GMATCLUB VERBAL ATTACK

• Stimulus will always be an argument- since you can only strengthen a conclusion, not a fact set. Identify, isolate and assess
the premises and conclusion
• Focus on conclusion
• Information in stimulus is suspect. Reasoning errors are present which can be corrected by answer choice.
• Strong prephrases possible
• Answer choices can bring new information which is not present in stimulus.
Assumptions are NECESSARYfor the argument – author relies upon it, and is fully committed to it.
Assumptions are NEVERstated in the argument – if it is directly mentioned, it is not an assumption.
Assumption is a minimalist answer- if it has any information author is not committed to or sure of it will not be correct.
How Assumption Questions are different from Must be true questions? – Assumption is something that must be true BEFORE
the argument.

1. No tie to the conclusion- uses words from conclusion and is broadly related, but is not an assumption necessary for the
argument. A sub set is ‘breaks up a category’- assumption talks of boys and girls vs. teachers, and answer choice talks of
boys vs. girls
Opposite answer- were this to be assumed, argument will be weakened! It is important for this not to be true for conclusion
to be correct!
Switching terms- shell game

2. Addresses premises only
Follows on from the conclusion, instead of conclusion following on from it.
Too broad – e.g. instead of cyclists, comment about athletes. This doesn’t HAVE to be true! An assumption has to be 100 %
true
Type of Assumptions: Supporter/Defender

3. Supporter: Traditional linking role- links two part of premises, or premise to conclusion. Conclusion in such an argument
will have some new element which is not present in premises. In an assumption question, always be on lookout for a gap
in the argument premise and conclusion- a new element, and then the answer choice that brings that new element in
picture would be a straight win.

4. Defender: protect the argument by eliminating ideas that could weaken the argument. In order to believe that his
argument is correct and fool-proof, the author is assuming that all possible objections have been considered and rejected.
This can be an infinite range of assumptions.
If confused between some answer choices, use ASSUMPTION NEGATION TECHNIQUE

5. Converts an assumption question to a weaken question- negate both the assumption answer choices, the one whose negation causes
the entire argument to fall is the correct answer choice. This will happen because of necessary, indispensable nature of assumption.

Logical opposite of sweet is not sweet (not sour). Logical opposite divides the subject under consideration into two sets which
include all possible states.

Logical opposite of all – not all (not none); logical opposite of none is some. If all is 100, not all is 0-99. None is 0, and some is 1-100

Logical opposite of none- at least one.

You can use not necessarily for negating in most cases.

• Author assumes no other cause exists
• Author assumes cause always leads to effect
• Author assumes that when cause doesn’t occur effect doesn’t occur
• Eliminates the possibility that stated relationship is reverse
• Eliminates possible problems with data

Q. If a person chooses to walk rather than drive, there is one less vehicle emitting pollution into the air than there would be
otherwise. Therefore if people would walk whenever it is feasible for them to do so, the pollution will be greatly reduced. Which
of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) Cutting down on pollution can be achieved in a variety of ways.
B) Taking public transportation rather than driving is not always feasible
C) Walking is the only feasible alternative to driving that results in reduction in pollution
D) There are people who never drive but who often walk
E) People sometimes drive when it is feasible to walk instead


Q. A famous singer recently won a lawsuit against an advertising firm for using another singer in a commercial to evoke the
famous singer’s well-known rendition of a certain song. As a result of the lawsuit, advertising firms will stop using imitators
in commercials. Therefore, advertising costs will rise, since famous singers’ services cost more than those of their imitators.
The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions?

(A) Most people are unable to distinguish a famous singer’s rendition of a song from a good imitator’s rendition of the same
song.
(B) Commercials using famous singers are usually more effective than commercials using imitators of famous singers.
(C) The original versions of some well-known songs are unavailable for use in commercials.
(D) Advertising firms will continue to use imitators to mimic the physical mannerisms of famous singers.
(E) The advertising industry will use well-known renditions of songs in commercials.

1. To decrease the number of crimes in city Y, the city’s Police Commissioner proposed taking some police officers
from low-crime districts of the city and moving them to high-crime districts of the city. His proposal is based on city
Y crime data that show that the number of crimes in any district of the city decreases when additional police
officers are moved into that district. The Police Commissioner’s proposal depends on which of the following
assumptions?

• City X experienced a drastic reduction in crime after implementing a proposal similar to that proposed by the Police
Commissioner of city Y.
• The severity of crimes committed in any district of the city decreases when additional police officers are moved
into that district.
• The number of crimes committed in all high-crime districts of city Y is more than triple the number of crimes
committed in all low-crime districts of city Y.
• There are more low-crime districts than high-crime districts in city Y.
• Districts of the city from which police officers are removed do not experience significant crime increases shortly
after the removal of those officers.

2. Although there has been great scientific debate for decades over global warming, most scientists now agree that
human activity is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise. Though predictions vary, many global warming experts
believe that average global temperatures will rise between three and eight degrees Fahrenheit during the next
century. Such an increase would cause an alarming rise in sea levels, displacing millions of people by destroying
major population centers along the world’s coastlines. Which of the following is an assumption in support of the
argument’s conclusion?

• New technological developments in the next century will not divert rising seas from the world’s coastal cities.
• Individuals will not become more aware of the steps they can take to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
• Rising sea levels similarly affect all coastal population centers.
• Some global warming experts predict a greater than eight degree Fahrenheit increase in global temperatures
during the next century.
• Human activity is the sole cause of increasing global temperatures.

3. “The new HitItFar driver is the only golf club that uses space-age Titanium-Kryptonium alloy to strengthen its head.
This driver is SO good, the last 12 winners of the major tour championships have all recently switched to it! Isn’t
it time for you to add power to your swing and distance to your drives? Trade in your old driver today — and
HitItFar tomorrow!” All of the following claims are either implied or made explicitly in the above advertisement
EXCEPT:

• Switching to the HitItFar driver will improve your play.
• The HitItFar driver helped the last 12 major championship winners achieve their victory.
• Major championship winners are experts and know what constitutes a great golf club.
• Your existing driver is inferior to the HitItFar driver.
• Only HitItFar golf clubs have Titanium-Kryptonium alloy in the head of their drivers.

4. Researchers studying the spread of the Black Plague in sixteenth-century England claim that certain people survived
the epidemic because they carried a genetic mutation, known as Delta-32, that is known to prevent the bacteria
that causes the Plague from overtaking the immune system. To support this hypothesis, the researchers tested the
direct descendants of the residents of an English town where an unusually large proportion of people survived the
Plague. More than half of these descendants tested positive for the mutation Delta-32, a figure nearly three times
higher than that found in other locations. The researchers’ hypothesis is based on which of the following assumptions?

• Delta-32 does not prevent a carrier from contracting any disease other than the Plague.
• The Plague is not similar to other diseases caused by bacteria.
• Delta-32 did not exist in its current form until the sixteenth century.
• No one who tested positive for Delta-32 has ever contracted a disease caused by bacteria.
• The Plague does not cause genetic mutations such as Delta-32.

5. The popular notion that a tree’s age can be determined by counting the number of internal rings in its trunk is
generally true. However, to help regulate the internal temperature of the tree, the outermost layers of wood of the
Brazilian ash often peel away when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the tree with fewer
rings than it would otherwise have. So only if the temperature in the Brazilian ash’s environment never exceeds 95
degrees Fahrenheit will its rings be a reliable measure of the tree’s age. Which of the following is an assumption
on which the argument above depends?
• The growth of new rings in a tree is not a function of levels of precipitation.
• Only the Brazilian ash loses rings because of excessive heat.
• Only one day of temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit is needed to cause the Brazilian ash to lose a ring.
• The internal rings of all trees are of uniform thickness.
• The number of rings that will be lost when the temperature exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit is not predictable.

6. The Department of Homeland Security has proposed new federal requirements for driver’s licenses that would
allow them to be used as part of a national identification system. Using licenses for purposes not directly related
to operating a motor vehicle is un-American because it would require U.S. citizens to carry the equivalent of
“papers.” Such a requirement would allow the government to restrict their movements and activities in the manner
of totalitarian regimes. In time, this could make other limits on freedom acceptable. The author assumes which of
the following?

• The next presidential election will be dishonest, as has happened in eastern European countries.
• The government will soon start curtailing the activities of those it considers “dissidents.”
• Blanket restrictions on law-abiding individuals are contrary to the traditions of American culture and law.
• The majority of Americans are not willing to give up their right to travel and move about without identification.
• Americans should resist all government regulation of their lives.12

7. Since the new publisher took control, a news magazine’s covers have featured only models and movie stars.
Previously, the covers had displayed only politicians, soldiers, and business leaders. A leading gossip columnist
claimed that the changes made the magazine relevant again. However, many newspaper editorials disagreed and
suggested that the new publisher is more interested in boosting sales than in reporting important news events.
Which of the following is an assumption necessary for the argument made by the gossip columnist’s opponents?

• The charitable activities of models and movie stars often focus public attention on pressing problems.
• Final authority for choosing the cover subject of the magazine lies with the publisher.
• A magazine can boost sales while highlighting the coverage of important world leaders.
• Some of the movie stars featured are now running for political office.
• Magazine issues with models or movie stars on the covers are purchased at a rate more than three times greater
than is the case with issues featuring politicians on the covers.

8. In response to the increasing cost of producing energy through traditional means, such as combustion, many utility
companies have begun investing in renewable energy sources, chiefly wind and solar power, hoping someday to
rely on them completely and thus lower energy costs. The utility companies claim that although these sources
require significant initial capital investment, they will provide stable energy supplies at low cost. As a result, these
sources will be less risky for the utilities than nonrenewable sources, such as gas, oil, and coal, whose prices can
fluctuate dramatically according to availability. The claim of the utility companies presupposes which of the following?

• The public will embrace the development of wind and solar power.
• No new deposits of gas, oil, and coal will be discovered in the near future.
• Weather patterns are consistent and predictable.
• The necessary technology for conversion to wind and solar power is not more expensive than the technology
needed to create energy through combustion.
• Obtaining energy from nonrenewable sources, such as gas, oil and coal, cannot be made less risky.

9. Surveys consistently show that the best-selling ice cream flavor is vanilla, although those who prefer chocolate
rarely order vanilla. Vanilla-flavored candy, then, probably sells better than chocolate-flavored candy. Which of
the following is an assumption upon which the author of the argument relies?

• Because someone prefers vanilla ice cream does not mean he prefers vanilla-flavored candy.
• Children who prefer vanilla ice cream also tend to like chocolate candy.
• Those who prefer neither vanilla nor chocolate ice cream also prefer other flavors of candy.
• Someone who prefers vanilla ice cream may still order chocolate on occasion.
• Preferences for certain ice cream flavors are similar to preferences for candy flavors.

10. The media claim that the economy is entering a phase of growth and prosperity. They point to lower unemployment
rates and increased productivity. This analysis is false, though. The number of people filing for bankruptcy has
increased every month for the last six months, and bankruptcy lawyers report that they are busier than they have
been in years. Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

• Unemployment rates are not useful indicators of growth and prosperity.
• Economic growth cannot be measured in terms of productivity.
• Legislation has not been recently passed to make legal bankruptcy easier to obtain.
• There has not been an increase in the number of bankruptcy lawyers..
• The media often misrepresent the current state of economic affairs.

In the United States, of the people who moved from one state to another when they retired, the percentage who retired to Florida has decreased by three percentage points over the past ten years. Since many local businesses in Florida cater to retirees, this decline is likely to have a noticeably negative economic effect on these businesses.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Florida attracts more people who move from one state to another when they retire than does any other state.
B. The number of people who move out of Florida to accept employment in other states has increased over the past ten years.
C. There are far more local businesses in Florida that cater to tourists than there are local businesses that cater to retirees.
D. The total number of people who retired and moved to another state for their retirement has increased significantly over the past ten years.
E. The number of people who left Florida when they retired to live in another state was greater last year than it was ten years ago.

1. The Police Commissioner's proposal hopes to decrease the number of crimes in
city Y by shifting police officers from low-crime to high-crime districts. His
proposal is based on data that demonstrate that crime decreases when
additional police officers are moved into a district. However, the data do not
mention anything about the effect on the districts from which the police officers
were removed. The commissioner's plan is based on the assumption that the
movement of police officers will not have any adverse effects on the low-crime
districts.
(A) While it is encouraging that a similar plan worked successfully in City X, this
fact is certainly not essential for the success of the plan in City Y. The cities may
be so different as to make the comparison meaningless.
(B) The police commissioner's proposal is focused solely on decreasing the
number of crimes in city Y. The severity of the crimes has no bearing on whether
the commissioner's proposal will succeed or not.
(C) The actual numerical distinction between high and low-crime areas of the city
is immaterial to the commissioner's proposal. For instance, if the number of
crimes committed in all high crime districts was only double (instead of more than
triple) the number of crimes committed in low crime districts, the proposal could
still be valid.
(D) It would be practically beneficial to the commissioner's plan if there were
more low crime than high crime districts in city Y. This would enable the
movement of police officers to every high crime district. However, this is not
necessary to achieve the commissioner's goal of decreasing the total number of
crimes in city Y. Even if there were more high-crime districts than low-crime
districts in city Y, police officers could still be shifted to some (though not all)
high-crime districts, and thereby possibly reduce the total number of crimes in
city Y.
(E) CORRECT. The police commissioner's proposal would not make sense if
districts of the city from which police officers are removed experience significant
crime increases shortly after the removal of those officers. This would at least
partially, if not fully, negate the reduction in the number of crimes in the highcrime districts.
This choice establishes that, in fact, the low-crime districts do
NOT suffer from significant crime increases after the removal of some officers--
an essential assumption upon which the commissioner's proposal depends.

2. The argument concludes that rising sea levels caused by global warming will
destroy major coastal population centers and displace millions of people. Any
assumption in support of this conclusion would have to corroborate that these
events will definitively take place.
(A) CORRECT. If new technological developments in the next century allow
people to divert rising seas from the world’s cities (i.e., population centers), cities
will not be destroyed and millions of people will not be displaced. Thus, a
necessary assumption is that these technologies will not be developed.
(B) A simple awareness of the steps to reduce emissions in no way undermines
the argument’s conclusion, as this answer choice does not describe any action
being taken by individuals. Additionally, greenhouse gases are never mentioned
as the primary by-product of human activity that causes global warming, and are
therefore not sufficient to address the argument.
(C) The argument never suggests that all coastal population centers are similarly
affected; this choice is too extreme and overreaching for the argument’s
conclusion.
(D) This might be true, but it is not an assumption on which the conclusion rests.
Instead, this answer choice is simply an inference that might be drawn from the
premises.
(E) The idea that human activity is the sole cause of global warming is neither
suggested nor assumed by the argument. In addition, the wording "sole cause" is
too extreme.

3. As an advertisement, this passage attempts to entice the reader into purchasing
a new HitItFar driver by touting its benefits, both implied or explicit. The key to
answering this question is to be able to analyze each claim to determine whether
it is implied, explicitly stated, or neither.
(A) By asking the reader rhetorically "isn't it time you added power ... and
distance ... [by switching to the HitItFar driver]?", the advertisement implies that
the use of the club will add "power ... and distance" and, hence, will improve
one's play.
(B) CORRECT. The advertisement states that the 12 major championships
winner have recently switched to the new driver. There is nothing in the passage
to imply that any of them were using the driver at the time of their victories;
hence, this claim is neither implied, nor made explicitly, in the passage. (C) It is a
reasonable assumption that professional golfers, particularly those
skilled enough to win a major championship, are experts and know what
constitutes a great club. The advertisement makes this implication and reinforces
it by citing the recent decision of these golfers to switch to the HitItFar driver; this
provides an implicit expert endorsement for the HitItFar driver.
(D) The point of the advertisement is to prompt the reader into purchasing a new
driver to replace his or her old driver in order to "add power and distance"; this
implies that the new driver is superior to the reader's existing driver.
(E) This claim is explicitly stated in the first sentence of the passage.

