The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

Reduced what? Time. So eliminate A and E.
Being is used incorrectly in B and C.
Correct answer, D.

Hi Dipankar,

This is a classic example of SC being about the best answer not the perfect answer.

Yes you could arguably have a comma. But there are WAY bigger errors in the other answers.

I really don't understand how you people notice it so quickly? I don't seem to get this tricks with 100 seconds. DO I need to study or go through any material for this?

Hi mate,

i will say that best way to go FOR SC question is to understand the meaning.
second....most of the time...you will find more than 1 error in a sentence.
third, you have to choose best of the lot===>means if you thinks if 2 of the answer is correct both in grammar and in meaning.==>the one which is short will be better.

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and
a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a
Model T.
(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T
(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes
(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T, a day and a half to 93 minutes
(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes
(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T

here the highlited region is a modifier...starting with WHICH..===>Whenever you have modifier in non underlined part always remove the clause read the sentence(as modifiers are additional information)..
now in this question if you remove the highlited portion :

The automotive conveyor-belt system reduced================ from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

now if you read this sentence upto reduced...what you think you are going to get after reduced.......offcourse the identity which is going to get reduced.....otherwise meaning is not clear..that what is reduced.......so as TIME is reduced...so it must follow REDUCED...to make most clear meaning...so basis this you can eliminate option A and E
MOREOVER if you see in question stem:==>the required time OF assembling....==>This is wrong.....required time FOR assembling is CORRECT...SO YOU CAN SEE if you miss one thing...you can eliminate on basis of this...error.

now if you see OPTION E:
The automotive conveyor-belt system reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T==>NOW IN THIS OPTION REQUIRED FOR ASSEMBLING IS CORRECT...but if you notice the comma before the time.....==>it means it is modifying 93 minutes==>time required for assembling....now if you remove this modifier also.:
The automotive conveyor-belt system reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes===>this is illogicalll....here we are not able to determine
what is being reduced...hence it is wrong...

hence the option containing from is gone.....

so will suggest you to read thoroughly the explanation of each answer choices given in OG...and compile notes to make a grammar book for GMAT.

READ THE ARTICLES WRITTEN BY EXPERTS.(E-GMAT ARTICLES ARE IN MY SIGNATURE POST)

hope it helps

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and
a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a
Model T.
(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T
Incorrect. Infinite of purpose. It is "required time to assemble".
(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes
Incorrect. No need of "being".
(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T,
a day and a half to 93 minutes
Incorrect. No need of "being".
(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a
day and a half to 93 minutes
Correct.
(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time
required for the assembling of a Model T
Incorrect. Infinite of purpose. It is "required time to assemble".

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and
a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T INCORRECT

(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes INCORRECT

(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T,a day and a half to 93 minutes INCORRECT

(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes CORRECT

(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T INCORRECT

Hello Everyone!

This is a great example of a GMAT question that focuses conciseness in writing! Let's start by looking at the original question, and then highlighting any major differences between the options:

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T
(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes
(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T, a day and a half to 93 minutes
(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes
(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T

After a quick glance over the options, we can see that there are a few major issues we can focus on:

1. The order of phrases in orange and purple (conciseness/clarity)
2. Wordiness/word choice/punctuation in each phrase

Let's start with #1 on our list: the order of phrases. If we look at the original sentence in its entirety, we can see a pretty big clue:

The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

In English, it's best to structure sentences in the following order:

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT

In this sentence, the subject is "The automotive conveyor-belt system," and the verb is "reduced." To determine what the object of the sentence is, we must ask ourselves, "WHAT was reduced?" The time required to assemble a Model T! Let's see which options do this correctly or not:

(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T
(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes
(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T, a day and a half to 93 minutes
(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes
(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T

We can eliminate options A & E because they don't put the object of the sentence directly after the verb, which makes them confusing to readers!

Now that we're left with only 3 options, let's take a closer look at each option. We need to focus on concise wording, clear meaning, and any punctuation problems:

(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes

This option is INCORRECT for a few reasons. First, adding "being" isn't necessary. In fact, it might confuse readers into thinking that a person determines how long it takes to assemble a Model T, rather than the efficiency of the machine used to build them. It's also not necessary to say "from X down to Y" here - just say "from X to Y." It's more concise and means the same thing!

(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T, a day and a half to 93 minutes

This is INCORRECT because it also uses the added "being," which isn't necessary. The comma between "Model T" and "a day" also creates a comma splice, which is a big no-no on the GMAT!

(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes

This is CORRECT! It uses concise wording (required instead of being required), there is no comma splice before "from," and it uses the proper structure for "from X to Y."

There you have it - option D is the correct choice!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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The automotive conveyor-belt system, which Henry Ford modeled after an assembly-line technique introduced by Ransom Olds, reduced from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T.

(A) from a day and a half to 93 minutes the required time of assembling a Model T- reduced should be followed by a noun which was actually reduced

(B) the time being required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half down to 93 minutes- being is not required here

(C) the time being required to assemble a Model T, a day and a half to 93 minutes - being is not required here

(D) the time required to assemble a Model T from a day and a half to 93 minutes - This is the correct answer. This conveys the intended meaning

(E) from a day and a half to 93 minutes, the time required for the assembling of a Model T - reduced should be followed by a noun which was actually reduced

What if the option if the option B would be like this - "the time required to assemble a Model T, from a day and a half to 93 minutes" - Would this be correct or still D would be better. GMATNinja, if you can help

Hello Sadharm12,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, Option D would still be slightly better because the comma included in your version of Option B is not necessary.

However, the GMAT does not test differences this fine.

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

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• For referring to the purpose/intent of action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + assemble" in this case) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "assembling" in this case).
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

A:
1/ This answer choice uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "assembling" in this case) to refer to the purpose of the action "required"; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "assembling" in this case).

B:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the word "being", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
2/ Option B redundantly uses "down" alongside "reduced", rendering it needlessly wordy; the usage is redundant, as both terms convey the same information.

C:
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the word "being", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.

D: Correct.
1/ This answer choice uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + assemble") to refer to the purpose of the action "required".
2/ Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E:
1/ This answer choice uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "assembling" in this case) to refer to the purpose of the action "required"; remember, for referring to the purpose/intent of action, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "assembling" in this case).

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the use of "Being" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



To understand the concept of "Present Participle" versus "Infinitive" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team
_________________

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