From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each b

Question

From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each bearing one of a set of symbols, parapsychologist Joshep Banks Rhine claimed statistical proof  for subjects who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand .

A. for subjects who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand
B. for a card in the dealer's hand to be identified by subjects with thought transference
C. of subjects able to identify with thought transference a card in the dealer's hand
D. that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference
E. that subjects are capable to use thought transference for identifying a card in the dealer's hand

GMATNinja · Answer

Unfortunately, the biggest issue with (E) is probably the idiom. We could say that "subjects are  capable  OF using something" or that "subjects are  able  TO use something"; however, "are  capable  TO use something" doesn't work. (Fortunately, it's rare that idioms are 100% unavoidable in an official GMAT question. More on that  here .)

However, if you were unsure about the idiom, you could also think about logic of the verb tenses, as  sayanta  mentions earlier in the thread.

(E) contains the phrase, "subjects are capable to use thought transference." Now we have the present tense "are." Does that mean that the experiment is happening now? That we're expressing a universal truth about subjects everywhere? Neither interpretation really makes sense.

(D), on the other hand, contains the phrase, "subjects  could  identify a card." At least in this context, "could" is a past tense verb, which makes more sense than the present tense "are capable".

I hope that helps!

thangvietnam · Answer

to modify a noun, we can use preposition+noun or that-clause. 
proof of the existence of the the strange animal.
proof that he came here.

but to use preposition+noun to modify the head noun, such as proof, the noun after preposition must be fit with the head noun semantically. this mean the noun after preposition must be action noun, but not physical object noun, in this case. use our common sense of this world to realize this fitness quickly because in the test room, we can not analyse this way.

that-clause present an action and is fit to head word "proof" in this case.

choice A, B and C offer an physical object as modifier of "proof". this physical object can not fit with "proof" semantically.

Carlosfernando25 · Answer

A.  for subjects  who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand
B.  for a card  in the dealer's hand to be identified by subjects with thought transference
C.  of subjects  able to identify with thought transference a card in the dealer's hand
D.  that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference 
E. that subjects are  capable to use  thought transference for identifying a card in the dealer's hand

KumarfromIndia · Answer

HI ,

In option D. that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference

is the prepositional phrase "by using thought transference" properly placed?
Because we can look at it like "He claimed proof by using thought transference"

I understand logically one can not claim a proof by using thought transference.

But is there someother reason to make my viewpoint wrong?

Thank you.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  KumarfromIndia ,

You aren't wrong, but that  by using  bit is so close to  subjects could identify  that it does not lead to any major meaning clarity issues. As always, focus on marking the best option, even if that option is not perfect.

MHIKER · Answer

The intended meaning of the sentence is "Joseph claimed people can identify symbols of the card in their hand using thought transference. But the original option failed to mean it. Also the word proof is followed by that (proof +that)

A, B, AND C are out there is no proof + that construction.

E. The option correctly use Proof + that, but made another mistake using "capable to" instead capable of using. The sentence is also wordy.

CEdward · Answer

From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each bearing one of a set of symbols, parapsychologist Joshep Banks Rhine claimed statistical proof for subjects who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand.

A.  for  subjects who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand X
B.  for  a card in the dealer's hand  by subjects with thought transference X
C.  of  subjects able to identify with thought transference a card in the dealer's hand X
D. that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference Correct
E. that subjects are capable  to use  thought transference  for identifying  a card in the dealer's hand X

mba757 · Answer

Hi  AjiteshArun

I can't seem to understand exactly why C is wrong. The OG explanation states that the "of" phrase could be reasonable, but it needs to be followed by a participle to modify students such as "being able to.."

From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each bearing one of a set of symbols, parapsychologist Joshep Banks Rhine claimed statistical proof for subjects who could use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand.

C. of subjects able to identify with thought transference a card in the dealer's hand

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  samgyupsal ,

Subjects  isn't the thing we want to highlight here.

1.  There is no proof that people are able to identify {something}.  ← This is the intended meaning.

2.   There is no proof of people able to identify {something}.   ← This is like  ~  "there is no proof of such people". It emphasizes  people  too much.

3.  There is no proof of people's ability to identify {something}.  ← This is better than (2) as it emphasizes  people's  ability  .