4. The researchers claim that Delta-32 prevents its carriers from contracting the
Plague. They support this claim by noting that a strikingly large percentage of
descendants of Plague survivors carry the mutation. We are asked to find an
assumption underlying the claim.
(A) The argument is specific to the relationship between Delta-32 and resistance
to the Plague. Other diseases are irrelevant.
(B) Again, the argument is specific to the relationship between Delta-32 and
resistance to the Plague. Other diseases are irrelevant.
(C) Delta-32 may have existed in its current form before the sixteenth century
and the merit of the argument would not change.
(D) The argument does not claim that Delta-32 prevents all bacteria-caused
disease.
(E) CORRECT. The researchers claim that Delta-32 prevented its carriers from
contracting the Plague on the basis of its presence in descendants of Plague
survivors. But it is theoretically possible that these descendants carry the
mutation Delta-32 because the Plague mutated the genes of their ancestors. In
order to claim that the mutation prevented the Plague, we must assume that the
Plague did not cause the mutation Delta-32.

5. The author concludes that one will only be able to determine the age of a
Brazilian ash by counting its rings if the temperature in the tree's environment
never exceeds 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The author bases this conclusion on the
fact that the tree loses rings when the temperature exceeds that level. However,
if the number of rings lost by a Brazilian ash at high temperatures can be
predicted, it may be possible to determine the age of a tree even if the
temperature exceeds 95 degrees. (A) The argument says nothing about precipitation.
This answer choice is out of scope since it would require a number of other assumptions
to make it relevant to the argument's conclusion.
(B) Whether other trees share this feature is irrelevant; the argument focuses
only on the Brazilian ash.
(C) The number of days of excessive heat needed to cause the tree to lose rings
is irrelevant.
(D) The thickness of the rings is irrelevant.
(E) CORRECT. The conclusion is that the rings will be a reliable measure only if
the temperature never exceeds 95 degrees. This is true only if there is no way to
predict how many rings would be lost when the temperature does exceed 95
degrees. (If it were possible to predict this, one might be able to assess the age
of a tree using its rings even if the temperature had exceeded 95 degrees.)

6. The conclusion of this argument is that the national identification system (“using
licenses for purposes not directly related to operating a motor vehicle”) is unAmerican.
The basis for this claim is that such a system would allow the
government to restrict the liberty of its people. The necessary assumption is one
that connects restrictions on liberties to the concept of “un-American” policies.
(A) The author never mentions future presidential elections, or the role of the
president in such a national identification system. Therefore, the conclusion that
the national identification system is un-American does not depend on this
assumption.
(B) Whether the government will soon, or will ever, start curtailing the activities of
dissidents is irrelevant to this argument: that the national identification system is
un-American simply because it restricts the liberties of U.S. citizens. Even if the
government does not abuse the power the national identification system
provides, the system could still be considered un-American.
(C) CORRECT. This choice connects the concept of "un-American" policies to
restrictions on liberties, essentially defining blanket restrictions on citizens as unAmerican.
(D) Whether Americans are willing to give up their right to travel freely is
irrelevant to this argument: that the national identification system is un-American
simply because it restricts the liberties of U.S. citizens. Even if Americans were willing to
give up their right to move about without identification, the system could
still be considered un-American.
(E) While the author may be inclined to agree that Americans should resist the
government regulation of their lives that the national identification system
represents, this argument does not depend on such an assumption. In fact, the
author makes a distinction between the national identification system and
“licenses for purposes…directly related to operating a motor vehicle,” so it is
possible that the author considers some government regulation reasonable.

7. The argument presents the facts of an apparent change in a magazine's cover
features since the new publisher took control. While a gossip columnist hailed the
change, newspaper editorials disagreed and concluded that the publisher
favored profit over reporting. The editorials are the opponents of the gossip
columnist; since their conclusion is about the publisher’s desires, there must be
an assumption connecting the publisher to the covers.
(A) This choice is irrelevant, as it is not connected to the conclusion. The
activities of celebrities have nothing to do with the publisher’s interests.
(B) CORRECT. Since the conclusion concerns the publisher’s desires based on
the content of the magazine covers, the editorials have to assume that the
publisher decides who is to be a cover subject. If not, there is no connection
between the covers and the publisher’s interests.
(C) This choice is the opposite of a necessary assumption. For the editorials to
conclude that the publisher prefers profits to reporting, they have to assume that
the two are mutually exclusive.
(D) “Some” means “at least one,” so this is not a powerful statement in any
direction. Furthermore, even if several such stars were running for political office,
it is not at all necessary to assume that to conclude that the publisher was more
interested in profits.
(E) This choice is not correct. While it is true that the editorials must assume
model and movie star covers are likely to sell more copies, it does not have to be
assumed that such covers will result in the sale of triple the number of copies, or
any other specific number.

8. The conclusion of the argument is that renewable sources of energy, chiefly solar
and wind, will be less risky for certain utilities than nonrenewable sources, such
as oil and gas. The basis for this claim is that the renewable sources will provide
stable, low-cost supplies of energy, whereas the prices for nonrenewable sources
will fluctuate according to availability. We are asked to find an
assumption underlying this argument. In order for this argument to be valid, it
must in fact be true that these renewable sources of energy will provide stable,
low-cost supplies.
(A) The utility companies' claim has to do with the supply risk of the new energy
sources, not with how these sources are received by the public.
(B) If no new supplies of traditional energy sources are found, then it is true that
perhaps these nonrenewable supplies will continue to fluctuate in price in a risky
manner. However, the argument does not depend upon any assumption about
the future discovery of oil and gas supplies.
(C) CORRECT. If we assume that weather patterns are consistent and
predictable, then with the stated premises, we can conclude that solar and wind
power will be less risky than oil and gas. If, on the other hand, weather patterns
are not consistent and predictable, then solar and wind power are not reliable
and thus will not provide "stable energy supplies at low cost." Thus, the
argument's conclusion directly depends on this assumption.
(D) To reach the required conclusion, it is not necessary to assume that the
conversion technology for new sources is not more expensive than the present
technology.
(E) This choice does not directly affect the argument. Whether or not energy
produced through combustion can be made less risky, the new energy sources
might still be less risky than the older sources.

9. We are given two premises based on survey results: first, vanilla is the bestselling
flavor of ice cream and, second, those who prefer chocolate usually don't
order vanilla. The author concludes that vanilla-flavored candy should sell better
than chocolate-flavored candy. The author bases this conclusion on the
assumption that it is valid to extend the survey's results beyond ice cream to
include candy.
(A) As a stand-alone, this choice makes common sense but, in the argument, it
would undermine the author's conclusion. We are asked to find an assumption
upon which the author relies, which means the correct assumption should
support the author's conclusion.
(B) This choice is either irrelevant at best (the survey does not address children
specifically) or would undermine the author's conclusion, at worst. We are asked
to find an assumption upon which the author relies, which means the correct
assumption should support the author's conclusion. (C) Preferences for flavors
neither vanilla nor chocolate are outside of the scope of this argument.
(D) This choice addresses only ice cream preferences; it does not provide any
information to tie ice cream preferences to candy preferences.
(E) CORRECT. This assumption supports the author's conclusion by tying ice
cream preferences directly to candy preferences.

10. The conclusion of the argument is that the media are wrong in saying that the
economy is entering a phase of growth and prosperity. The basis for that claim is
that the number of people filing for bankruptcy has increased every month for the
last six months and that bankruptcy lawyers are busier than they have been in
years. In order for this argument to be valid, however, the author has to assume
that the increase in the number of bankruptcies is a result of the state of the
economy and not the result of something unrelated.
(A) This statement does not have to be true for the claim that the media are
wrong about the economy to hold. Even if unemployment rates are useful
indicators of growth and prosperity, the media could still be wrong about the
economy (e.g., if there are other indicators that show problems in other areas).
(B) This does not have to be true for the conclusion to hold. Productivity could
be a good measure of economic growth, but the media could still be wrong about
the economy (e.g., if there are other indicators that show problems in other
areas).
(C) CORRECT. This has to be true for the conclusion to hold. If legislation has
recently been passed that makes it easier to obtain bankruptcy, then the
evidence cited would be less relevant. The increased number of bankruptcies
could have been the result of the easier process rather than of a poor economy.
(D) This does not have to be true for the conclusion to hold. An increase in the
number of bankruptcy lawyers would not explain the increase in the number of
bankruptcy filings.
(E) This does not have to be true for the claim that the media are wrong about
the economy to hold. Even if the media did not often misrepresent the current
state of economic affairs, the argument that the media are wrong might still hold.

