If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce

Question

Project SC Butler: Day 99 Sentence Correction (SC1) 
 For SC butler Questions  Click Here

If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds  is caused by something other than the placement of the seeds and the moisture level of the soil.

A) If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds

B) The plant's failure to produce buds—if the botanist were to be correct—such

C) If the botanist's theory were correct, the plant's failure to produce buds

D) Having failed to produce buds, if the botanist's theory is correct, the plant

E) If the botanist's theory is correct, the plant's failure to produce buds

Source : PowerScore

The  best or excellent answers get kudos , which will be  awarded  after   the answer is revealed.
More than one award of kudos is possible.

Loser94 · Answer

If conditional (simple past ) then (simple past or would ) 
In non underlined part tense is simple present ( is)
A) If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
Incorrect
B) The plant's failure to produce buds—if the botanist were to be correct—such
Incorrect
C) If the botanist's theory were correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
Incorrect
D) Having failed to produce buds, if the botanist's theory is correct, the plant
changes the meaning 
E) If the botanist's theory is correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
Correct Simple present

Ashokshiva · Answer

IMO E

If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds is caused by something other than the placement of the seeds and the moisture level of the soil.

If clause (past) ---> other clause (would, could, etc)
and
If clause (present) ---> other clause (present)

Here the non-underlined part (other clause) is in ''present tense'' hence require the if clause to be in ''present tense''

A) If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
 If clause should be ''present tense''

B) The plant's failure to produce buds—if the botanist were to be correct—such
 If clause should be in present tense also ''such'' at the end of underlined part distorts meaning

C) If the botanist's theory were correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
 ''were'' is incorrect, theory is singular

D) Having failed to produce buds, if the botanist's theory is correct, the plant
 Distorts meaning - plant is not caused by ......, ''plants failure to produce is caused by.....''

E) If the botanist's theory is correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
 correct

Shrinidhi · Answer

The Underlined part must use Simple present instead of so please past, as the theory quotes by the botonist is still valid.ao, the correct option must use Simple present-  is   instead of was.
The only option that fits in correctly is Option E.

Posted from my mobile device

generis · Answer

Project SC Butler: Day 99 Sentence Correction (SC1)

For SC butler Questions Click Here

If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failureto produce buds is caused by something other than the placement of the seeds and the moisture level of the soil.

A) If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
B) The plant's failure to produce buds—if the botanist were to be correct—such
C) If the botanist's theory were correct, the plant's failure to produce buds
D) Having failed to produce buds, if the botanist's theory is correct, the plant
E) If the botanist's theory is correct, the plant's failure to produce buds

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
My annotations are in blue typeface.

• Notice that the verb in the result clause [of the conditional sentence] is not underlined [and is in the present tense].
[Use this correct portion of the sentence to guide you in choosing the correct verb for the IF clause.]

• This present tense verb should clue you in to the fact that the sentence is a zero conditional.

• It is a statement of fact, and thus the verb in the conditional [IF] clause should also have a present tense verb.

• The correct answer is E

ANALYSIS

• When we see an IF clause such as If the botanist's theory, we should start looking for verb tense issues.

• IF/THEN sentences are conditional statements: if X, then Y.
(Other statements that do not explicitly use the words if and then can also be conditional statements.)

• A zero conditional is a general truth or a statement of fact. A zero conditional can also be used to
give instructions, and in that case the result clause will have an imperative verb tense:
If this thing happens, then that thing happens.

Examples
-- If he gets stung by a bee, he develops a severe allergic reaction.
-- Hypothermia is a dangerous medical condition in which the human body loses heat faster than the body can produce heat.
-- If an oil fire occurs in your kitchen, do not use water to put the fire out.

• Zero conditionals
-- The if statement is called the condition.
The conditional if statement can be implied, as in the second part of the example above ("if the human body loses heater faster than")
-- The result clause is sometimes called the main clause

-- The verb tenses are always: IF (simple present) and THEN/result (simple present)

• Zero conditionals are the only conditional in which the result clause is in simple present tense.

• This question expresses a scientific truth, a statement of fact.
The non-underlined result states that the failure . . . is caused. The verb phrase is caused tells us that we have a zero conditional.

The IF clause must also use simple present tense.

• Errors in the options
Options A, B, and C do not use simple present tense.

Option D is a hot mess.
It looks as if it has the correct verb, but option D has modifier, meaning, and logic errors.
-- Introductory verbING phrases must always modify the subject that follows the introductory phrase
Having failed to produce buds, . . . the scientist's theory
A theory can neither produce nor fail to produce flower buds.

-- meaning? Nonsensical.
Correct meaning: The cause of the failure is something other than X and Y

-- check for logical sequence in IF/THEN statements. (In this example, dumb logic is easy to spot.)
A plant is not caused by something other than the placement of the seeds and the moisture level of the soil.
A plant's failure to produce buds is caused by by something other than the placement of the seeds and the moisture level of the soil.

• Option E is correct.

COMMENTS

All answers are correct. Ashokshiva wrote the best answer.

Kudos!

VerbalBot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

If the botanists's theory was correct, the plant's failure to produce

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards