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E
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Difficulty:
75%
(hard)
Question Stats:
47% (01:41) correct
53%
(01:45)
wrong
based on 4222
sessions
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On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks.
(A) On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow
(B) On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed, the rate of tree growth
(C) On Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest indications of sunspot cycles
(D) Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree growth rate
(E) Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the rate at which trees grow
(A) On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow
(B) On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed, the rate of tree growth
(C) On Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest indications of sunspot cycles
(D) Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree growth rate
(E) Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the rate at which trees grow
08 Sep 2011, 06:23
Kudos
Bookmarks
The important thing here is to note what the pronoun ‘their’ in the un-underlined part points to. Unfortunately, in C it refers to the sunspot cycles by virtue of proximity, while it should refer to the trees, which is what E does and thus outdoes C.
26 Sep 2008, 07:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Ok I've cracked it. Answer is E. My logic was right but I comitted a mistake. The last phrase doesnt modify indications but it modifies the rate of growth. So C is ruled out & hence E wins.
For further clarification try to rephrase the sentence as:
The rate at which trees grow, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks, is believed to be among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles.
This tells us why E is right.
For further clarification try to rephrase the sentence as:
The rate at which trees grow, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks, is believed to be among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles.
This tells us why E is right.
19 Sep 2022, 04:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the rate at which trees grow, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks is believed to be among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction + Idioms
• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• If "rate" is used as a noun "rate + that + clause + at", "rate + of + noun", "noun + rate", and "rate + at which + clause" are the correct idiomatic constructions.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb "are believed" to refer to the singular noun "rate". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "rate (noun) + that + clause"; remember, if "rate" is used as a noun "rate + that + clause + at", "rate + of + noun", "noun + rate", and "rate + at which + clause" are the correct idiomatic constructions.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb "are" to refer to the singular noun "rate".
C: This answer choice incorrectly modifies the noun "the surest indications of sunspot cycles" with "as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks", illogically implying that all of the surest indications of sunspot cycles are seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks; the intended meaning is that one of the surest indications of sunspot cycles - the rate at which trees grow - is seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
D: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "believed" and "seen" are past participles acting as modifiers, there is no active verb to act upon the subject "the tree growth rate".
E: Correct. This answer choice acts upon the independent subject noun "the rate" with the active verb "is believed" to form a complete thought, producing a complete sentence. Further, Option E correctly refers to the singular noun "the rate" with the singular verb "is believed". Moreover, Option E correctly modifies the noun "the rate at which trees grow" with the phrase "as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks", conveying the intended meaning - that one of the surest indications of sunspot cycles - the rate at which trees grow - is seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks. Additionally, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction "rate + at which + clause".
Hence, E is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
johnycute
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the rate at which trees grow, as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks is believed to be among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction + Idioms
• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• If "rate" is used as a noun "rate + that + clause + at", "rate + of + noun", "noun + rate", and "rate + at which + clause" are the correct idiomatic constructions.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb "are believed" to refer to the singular noun "rate". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "rate (noun) + that + clause"; remember, if "rate" is used as a noun "rate + that + clause + at", "rate + of + noun", "noun + rate", and "rate + at which + clause" are the correct idiomatic constructions.
B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural verb "are" to refer to the singular noun "rate".
C: This answer choice incorrectly modifies the noun "the surest indications of sunspot cycles" with "as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks", illogically implying that all of the surest indications of sunspot cycles are seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks; the intended meaning is that one of the surest indications of sunspot cycles - the rate at which trees grow - is seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
D: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "believed" and "seen" are past participles acting as modifiers, there is no active verb to act upon the subject "the tree growth rate".
E: Correct. This answer choice acts upon the independent subject noun "the rate" with the active verb "is believed" to form a complete thought, producing a complete sentence. Further, Option E correctly refers to the singular noun "the rate" with the singular verb "is believed". Moreover, Option E correctly modifies the noun "the rate at which trees grow" with the phrase "as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks", conveying the intended meaning - that one of the surest indications of sunspot cycles - the rate at which trees grow - is seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of tree trunks. Additionally, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction "rate + at which + clause".
Hence, E is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