1. The modifying phrase “although covered in about 11 inches of snow” at the
beginning of this sentence should be followed by the noun the modifier refers
to, “the runway.” The original sentence illogicallysuggests that “aviation
officials” were covered in about 11 inches of snow.Additionally, the plural
subject "conditions" does not agree with the singular verb "was acceptable."
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The modifying phrase “although covered in about11 inches of snow” at the
beginning of this sentence should be followed by the noun the modifier refers
to, “the runway.” Note that in the noun phrase "therunway conditions," the
word "runway" acts as an adjectivemodifying the noun "conditions."
(C) This choice incorrectly uses the redundant phrase “during the time of”
instead of “during.” Further, the placement of "acc ording to aviation officials"
makes it unclear whether the officials stated that the runway was "covered in
about 11 inches of snow" or that "the runway was inacceptable condition."
(D) CORRECT.The modifying phrase “although covered in about 11inches of
snow” is correctly followed by the noun the modifier refers to, “the runway.”
Additionally, the phrase "according to aviation officials" is placed at the end of
the sentence, unambiguously referring to the main clause ("the runway was in
acceptable condition").
(E) The modifying phrase “although covered in about11 inches of snow” at the
beginning of this sentence should be followed by the noun the modifier refers
to, “the runway.”

2. The original sentence contains a misplaced modifier. The modifying phrase
“Discouraged by new data that show increases in toxic emissions from
domestic factories” is meant to modify the noun “shareholders.” Therefore,
“shareholders” should be placed directly after “factories.” Instead, it seems that
the “searches” are “Discouraged by new data,” whichis not logical.
Additionally, the passive construction “are being conducted by” is
unnecessarily wordy.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The modifying phrase “Discouraged by new data that show increases in
toxic emissions from domestic factories” is meant to modify the noun
“shareholders.” Therefore, “shareholders” should beplaced directly after
“factories.” Instead, it seems that the “searches” are “Discouraged by new
data,” which is not logical. Also, the passive construction “are being conducted
by” is unnecessarily wordy. Finally, the placement of “who are looking for
alternative investment opportunities” after “companies” makes it seem that the
“companies” are “searching for alternative investment opportunities.” According
to the original sentence, the “shareholders” are looking for these
“opportunities,” not the “companies.”
(C) While the misplaced modifier issue is correctedby placing “shareholders”
adjacent to the modifying phrase, the past perfect form of the verb, “had
begun,’’ is used unnecessarily. In fact, the use of“had begun” implies that the
“shareholders” had begun searching for new investment opportunities before
the discouraging data were released. This is not the intended meaning of the
sentence. Also, “investment opportunities outside of the manufacturing
industry” is wordy when compared with “alternative investment opportunities.”
(D) The placement of “the nation’s leading manufacturing companies” adjacent
to the modifying phrase makes it seem that these companies are “Discouraged
by new data,” which changes the meaning of the sentence. The original
meaning is further compromised by “companies are searching.” The
“shareholders” are searching for new opportunities,not the companies.
(E) CORRECT.The misplaced modifier issue is corrected by placing
“shareholders” adjacent to the modifying phrase. Itis clear that the
“shareholders” are “searching,” and not the companies. The active voice "are
searching" replaces the wordy passive construction "searches. . . are being
conducted by." Finally, the phrase “alternative investment opportunities” is
clear and concise.
3. The original sentence incorrectly separates the modifier “Found in the wild only
in Australia and New Guinea” from the noun described by this modifier,
“kangaroos,” thus illogically suggesting that “powerful legs” rather than
“kangaroos” “are found in the wild.” Modifiers should always be placed
immediately next to the nouns that they describe.
(A) This answer choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The answer choice incorrectly separates the modifier “Found in the wild
only in Australia and New Guinea” from the noun described by this modifier,
“kangaroos,” thus illogically suggesting that “powerful legs” rather than
“kangaroos” “are found in the wild.” In addition, the construction “mammals that
are large” is unnecessarily wordy; a simpler and more concise form, “large
mammals” would be preferred.
(C) The answer choice incorrectly separates the modifier “Found in the wild
only in Australia and New Guinea” from the noun described by this modifier,
“kangaroos,” thus illogically suggesting that “powerful legs” rather than
“kangaroos” “are found in the wild.” In addition, by introducing the relative
pronoun “those” that refers to “powerful legs,” this answer choice illogically
attempts to draw a comparison between “kangaroos” and “legs” of other
animals, rather than the animals themselves.
(D) CORRECT.This answer choice correctly places the appropriate noun
“kangaroos” immediately after the modifier “Found in the wild only in Australia
and New Guinea.” In addition, this answer choice isclear, concise, and free of
the redundancies present in other answers.
(E) While this answer choice remedies the original problem with the modifier, it
uses the awkward and wordy verb construction “beingdistinguished” rather
than the more concise and direct verb “distinguished.” Furthermore, the
construction “mammals that are large” is unnecessarily wordy; a simpler and
more concise form “large mammals” would be preferred.

4. The original sentence begins with a modifier "Responding to growing demand for
high-end vehicles," but this modifier has no logical subject within the main clause. The
subject of the sentence should be the people or organizations that respond to this
growing demand.
Moreover, the pronoun "they" is ambiguous, as it could grammatically refer either to
the interiors or to the models. We know that the intended antecedent of "they" is the
cars, so we need to find a choice that makes this intention clear. Finally, the modifier
"that are so luxurious" should be placed immediately after "interiors," not
"models"; otherwise, an alternative phrasing without this modifier should be found.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The choice repeats the original modifier error:the subject of the modifier is not
present in the sentence.
(C) This choice repeats the original pronoun error:"they" is ambiguous and could
refer to either interiors or models. Also, the modifier "that are so luxurious" is placed
incorrectly.
(D) This choice repeats both the original modifier error and the original pronoun
error. Also, "interior" should be plural.
(E) CORRECT.This choice correctly introduces "auto makers" asthe subject of the
sentence and also corrects the pronoun error by replacing "they" with "these cars."
Note that the use of the synonym "cars" avoids boththe awkward repetition of
"models" and the ambiguity of the pronoun "they."

5. This sentence begins with a modifier, yet leaves absent who will be applying
optimization techniques (This is termed a "dangling" modifier.) Also, the sentence is
unnecessarily wordy in its use of the phrases “ought to” and “in both the short and
long terms.”
(A) This choice incorrectly repeats the original sentence.
(B) CORRECT.The sentence correctly places “a company’s managers” adjacent to
the modifier such that the meaning is clear, and the sentence is otherwise concise.
(C) This answer does not correct the original modifier error. It also weakens the
sentence by replacing the active voice with the passive voice in its use of “can be
determined by company managers.” The sentence’s concluding use of “goals, both
short and long term” is awkward.
(D) This answer does not correct the original modifier error. In this choice, the
phrase “may be possible” is unnecessary and weakensthe sentence. This choice
also incorrectly uses the word “these,” as the products have not been referenced
earlier in the sentence.
(E) This sentence resolves the modifier issue, but incorrectly uses the word “these,”
as the products have not been referenced earlier inthe sentence. This choice is also
wordy in its use of “ought to” and “in both the short and long term.”

6. The original sentence contains several errors. First, the opening modifier "given its
authoritative coverage of other science topics" describes the textbook as a whole, yet
the subject of the main clause is "the textbook's chapter on genetics." Second, the
relative pronoun "which" is used here to modify theentire clause "the textbook's
chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative." "Which" must modify the immediately
preceding noun only; it cannot modify the action ofan entire clause, as it does here.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The modifier issue is not corrected here, since"the chapter" remains the subject
of the main clause (as opposed to "the textbook"). However, this choice does correct
the misuse of "which" by replacing it with "leading."
(C) The modifier issue is corrected here by making "the textbook" the subject of the
main clause. However, the misuse of "which" is retained. The relative pronoun
"which" is used here to modify the entire clause "the textbook's chapter on genetics is
surprisingly tentative." "Which" must modify the immediately preceding noun only; it
cannot modify the action of an entire clause, as itdoes here.
Also, the phrase "surprising and tentative" impliesthat the chapter on genetics
is both "surprising" and "tentative," two characteristics that are independent of
one another. However, it is clear in the original sentence that "surprisingly" is
meant to be an adverb that modifies the adjective "tentative." The chapter is
"suprisingly tentative," not "suprising and tentative."
(D) The modifier issue is not corrected here, since"the textbook's chapter" is the
subject of the main clause (as opposed to "the textbook").
Moreover, the verb "leads" is incorrectly parallel with "is" when it should be
subordinate (e.g., "leading"). This makes it less clear that doubting the author's
scholarship is a result of the tentativeness of thechapter on genetics.
(E) CORRECT.The modifier issue is corrected here by making "the textbook" the
subject of the main clause. Moreover, "which" is replaced by "leading," thus
eliminating the incorrect use of "which" while preserving the meaning of the sentence.

7. •This original sentence is correct as written. The word "fossils" is correctly
placed as the subject of the opening modifier "hailed as a key discovery in the
science of evolution." Also, the plural noun "fossils" agrees with the plural verb
"provide."
(A) CORRECT.This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
•(B) In this choice, "a large scaly creature" is incorrectly placed as the subject of
the opening modifier "hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution."
The fossils of the creature – not the creature itself – were discovered.
Moreover, the phrase "a large scaly creature . . . provides fossils that are a
possible link" distorts the meaning of the sentenceby nonsensically suggesting
that the creature "provides" its fossils; in fact the fossils were simply
discovered by scientists.
(C) In this choice, "a large scaly creature" is incorrectly placed as the subject of
the opening modifier "hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution."
The fossils of the creature – not the creature itself – were discovered.
•(D) This choice correctly places the word "fossils" as the subject of the opening
modifier "hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution." However, this
choice incorrectly employs the singular verb "provides," which does not agree
with the plural noun "fossils."
(E) This choice subtly changes the meaning of the original sentence. The use
of the word "and" in the phrase "the fossils resemble . . . and provide" creates
two distinct points: first, that the fossils resemble x, and, second, that the
fossils provide y. In contrast, in the original phrase "the fossils of a large scaly
creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of . . .," the
focus is clearly on how the fossils provide evidence. The modifying phrase
"resembling both a fish and a land-animal" demonstrates how the fossils
provide that evidence – it is not intended as a separate, unrelated point.

8. The modifying phrase “hoping to alleviate some of the financial burdens…” begins
this sentence and should be followed immediately bythe noun the modifier refers to,
“the county government.” However, the original sentence illogically suggests that
“property taxes” were hoping to alleviate the financial burdens. Additionally, the
phrase “raised by an eleven percent increase” contains a redundancy; either “raised
by eleven percent” or “increased by eleven percent”would be more concise and
correct. Finally, the passive construction “property taxes…were raised…by the county
government” is wordier than the preferred active construction “the county
government…raised…property taxes.”
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The modifying phrase “hoping to alleviate…” should be followed immediately by
the noun the modifier refers to, “the county government.” However, this choice
illogically suggests that “property taxes” were hoping to alleviate the financial
burdens. Also, the passive construction “property taxes…were raised…by the county
government” is wordier than the preferred active construction “the county
government…raised…property taxes.”
(C) The phrase “raised…by an eleven percent increase” contains a redundancy;
either “raised by eleven percent” or “increased by eleven percent” would be more
concise and correct.
(D) The phrase “last year raised by eleven percent property taxes” is awkward, since
“property taxes,” the object, do not immediately follow the verb “raised.” The meaning
would be clearer if it were phrased “raised property taxes by eleven percent last
year.”
(E) CORRECT.This choice is the most concise and correct. “The county government”
correctly follows the modifying phrase “hoping to alleviate…” The concise phrase
“raised…by eleven percent” is used. Finally, the active construction “the county
government…raised…property taxes” replaces the wordier passive construction
“property taxes…were raised…by the county government.”

9. The sentence begins with the modifier “In order to properly evaluate a patient’s
state of mind and gain informed consent prior to surgery.” This modifier
logically should apply to the modified noun “the operating physician,” as it is
the operating physician who must evaluate a patient’s state of mind and gain
informed consent. In other words, "in order to do X" most properly expresses
the intention of the subject of the sentence, and so the subject should be "the
operating physician." The original sentence is incorrect, as the modifier is
incorrectly followed by “a substantial period of time” as opposed to “the
operating physician.”
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) In this sentence, the modifier is followed by the compound subject “the
operating physician and the patient.” This choice incorrectly suggests that it is
both the operating physician and the patient that must evaluate the patient’s
state of mind and gain informed consent, as opposedto the physician
alone. Also, the final phrase in the sentence, "thus ensuring full awareness..."
does not clarify exactly whosefull awareness is ensured (the awareness must
clearly be the patient's).
(C) This choice places “the patient” immediately after the initial modifier,
illogically and incorrectly suggesting that the patient him or herself will evaluate
the patient’s state of mind. In addition, the pronouns "he or she" are
ambiguous; they could refer to the patient or to the physician.
(D) CORRECT.This choice places the proper subject, “the operating
physician,” adjacent to the opening modifier. Additionally, it is 100% clear that
the patientis to be made fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing the
surgical procedure.
(E) This choice correctly uses “the operating physician” as the subject of the
sentence, resolving the modifier issue. However, the pronouns “he or
she” incorrectly refer to “the operating physician,” suggesting that it is the
physician, rather than the patient, who must be made fully aware of the pros
and cons of undergoing the surgical procedure.

10. In the original sentence, the modifier “whose eyes and noses are peaking out…”
incorrectly refers to “shallows.” When used to introduce a noun modifier, “whose”
always refers to the immediately preceding noun. Inthis case, the author intends to
refer to the “crocodiles,” not the “shallows.”
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The modifier “whose eyes and noses peak out…” incorrectly refers to “shallows.”
When used to introduce a noun modifier, “whose” always refers to the immediately
preceding noun. In this case, the author intends torefer to the “crocodiles,” not the
“shallows.” Further, the past tense “encountered” is inconsistent with the present
tense “participate.” When there is no compelling reason to change tenses,
consistency is preferred. Also, the past tense “encountered” seems to imply that
these encounters have already happened. However, itis clear from the original
sentence that the encounters are ongoing occurrences for “vacationers who
participate in guided boat tours.”
(C) The modifier “whose eyes and noses peak out…” incorrectly refers to “shallows.”
When used to introduce a noun modifier, “whose” always refers to the immediately
preceding noun. In this case, the author intends torefer to the “crocodiles,” not the
“shallows.” Further, the past perfect “had encountered” is used incorrectly. The past
perfect tense should only be used to specify the first of two past events. Here, there
are no past events.
(D) CORRECT.The adverbial modifier “with eyes and noses peaking out” correctly
modifies the verb "lurking." As this example shows, adverbial modifiers do not
need to be placed adjacent to the verbs they modify.Further, the present tense
“encounter” is consistent with the present tense “participate.”
(E) While the adverbial modifier “with eyes and noses that are peaking out” correctly
modifies the verb "lurking," this phrasing is unnecessarily wordy. The more concise
“with eyes and noses peaking out” is preferred.

11. The original sentence begins with a modifier ("Before its independence") that clearly
describes India, though the subject of the main clause is Britain. Moreover, "ruled
India as a colony" is wordy and the verb "ruled" isin the simple past when it would be
better in the past perfect (two past actions, one of which was earlier). Finally, "they"
has no grammatical antecedent and "would" is not a proper tense here (the simple
past is required).
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) Britain should not be the recipient of the modifier "Before its independence."
(C) The pronoun "they" has no logical antecedent. Logically it probably refers to the
British, but the British do not appear in the sentence. Also the past perfect tense
would have been preferable here (had been ruled) since the ruling occurred before
the relinquishing of the power.
(D) The phrase "ruled as a colony by Britain" is awkward and unclear. The placement
of the modifer "by Britain" makes it unclear that the ruling is being done by Britain.
(E) CORRECT.This correctly places India as the recipient of the opening modifier.
The past perfect is utilized to indicate that different times in the past. Notice that the
word "ruled" has been removed from this answer choice, however, this did not result
in a change of meaning. To be a colony of the British is to be ruled by the British.
The exclusion of the pronoun its in the beginning of the sentence (see answer
choices A and C) is incidental. The sentence wouldhave been correct with the
pronoun its as well.

