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Updated on: 19 Dec 2018, 04:13
Originally posted by pjreddy_rec on 22 Aug 2005, 18:31.
Last edited by Bunuel on 19 Dec 2018, 04:13, edited 3 times in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 19 Dec 2018, 04:13, edited 3 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
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81% (01:06) correct
19%
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A number of linguists contend that all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world's five billion people can be traced back to a common root language.
(A) that all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world's five billion people can be traced
(B) that the world's five billion people speak thousands of languages of which all can be traced
(C) the world's five billion people speak thousands of languages which are all traceable
(D) all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world's five billion people to be traceable
(E) the ability to trace all of the thousands of languages that are spoken by the world's five billion people
(A) that all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world's five billion people can be traced
(B) that the world's five billion people speak thousands of languages of which all can be traced
(C) the world's five billion people speak thousands of languages which are all traceable
(D) all of the thousands of languages spoken by the world's five billion people to be traceable
(E) the ability to trace all of the thousands of languages that are spoken by the world's five billion people
The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 10th Edition, 2003
Practice Question
Question No.: SC 157
Page: 676
Practice Question
Question No.: SC 157
Page: 676
11 Dec 2012, 16:16
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GMATtaker777
I'm happy to help with this.
First of all, on the GMAT, verb like contend, argue, suggest, think, assert, conclude, etc. require a "that"-clause, and the word "that" must appear. In colloquial English, I can say "I thought he was coming" --- that would be fine in ordinary conversation, but it is not up to GMAT standards. GMAT grammar standards demand the word "that" in this context.
Here, that immediately eliminates (C) & (D) & (E). Now, we just choosing between (A) & (B).
Both (A) & (B) are grammatically correct, and it is more a question of emphasis. The substance of the linguists' claim is that the 1000s of languages have a common root language --- a mind-blowing idea. How many people are on earth speaking these 1000s of languages is more a detail for emphasis, and should not be front & center. Choice (A) makes the "thousands of languages ... can be traced" the main subject & verb of the "that"-clause, and this is the heart of the linguist claim. Choice B emphasizes the words "the world’s five billion people speak" by making that the main subject & verb of the "that"-clause ---- this makes brings something that should be a detail to front & center, and relegates what should be the main focuses to a secondary subordinate clause nested inside the "that"-clause. In choice B, the grammatical relations are at odds with the logical priorities. In a well designed sentence, grammar should support logic and the priority of the argument at all steps. Therefore, (B) has problems, but (A) is the best possible answer.
Arguably, choice A is not ideal --- arguably, one could find a more elegant way to express this information. Nevertheless, on GMAT SC, the job is not to find the best possible sentence, but only to find the best among the five available options. Here, (A) is the best of the five.
Does all this make sense?
Mike
21 Sep 2011, 10:50
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Yes. You do require the introductory connector ‘that’ in all reported speeches, lest it should become a run-on or an informal spoken form. . The choice is therefore limited to A and B
Between A and B: In B ‘speak thousands of languages of which all’ is weird and meaningless; ‘All of which’ is the right expression
A is left with a forthright presentation
Between A and B: In B ‘speak thousands of languages of which all’ is weird and meaningless; ‘All of which’ is the right expression
A is left with a forthright presentation
