In common usage, the word “rational” typically describes a reasonable

Question

In common usage, the word “rational” typically describes a reasonable or logical action, but in economics  it is someone who attempts  to maximize utility, even if that utility may be silly or trivial.

A. it is someone who attempts
B. it is an individual who tries to
C. they are individuals trying to
D. it refers to someone who attempts
E. it is a reference to a person who is attempting to

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Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

This sentence uses the pronoun “it,” so your first step is to figure out exactly what that pronoun refers to. According to the sentence, the pronoun refers to the “word ‘rational’.” That makes the underlined portion of the sentence illogical because a word can’t be “someone.” Eliminate choices A and B. Choice C uses the pronoun “they,” which is plural, although the noun it refers to is singular. Choice E is unnecessarily wordy, therefore  choice D is the best answer .

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (D) . It took me 24 seconds.

(A) It (= the word "rational") cannot be someone.

(B) A word cannot be an individual.

(C) No antecedent for "they".

(E) "be a reference to" is not as concise or expressive as "refer to"
"be attempting to” improperly emphasize the progressive nature of the attempt.

ElninoEffect · Answer

They say when you learn something from someone you need to give credit to them, so I will be using  GMATNinja  's(helping aspirants ton at a time:D )techniques here i.e replacing pronoun with the subject it refers to.

Pronoun 'it' here should refer to the word 'rational' for the sentence to make sense. 
A. it is someone who attempts
 rational is someone who attempts - Wrong.(it is not someone 'its a word', it can refer to someone) 
B. it is an individual who tries to
 (same reason as A) 
C. they are individuals trying to
 they.?(plural.? seriously.?) 
D. it refers to someone who attempts
 rational refers to someone who attempts -Correct 
E. it is a reference to a person who is attempting to
 reference to a person vs refers to someone |refers to someone wins
attempting is not parallel to describes.

dassunil · Answer

May be between A and D key word to focus would be "refers"

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VelvetThunder · Answer

Answer D

A. it is  someone  who attempts  rational cannot be a person 
B. it is an  individual  who tries to  rational cannot be an individual 
C. they are  individuals  trying to  rational cannot be individuals 
D. it refers to someone who attempts  CORRECT 
E. it is a reference to a person who is  attempting  to  no need for continuous tense

Adnani · Answer

Why E is incorrect....
Any particular reason???

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In common usage, the word “rational” typically describes a reasonable

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

In common usage, the word “rational” typically describes a reasonable

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