12. The original sentence uses the introductory adjective modifier “used until the end of
the Second World War”; The U-boat, the subject of the modifier, should immediately
follow the modifying phrase. Additionally, the expression “both military or civilian” is
unidiomatic; the correct idiom is “both military and civilian.”
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) CORRECT. The noun “U-boat” properly functions as the subject of the modifying
phrase. Additionally, the idiomatic “both military and civilian” is properly used at the
end of the sentence.
(C) This choice changes the intended meaning of theoriginal sentence to one that is
nonsensical. The U-boat, a boat, cannot “employ theGerman army” to do anything.
Furthermore, the “both military or civilian” construction is unidiomatic.
(D) This choice incorrectly uses “the German army” as the subject of the introductory
phrase. Additionally, this choice creates a verb tense error by unnecessarily switching
to the past perfect “had employed” and a parallelism error by using the “both military
and the civilian” construction.
(E) This choice uses the present perfect tense “hasbeen employed,” incorrectly
indicating that U-boats are still used by the German army. Furthermore, the “both
military and also civilian” is unidiomatic.

13. The original sentence begins with an opening modifier that correctly modifies the
nationwide admission of students.
(A) CORRECT.This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) The use of the initial modifier in this choice is correct. However, the adjective
“nationwide” is incorrectly applied to students, when it is meant to apply to the
admission process.
(C) Here, the modifier is adjacent to the subject “colleges and universities,” incorrectly
suggesting that colleges and universities are takenfor granted as opposed to the
admission process.
(D) This sentence incorrectly uses the pronoun “them” to refer to the “admission”
which is a singular subject. The use of the pronoun“their” is also unclear as the
antecedent could be construed to be “colleges and universities” as opposed to the
intended antecedent, "students."
(E) Using the word "and" at the end of the underline makes the meaning of this
sentence less clear by failing to draw an appropriate contrast between the current
state of taking the nationwide admission of students for granted and the fact that it is
a relatively recent phenomenon. A more appropriateword choice would be "but":
"Most people now take for granted..., butit is a relatively recent phenomenon."

14. The original sentence is correct. "Famous because of 'The Godfather'"and "near to
those he most trusted" correctly modify "a town," which modifies Corleone. Noun
modifiers must be next to the nouns that they describe. This choice contains no other
errors.
(A) CORRECT. This answer choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice contains a modification error; "famous because of 'The Godfather'”
incorrectly describes the prosecutor. Noun modifiers modify the closest available
noun.
(C) This choice contains a modification error; "famous because of 'The Godfather'"
incorrectly describes the mobster. Noun modifiers modify the closest available noun.
(D) This choice contains a modification error; "near to those he most trusted"
incorrectly describes the prosecutor. Noun modifiers modify the closest available
noun.
(E) The modification is correct in this choice. "Famous because of 'The Godfather'"
correctly modifies "Corleone". However, this sentence is unnecessarily wordy, "was
the town that the ailing mobster came to take refuge in" is much less concise than
"the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone" without making the meaning
clearer.

15. The original sentence is correct. The modifiers “Herman Melville” and “Walt Whitman”
are restrictive – they are necessary to restrict the scope of the words “author” and
“poet” respectively – and hence the use of comma pairs to set off the modifiers is not
appropriate here. In addition, the context of the sentence implies that the men
continue to be icons of American literature since they are beloved by generations
both past and present; hence the use of the presenttense “are” is appropriate.
(A) CORRECT.The original sentence is correct as written.
(B) The modifiers “the author” and “the poet” for “Herman Melville” and “Walt
Whitman” respectively are non-restrictive – they are not necessary to identify the
subjects and only serve to add information – and hence should be set off with comma
pairs (e.g., “Herman Melville, the author, and WaltWhitman, the poet, ….”
(C) The phrases “The author named Herman Melville” and “the poet named Walt
Whitman” are unnecessarily wordy. In addition, an icon of something has implied
greatness; hence, the phrase “great icon” is redundant.
(D) The restrictive modifiers “Herman Melville” and“Walt Whitman” are improperly set
off by comma pairs.
(E). The modifiers “the author” and “the poet” are non-restrictive and properly set off
with comma pairs. The tense of the verb “had been” is not appropriate since it is
implied by the context of this sentence that the men continue to be icons of American
literature.

16. This sentence tests two modifiers. First, "only" correctly modifies "when"
Rousseau believed "man is good." Second, "that" isincorrectly used to introduce
a non-essential modifier. "That" is used only withessential modifiers and is not
separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma."Which" is used when
introducing non-essential modifiers and these modifiers are separated from the
rest of the sentence by a comma.
•(A) The sentence is incorrect because it repeats the original answer.
•(B) The new placement of the adverb "only" unacceptably changes the
meaning of the sentence. The original sentence indicated the "only"
circumstance in which "man is good." This answer choice, however, indicates
that man is the "only" good creature in a certain circumstance. In addition,
"that" should only be used to introduce essential modifiers that are not
separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma."Which" is required in
this case.
•(C) The new placement of the adverb "only" unacceptably changes the
meaning of the sentence. The original sentence indicated the "only"
circumstance in which "man is good." This answer choice, however, indicates
the "only" circumstance in which "man is corrupted." In addition, "that" should
only be used to introduce essential modifiers that are not separated from the
rest of the sentence by a comma. "Which" is required in this case.
•(D) This answer corrects the second modifier by changing "that" to "which," the
appropriate start to a non-essential modifier. However, the new placement of
the adverb "only" unacceptably changes the meaning of the sentence. The
original sentence indicated the "only" circumstancein which "man is good."
This answer choice, however, indicates that man is the "only" good creature in
a certain circumstance.
• (E) CORRECT.This choice keeps the original (and correct) placement of the
adverb "only" and also corrects the "that vs. which" modifier mistake by
replacing "that" with "which," the appropriate relative pronoun to employ to
start a non-essential modifier.

17. The opening clause "though the language of Beowulf is practically
incomprehensible to contemporary readers," correctly modifies the main clause
"careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude ofsimilarities to modern
English." Moreover, all verbs are in the correct tenses and all nouns are properly
modified. There are no errors in the original sentence.
• (A) CORRECT.This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
•(B) This choice begins with the unidiomatic "despite that it."
• "Despite" must be followed by either a noun ("despite extreme
hunger...") or a verb ("despite having been fired..."). It cannot be followed
by a relative pronoun ("despite that...").
•Moreover, the opening clause seems to modify "careful linguistic analysis,"
which is the subject of the main clause, creating an illogical meaning (that the
analysis is incomprehensible to contemporary readers).
•(C) "Though being practically incomprehensible" iswordy; "being" is
unnecessary here. Moreover, the main clause seems to imply that "the
language of Beowulf" performed the "careful linguistic analysis," thuscreating
an illogical meaning.
•(D) "Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible" is
wordy. The original "though the language of Beowulfis practically
incomprehensible" is more concise. Moreover, "a multitude of similarities are
revealed to modern English" seems to imply that the"similarities" were
revealed to "modern English" when the correct meaning is that that "similarities
to modern English" were revealed.
•(E) "Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis" illogically implies that
Beowulf carried out the analysis.

18. The original sentence describes fusion as a "process" studied by scientists. The
underlined portion of the sentence correctly ends with the word "scientists." This is
necessary because the non-underlined portion of thesentence, beginning "some
of whom . . .," is a long modifier that describes what some of those scientists have
attempted to do. Modifiers describing nouns must beadjacent to the nouns that
they describe.
• (A) CORRECT.This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence.
•(B) This choice incorrectly shortens the modifier that describes fusion to "the
heat and light produced by the sun." This distorts the meaning of the sentence
by incorrectly stating that fusion is the "heat andlight" produced by the sun. In
fact, fusion is the "process" used by the sun to produce heat and light; fusion is
not the "heat and light" itself. This is made clearby the use of the word
"process" in the non-underlined portion of the sentence in the phrase "to mimic
the process in their laboratories."
•(C) This choice describes fusion as "the process through which heat and light
are produced by the sun." The use of the doubly passive construction "through
which . . . are produced by" produces an unnecessarily wordy modifier.
Though a passive construction may be correct, a more active construction is
preferable if it is provided.
•(D) In moving the word "scientists" from the end of the opening clause to the
beginning, this choice creates a misplaced modifier. The non-underlined
portion of the sentence that begins "some of whom .. ." is a modifier
describing the scientists; this modifier must be placed immediately adjacent to
the noun that it modifies ("scientists"). However, in this choice this modifier is
incorrectly placed adjacent to "heat and light."
•(E) The last word of this choice, "and," creates two independent clauses:
"Scientists have studied fusion . . ." and "some ofwhom have attempted . . ."
The phrase "some of whom" can only be used if it isplaced immediately
adjacent to its antecedent ("scientists."). A better choice would have been
"some of them" since the pronoun "them" (unlike "whom") does not need to be
placed immediately adjacent to its antecedent ("Scientists have studied . . .
and some of them have attempted . . .").