What the OG says about C would lead to something like this:

4.  There is no proof of people being able to identify {something}.

I don't think that they're wrong, but I would still not expect to see something like (4) in the correct option.

arvind910619 · Answer

Hello Sir,

D that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference

Is "by" redundant in answer D. Is is really necessary. Is the sentence correct without using "by".

Regards,
Arvind

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  arvind910619 ,

Good question, but keep in mind that this is just my opinion (because we don't know how the GMAT would look at dropping the  by ):

By using  can be similar to  using  (especially if we add a comma before  using ), but removing  by  would introduce ambiguity into the sentence.

1.  ... subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand using thought transference...

Someone may read (1) like this:

2. 1.  ... subjects could identify a card in  the dealer's  hand  using thought transference ...

This is clearly illogical, but someone may think that  using  is an adjective for  the dealer's hand  (they might think that the hand is what is using thought transference).

kashishDhir · Answer

What is the difference between 'capable of' and 'capable to'?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  kashishDhir ,

Capable of  +  ing   is idiomatic, but   capable to  + {plain form of the verb}  is not.

Ritu17756 · Answer

Could someone please clarify why "Claiming statistical proof of" is incorrect and "claiming statistical proof that" is right. 
And also whether this is a rule to be followed whenever we encounter "Claim" in any sentence---- (claim that).

I had chosen C --as my thought process was based on "proof of A" rather than "proof that A" .

thangvietnam · Answer

lets say about "for... to be identified" in choice B.

"for+noun+to do" can be placed before or after a main clause to show the purpose of this clause. this phrase is similar to "to do" except the point that the agent of "to do" is made clear.

I earn money for my son to go to Havard.

so, choice B means " for the purpose that the card is identified, the scientists claim...". this is non sense. we

logically, we need an that-clause, or content clause, which show the content of proof. only choice D and E is good, regarding this point.

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi  Ritu17756 ,

We should keep in mind that  proof of  is wrong  in option C . That is,  proof of  isn't generally incorrect. Given that both  proof of  and  proof that  are possible, we have to take a meaning call.

1.  ... claimed statistical proof of subjects able to identify...  ← This is a shorter way to say "claimed statistical proof of subjects who are able to identify".

We don't want to say that he claimed proof of the  subjects  directly. The thing that he claimed is slightly more complex:  proof that  subjects could do something  .

toothless123 · Answer

Please correct me if my thought process is wrong: Could we also say that the main point highlighted by D and E are different? 
My thought process is that D places more weightage on the fact that the subjects could identify the cards in dealer's hand, whereas, E places more weightage on the fact that the subjects are capable of using thought transference.

D. that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference 
 Main point: JBR claimed proof that the subjects could identify the cards in dealer's hand 
(additionally, the subjects use thought transference)

E. that subjects are capable to use thought transference for identifying a card in the dealer's hand 
 Main point: JBR claimed proof that the subjects are capable of using thought transference 
(additionally, the purpose is to identify card in the dealer's hand)

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  toothless123 ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, your reasoning here is largely correct, but the primary meaning error in Option E is that it uses the phrase "capable to use"; the use of the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of the verb" - "to + use" in this sentence) incorrectly implies that the subjects were capable   for the purpose of   using thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand; the intended meaning is that the subjects   had the ability to   use thought transference to identify a card in the dealer's hand; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb"- "to + use" in this sentence) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose or intent of an action.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Vegita · Answer

Hi  GMATNinja

D. that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference

I eliminated option D for a very stupid reason. My reason was 'claimed' is not followed by 'that' as there is the phrase 'statistical proof'.

parapsychologist Joshep Banks Rhine claimed  that subjects could identify a card in the dealer's hand by using thought transference .

The above sentence would have been nicer. So my question is it not necessary that the verb 'claimed' in this case is followed by the word 'that'?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Hi Vegita,

No, it's not necessary. We can   claim  {noun} , we can   claim to  {plain form of verb} , and we can   claim that  {subject-verb combination}  (there may be other ways to use  claim ).

In option D, the GMAT goes with   claim  {noun} :

1.  parapsychologist Joseph Banks Rhine   claimed  {statistical proof that subjects could identify...}  ←  statistical proof that...  is just a big noun (phrase).

From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each b

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From an experiment using special extrasensory perception cards, each b

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