Of all the years in Einstein's life, possibly none is more impressive

Question

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Of all the years in Einstein's life,  possibly none is more impressive than  1905 when four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal.

A) possibly none is more impressive than

B) maybe none was more impressive as

C) possibly none was more impressive than

D) perhaps none is more impressive as

E) maybe none is more impressive than

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GKomoku · Accepted Answer

Of all the years in Einstein's life, possibly none is more impressive than 1905 when four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal. Meaning of the original sentence: Author of the sentence compares "all the years in Einstein's life" with "1905". Any other year than 1905 year in in Einstein's life wasn't more impressive. Because in 1905 four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal. Errors of the original sentence: Only present simple "is" seems questionalbe in this sentence. Seems author presents this information as a general fact than past event. Let's keep (A) and see what we've got POE perhaps.JPG The split among "possibly" , "maybe" and "perhaps" is not essential. All of them show almost same meaning and probability. Ignore Second split "more ... than" and "more ... as" We are comparing two entities, we need "more ... than" construction, "more ... as" - is wrong (B) and (D) out A) possibly none is more impressive than B) maybe none was more impressive as C) possibly none was more impressive than D) perhaps none is more impressive as E) maybe none is more impressive than Third split is interesting " was more impressive" and " is more impressive" If we take into consideration that the author uses "is" in the original sentence and wants to present it as a general fact rather than past event. A) possibly none is more impressive than E) maybe none is more impressive than (A) and (E) have exactly the same meaning, we can consider them identical. We CANNOT eliminate one or prefer one to another, relying on probability difference they carrying on. C) possibly none was more impressive than So we left with "was" correctly impies past event. C is the answer .gif

Archit3110 · Answer

IMO C 
possibly none was more impressive than ;  none was   rightly modifies  Of all the years in   . usage of  impressive than  "before "1905 rightly links the sentence

Of all the years in Einstein's life,  possibly none is more impressive than  1905 when four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal.

A) possibly none is more impressive than

B) maybe none was more impressive as

C) possibly none was more impressive than

D) perhaps none is more impressive as

E) maybe none is more impressive than

warrior1991 · Answer

More than is correct form.

In between A,C, and E

I will go with C because the Einstein's years have passed. The author tone is in the present. 
  So we will use past for describing a past event.

IMO C.

generis · Answer

Archit3110  ,    why    does  none was    rightly  modify  Of all the years in  ?

Please choose one of the options that contains incorrect modification and explain why that choice is wrong and C is correct?

Also, please explain this assertion: "usage of  impressive than  "before" 1905  rightly  links the sentence."
  Why?

generis · Answer

Project SC Butler: Day 90 Sentence Correction (SC2)

For SC butler Questions Click Here

Of all the years in Einstein's life, possibly none is more impressive than 1905 when four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal.

A) possibly none is more impressive than

B) maybe none was more impressive as

C) possibly none was more impressive than

D) perhaps none is more impressive as

E) maybe none is more impressive than

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

Show Answer

Official Answer

C

B) maybe none was more impressive as • the comparative structure is more than, not more as • be suspicious of maybe . Possibly, perhaps , and maybe express the same thing (likelihood, not certainty), but maybe is usually too informal for the GMAT. C) possibly none was more impressive than D) perhaps none is more impressive as • incorrect: the verb tense IS. Same error as that in option A • incorrect: as . Same error as that in option B. E) maybe none is more impressive than • incorrect: IS. Same as A and D. • Suspicious: maybe . Same as B The correct answer is C. The phrase "perhaps/possibly none was more impressive than" means It is possible but not certain that not one year of Einstein's life was more impressive than the year 1905. Easier: Although we cannot be certain, it is possible that the most impressive year of Einstein's life was the year 1905. OFFICIAL EXPLANATION • In option A, the underlined portion of the sentence has an error in verb tense ( is ), because the sentence refers to 1905, which is in the past. • On that basis, eliminate A, D, and E • Choice B correctly is in the past tense, however, B has the incorrect idiom for comparison ( as instead of than ) • Choice C is both in the past tense and has the corret idiom for comparison ( than ). The correct answer is C. COMMENTS GKomoku , what a wonderful graphic! Einstein fascinates me. Imagination is more important than knowledge, he wrote, in 1931. I think so. warrior1991 gets a smiley face for excellent answer. GKomoku gets kudos for best answer.

GKomoku · Answer

absolutely

I agree with you generis

Bishal123456789 · Answer

daagh  how to choose between is and was here since i believe both can be correct based on the context of the sentence?

daagh · Answer

Bishal 
Unless something is universal or perpetually repetitive, the use of present tense cannot be justified. After all 1905 was just one year in his life, the significance of which has not been repeated in his life ever after that and whatever he achieved ended in that year.

Therefore, it is better to stick with the past tense.

shahsuhailp · Answer

Meaning: Author says that of all the years in Einetsein's life, the year 1905 was possibly the most impressive one because in 1905 four of his ground-breaking papers were published in a prominent German physics journal.

Error:
1) past tense should be used instead of present tense because it holds true in past. If it had relevance in present or if it was a fact then use of present tense was correct

Answer: C

VerbalBot · Answer

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Of all the years in Einstein's life, possibly none is more impressive

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Of all the years in Einstein's life, possibly none is more impressive

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

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