern optical telescopes can detect stars at great distances;
however, they cannot detect black holes,
because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields,
making them invisible to the telescopes.

There is pronoun ambiguity in the sentence since it is NOT clear what them , their & them are referring to, whether they are referring to optical telescopes or black holes.
Incorrect

In the sentence, their, them & them are referring correctly to the subject black holes. The sentence conveys the intended meaning of the sentence that gravitation fields of black holes are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from black holes, making black holes invisible to the optical telescopes.
Correct

and thus invisible to the telescopes is not a complete clause
Usage of due to is also incorrect
Incorrect

There is pronoun ambiguity in the sentence since it is NOT clear what them , their & them are referring to, whether they are referring to optical telescopes or black holes.
Usage of due to is also incorrect
Incorrect

There is pronoun ambiguity in the sentence since it is NOT clear what their , them & them are referring to, whether they are referring to optical telescopes or black holes.
Incorrect

IMO B

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them.OUT

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making themOUT

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus CORRECT

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them NOT PARALLEL .OUT

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making themOUT

OA:C

B is the winner
A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them
Unclear. ambiguous
B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
their & them clearly refer back to black holes. Hence correct
C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus
unclear
D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them
ambiguous
E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
ambiguous

IMO A


A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them - Howver +IC meaning is also clear.

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - ambiguous anteceedent for them

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus - Ambiguos anteceedent for Them

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them- due to is modifying an action,
[color=#9e0039]
E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - what does 'them ' refers to.[/color]

Answer D captures the correct meaning

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them
This is an independent clause because it comes after a semi-colon, and this clause cannot begin with however, wrong answer
B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
This is the correct choice,
C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields, and thus
This is an independent clause because it comes after a semi-colon, and this clause cannot begin with however, wrong answer
D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them
usage of due to here is not correct when replaced by caused by, the sentence does not make sense, Wrong answer
E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
"their" ha no clear antecedant, it could either refer to they (telescopes) or to black holes, Wrong answer

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them - Incorrect as them can refer to both black holes and telescope

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - Correct

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus - Incorrect as them can refer to both black holes and telescope

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them
Incorrect as them can refer to both black holes and telescope
E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
Incorrect as them can refer to both black holes and telescope

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them
INCORRECT. When a pronoun is used to refer to an antecedent, it is important to maintain uniformity of the antecedent it refers to within the sentence. Here 'they' in the beginning seem to refer to telescopes, and 'them' and 'their' refer to black holes. That is not correct pronoun use.

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
CORRECT. No pronoun issue, no faulty usage of 'due to'.

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus
INCORRECT. Use of 'due to' after 'particles are unable to escape from them' is inaccurate. 'Due to' must modify a noun, not an action.

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them
INCORRECT. Use of 'due to' after 'particles are unable to escape from them' is inaccurate. 'Due to' must modify a noun, not an action.

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
INCORRECT. When a pronoun is used to refer to an antecedent, it is important to maintain uniformity of the antecedent it refers to within the sentence. Here 'they' in the beginning seem to refer to telescopes, and 'them' and 'their' refer to black holes. That is not correct pronoun use.

[quote="Bunuel"]Modern optical telescopes can detect stars at great distances; however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them invisible to the telescopes.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them
-This is incorrect. Use of the pronoun they after is incorrect as there is no clear antecedent.The meaning of the sentence is ambiguous

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
This is the correct choice. here the use of black holes before however has corrected the meaning issue.And the their and them used in the later part of the sentence have a clear antecedent black holes
C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus
This is incorrect.here the use of due to is incorrect
D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them
This is incorrect. Here the use of due to is incorrect
E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them
This is incorrect.here again the use of pronouns is making the meaning of the sentence ambiguous.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them --who does they refer to--stars or telescopes?

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them --resolves issues from other choices

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus --antecedent of them is unclear

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them --antecedent of them is unclear

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them -- antecedents for they and them are not clear

Modern optical telescopes can detect stars at great distances; however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them invisible to the telescopes.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them - Wrong - Pronoun ambiguity

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - Correct

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus - Wrong - second part, after and, is fragment [run on sentence]

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them - Wrong - || issume

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - Wrong - Pronoun ambiguity

Pronoun error question. Correct option is B.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them - They: telescopes, their black holes - Incorrect

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - Their correctly referring to the black holes

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus - Them referring to the telescopes, can not relate to the object of the verb - Incorrect

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them - same as C - Incorrect

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - same as A, they their referring to different nouns - Incorrect

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them - INCORRECT

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them - CORRECT

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus- INCORRECT

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them- INCORRECT

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them- INCORRECT

Modern optical telescopes can detect stars at great distances; however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them invisible to the telescopes.

A. however, they cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them because of their strong gravitational fields, making them Incorrect

pronoun ambiguity - them refers to what? black holes or telescopes

B. black holes, however, are undetectable to these telescopes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them Correct

better than all other choices - 'black holes ' is the subject and their refers to 'black holes '

C. however, these telescopes cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and thus Incorrect

same as A

D. these telescopes, however, cannot detect black holes, because light particles are unable to escape from them due to their strong gravitational fields and making them Incorrect

pronoun ambiguity and parallelism issue

E. they, however, cannot detect black holes, because their gravitational fields are so strong that light particles are unable to escape from them, making them Incorrect

meaning issue - 'telescopes' main subject and 'their ' refers to 'telescopes' that is illogical