19. This sentence has poor parallelism, due to the placement of the word “crops.” It
seems to indicate that there were three types of crops (grape, celery and chili pepper)
that had been destroyed, but that sugar beet and walnut had been destroyed entirely,
rather than just the crops of those plants.
•Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut
in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the
citrus industry.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. OK.
•Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops
in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the
citrus industry.
• (B) CORRECT.The word “crop” is placed correctly after the listof crop types.
The modifier “in the 1880s” correctly modifies the last phrase in the sentence,
indicating only that the citrus industry was saved in the 1880s. By using the
past perfect “had destroyed,” this sentence indicates that the other crops had
been destroyed at some time prior to the 1880s. Thelater past event uses the
simple past tense, whereas the earlier past event uses the past perfect tense.
This time line of events matches the meaning in theoriginal sentence.
•Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops
in the region, but more effective pest-control methods thatwere introduced in
the 1880s saved the citrus industry.
• The citrus industry was saved in the 1880s. As per the sentence above,
we know that the methods were introduced in the 1880’s but have no idea
when the citrus industry was saved.
•(C) The modifying phrase “that were introduced in the 1880s” refers to the
“methods” immediately preceding the phrase. This alters the meaning of the
sentence, since “in the 1880s” no longer modifies “saved the citrus industry.
The simple past tense indicates “saved” happened sometime in the past, but
not necessarily in that particular decade.
The modifier uses the relative pronoun “that,” but “that” should only
introduce essential modifiers. “Which” is a better choice here, since the
modifying phrase is non-essential.
•In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chilipepper, sugar beet and
walnut crops in the region andmore effective pest-control methods saved the
citrus industry.
•(D) The placement of the modifier “In the 1880s” and the use of two simple
past verbs “destroyed” and “saved,” indicate that both occurred in that decade.
The original sentence indicates only that the citrus industry was saved in the
1880s, and by using the past perfect “had destroyed” indicates that the other
crops had been destroyed at some time prior to the 1880s. The original
sentence used the word “but” to indicate a contrast, yet this sentence alters the
meaning by using “and” instead.
•In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry
from what was destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut
crops in the region.
•(E) The use of the phrase “what was destroying” isan awkward way to refer to
“pests.” Also, the placement of the modifier “In the 1880s” and the use of the
past progressive “was destroying” indicates that the destruction was ongoing in
that decade. The original sentence indicates only that the citrus industry was
saved in the 1880s, and by using the past perfect “had destroyed” indicates
that the other crops had been destroyed at some time prior to the 1880s.

20. In the original sentence, "was" does not need to berepeated after "nor." Moreover,
"having been won over..." incorrectly modifies "classical guitar" (the subject of the
preceding clause) instead of Segovia.
•(A) This choice is the same as the original sentence.
•(B) This choice does not correct the modifier issue.
• (C) CORRECT.This choice corrects the "nor" issue as well as the modifier
issue. Now it is clear that it was Segovia who was won over by the
instrument's sound.
•(D) This choice is incorrect because the phrase "classical guitar did not have
prestige nor was it performed..." is both unidiomatic ("not ... nor" is incorrect)
and unparallel ("did not have....nor was it performed").
•(E) This choice is incorrect because it repeats "was" after "nor" and because it
implies that Segovia was won over by the sound of the instrument in the mid-twentieth century, while the original sentence makes clear that this happened
at some earlier point.

21. The original sentence suggests that Feynman’s introduction covered "physics
designed for undergraduate students." This is nonsensical; rather the courseis
designed for undergraduate students and covers the general topic of physics.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) Beginning the sentence with “for undergraduate students” is awkward and
unclear. The verb phrase “being a comprehensive introduction…” following the
comma seems illogically to modify “the physicist Richard Feynman.” With the use
of the unnecessary “being,” this creates the awkward suggestion that “the
physicist” was “a comprehensive introduction.” (Remember that "being" is almost
always wrong on the GMAT.)
(C) The sentence’s meaning is unclear due to the use of many prepositional
phrases with no punctuation: “In a two-year course”followed by “by the physicist
Richard Feynman” and later, “to undergraduate students” and “to modern
physics.” Also, the subject of this passive sentence is “a comprehensive
introduction.” It would make more sense for Feynmanto be the subject, since he
was actively doing something: “presenting.” Finally, the use of "presenting" with
the passive construction introduces a verb tense error; Feynman is not currently
"presenting" the course, rather, the course was presented by Feynman.
(D) The use of both “introduction” and “introduced”is redundant: it suggests that
Feynman “introduced a comprehensive introduction.”
(E) CORRECT.The placement of the prepositional phrase “in a two-year course
designed for undergraduate students” at the beginning of the sentence clarifies
the meaning: a physics course was designed for the students. The construction of
the rest of the sentence is straightforward: the subject (the person doing the
action) “the physicist Richard Feynman,” the verb (what he actually did)
“presented,” and the object (what he presented) “a comprehensive introduction to
modern physics.”

22. The original sentence begins with a misplaced modifier. It is the domestic cat that
descended from the wildcat. We need to find a choice that expresses this
correctly.
•(A) This choice is the same as the original sentence.
•(B) The original modifier issue has been corrected. However, the phrase
"which is an exceedingly short time" has no referent ("4,000 years ago" is not a
time span but a specific moment).
•(C) The original modifier issue has been corrected. However, the phrase "has
been scarcely sufficient..." incorrectly refers to the domestic cat.
•(D) The original modifier issue has been corrected. However, the phrase "that
has scarcely been sufficient..." incorrectly modifies "genetic evolution". Also
"the marked physical changes that transformed the animal" is redundant.
Compare to E: "the marked physical changes in the animal," a much tighter
way of conveying the same information.
• (E) CORRECT.This choice correctly rearranges the opening modifier to place
the words "the domestic cat" immediately next to the modifier "descended from
the African wildcat."

No theory! We will learn with the questions and answers!!

1. Although covered in about 11 inches of snow, aviation officials said that conditions on the
runway at the time of the emergency landing was acceptable.
• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing was
acceptable
• the runway conditions during the emergency landing were acceptable according to aviation
officials
• according to aviation officials, the runway was in acceptable condition during the time of the
emergency landing
• the runway was in acceptable condition during the emergency landing, according to aviation
officials
• aviation officials said that conditions on the runway at the time of the emergency landing were
acceptable

2. Discouraged by new data that show increases in toxic emissions from domestic factories,
searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies.
• searches for alternative investment opportunities are being conducted by shareholders of the
nation’s leading manufacturing companies
• searches are being conducted by shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing
companies who are looking for alternative investment opportunities
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies had begun searching for
investment opportunities outside of the manufacturing industry
• the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative investment
opportunities for its shareholders
• shareholders of the nation’s leading manufacturing companies are searching for alternative
investment opportunities

3. Found in the wild only in Australia and New Guinea, powerful back legs with long feet
distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals.
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other large mammals
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from other mammals that are large
• powerful back legs with long feet distinguish kangaroos from those of other mammals that are
large
• kangaroos are distinguished from other large mammals by powerful legs with long feet
• kangaroos are being distinguished from other mammals that are large by powerful legs with
long feet
4. Responding to growing demand for high-end vehicles, the interiors of the newest models are
so luxurious that they sell for nearly twice the price of last year's models.
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that they sell
• the interiors of the newest models are so luxurious that the cars are sold
• auto makers have installed interiors in the newest models that are so luxurious that they sell
• the interior of the newest models are so luxurious that they are sold
• auto makers have installed such luxurious interiors in the newest models that these cars sell

5. By applying optimization techniques commonly used to plan operations, it is possible to
determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s products in order to
meet its goals in both the short and long terms.
• it is possible to determine how much effort ought to be devoted to each of a company’s
products in order to meet its goals in both the short and long terms
• a company’s managers can determine how much effort should be dedicated to each of the
company’s products in order to meet its short and long term goals
• it can be determined by company managers how much effort ought to be devoted to each of
the company’s products in order to meet its goals, both short and long term
• it may be possible for company managers to determine how much effort should be dedicated
to each of these products in order to meet the company’s short and long term goals
• managers at a company can determine how much effort ought to be dedicated to each of
these products in order to meet the company’s goals in both the short and long term

6. Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook's chapter on genetics is
surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.
• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads
• the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading
• the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads
• the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads
• the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

7. Hailed as a key discovery in the science of evolution, the fossils of a large scaly creature
resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence of a possible link in the
evolutionary chain from water-based to land-based organisms.
• the fossils of a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provide evidence
of
• a large scaly creature resembling both a fish and a land-animal provides fossils that are
evidence
• a large scaly creature, whose fossils resemble both a fish and a land-animal, provides evidence
of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature, which resembles both a fish and a land-animal, provides
evidence of
• the fossils of a large scaly creature resemble both a fish and a land-animal and provide
evidence of

8. Hoping to alleviate some of the financial burdens of a growing population, property taxes last
year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government.
• property taxes last year were raised by an eleven percent increase by the county government
• property taxes were raised by eleven percent last year by the county government
• the county government raised property taxes by an eleven percent increase last year
• the county government last year raised by eleven percent property taxes
• the county government raised property taxes by eleven percent last year

9. In order to properly evaluate a patient’s state of mind and gain informed consent prior to
surgery, a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient
to become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure.
• a substantial period of time must be spent with the operating physician by the patient to
become fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing a surgical procedure
• the operating physician and the patient must spend a substantial amount of time together,
thus ensuring full awareness of the pros and cons of undergoing the surgical procedure
• the patient must spend a substantial amount of time with his or her operating physician, thus
ensuring that he or she has been made fully aware of the pros and cons of undergoing the
surgical procedure
• the operating physician must spend a substantial amount of time with the patient, thus
ensuring that the patient is fully aware of the pros and cons of accepting the undergoing
procedure
• the operating physician must ensure that he or she is fully aware of the pros and cons of
undergoing a surgical procedure by spending a substantial amount of time with the patient

10. Many daring vacationers who participate in guided boat tours on the Tarcoles River encounter
native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses are peaking out from the
surface of the murky water.
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,whose eyes and noses are peaking out
• encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• had encountered native crocodiles lurking in the shallows, whose eyes and noses peak out
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses peaking out
• encounter native crocodiles lurking in the shallows,with eyes and noses that are peaking out

11. Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish
power only after a long struggle by the native people.
• Before its independence in 1947, Britain ruled India as a colony and they would relinquish
power
• Before independence in 1947, Britain had ruled India as a colony and relinquished power
• Before its independence in 1947, India was ruled by Britain as a colony and they relinquished
power
• Before independence in 1947, India had been ruled as a colony by Britain, which relinquished
power
• Before independence in 1947, India had been a colony of the British, who relinquished power
12. Used until the end of the Second World War, the German army employed the U-boat to attack
both military or civilian watercraft.
• the German army employed the U-boat to attack both military or
• the U-boat was employed by the German army to attack both military and
• the U-boat employed the German army to attack both military or
• the German army had employed the U-Boat to attack both military and the
• the U-boat has been employed by the German army to attack both military and also

13. Though most people take it for granted now, the nation wide admission of students to colleges
and universities based on academic merit is a relatively recent phenomenon, beginning only
after World War II.
• Though most people take it for granted now, the nationwide admission of students to colleges
and universities based on academic merit
• Though it is now taken for granted by most people, the admission of nationwide students to
colleges and universities based on academic merit
• Now taken for granted by most people, colleges and universities admitting students based on
their academic merit
• Most take them for granted now, but the admission of nationwide students to colleges and
universities based on their academic merit
• Most people now take for granted that colleges and universities admit students nationally
based on academic merit, and it

14. According to Italy's top anti-Mafia prosecutor, the ailing mobster came to take refuge in
Corleone, a town famous because of the “The Godfather” and near to those he most trusted.
• the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone,a town famous because of “The
Godfather” and near to those he most trusted
• famous because of “The Godfather,” the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone, a
town near to those he most trusted
• the ailing mobster, famous because of “The Godfather,” came to take refuge in Corleone, a
town near to those he most trusted
• near to those he most trusted, the ailing mobster came to take refuge in Corleone, a town
famous because of “The Godfather”
• Corleone, famous because of “The Godfather,” was thetown that the ailing mobster came to
take refuge in because it was near to those he most trusted

15. The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons of American literature,
greatly beloved by generations past and present.
• The author Herman Melville and the poet Walt Whitman are icons
• Herman Melville the author and Walt Whitman the poet are icons
• The author named Herman Melville and the poet named Walt Whitman are great icons
• The author, Herman Melville, and the poet, Walt Whitman, are icons
• Herman Melville, the author, and Walt Whitman, the poet, had been icons

16. Jean-Jacques Rousseau contended that man is good only when in "the state of nature" but is
corrupted by society, that compels man to compare himself to others.
• man is good only when in "the state of nature" but is corrupted by society, that
• only man is good when in "the state of nature" but is corrupted by society, that
• man is good when in "the state of nature" but is corrupted only by society, that
• only man is good when in "the state of nature" but is corrupted by society, which
• man is good only when in "the state of nature" but is corrupted by society, which

17. Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers,
careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.
• Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers,
careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.
• Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic
analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English.
• Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf
reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.
• Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers,
a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis.
• Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf
reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

18. Fusion, the process through which the sun produces heat and light, has been studied by
scientists,some of whom have attempted to mimic the process intheir laboratories by blasting
a container of liquid solvent with strong ultrasonic vibrations.
• Fusion, the process through which the sun produces heat and light, has been studied by
scientists,
• Fusion, the heat and light produced by the sun, has been studied by scientists,
• Fusion, the process through which heat and light are produced by the sun, has been studied
by scientists,
• Scientists have studied fusion, the process the sun uses to produce heat and light,
• Scientists have studied fusion, the process the sun uses to produce heat and light, and

19. Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but
in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
• Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops,sugar beet and walnut in the region, but
in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
• Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but
in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
• Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but
more effective pest-control methods that were introduced in the 1880s saved the citrus
industry.
• In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the
region and more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.
• In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from what was
destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.

20. Classical guitar was neither prestigious nor was often played in concert halls until it was
revived by Andres Segovia in the mid-twentieth century, having been won over by the
instrument's sound despite its relative obscurity.
• Classical guitar was neither prestigious nor was often played in concert halls until it was
revived by Andres Segovia in the mid-twentieth century, having been won over by the
instrument's sound despite its relative obscurity.
• Classical guitar was neither prestigious nor played often in concert halls until it was revived by
Andres Segovia in the mid-twentieth century, having been won over by the instrument's sound
despite its relative obscurity.
• Classical guitar was not prestigious and was not often played in concert halls until Andres
Segovia revived it in the mid-twentieth century, after he was won over by the sound despite
the instrument's relative obscurity.
• Classical guitar did not have prestige nor was it performed often in concert halls until its
revival by Andres Segovia, who in the mid-twentieth century was won over by the instrument's
sound despite its relative obscurity.
• Classical guitar was neither prestigious nor was often played in concert halls until Andres
Segovia revived it in the mid-twentieth century, when he was won over by the sound of the
relatively obscure instrument.

21. The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics
designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.
• The physicist Richard Feynman presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics
designed for undergraduate students in a two-year course.
• For undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman presented a two-year course,
being a comprehensive introduction to modern physics.
• A comprehensive introduction was in a two-year course by the physicist Richard Feynman
presenting to undergraduate students an introduction to modern physics.
• Presenting a comprehensive introduction, the physicist Richard Feynman introduced modern
physics in a two-year course designed for undergraduate students.
• In a two-year course designed for undergraduate students, the physicist Richard Feynman
presented a comprehensive introduction to modern physics.

22. Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an
exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely
seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.
• Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an
exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely
seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.
• The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, which is
an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat's genetic evolution and scarcely sufficient for
the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.
• Descending from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had
an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution and has been scarcely sufficient for the
marked physical changes in the animal.
• Having descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat
has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution that has scarcely been sufficient for
the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.
• The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an
exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which scarcely seems
sufficient to allow the marked physical changes in the animal.