Manufacturers rate batteries in watt-hours; if they rate the

This popped up on our Ask Me Anything About SC thread, and we figured that we'd repost it here, just in case somebody in this corner of the internet finds it useful...

We have a couple reasons to choose (C) over (A).

First,

• In choice (C), we get a nice, symmetrical construction: "the higher _____, the longer _____."
• In (A), we have, "If _____, the longer _____." Here we expect, "If _____, THEN _____." (I.e., "If they rate the watt-hour higher, THEN the battery can be expected to last longer.") Instead, (A) seems to switch between two different idiomatic constructions.
• That might not make (A) wrong, but it's certainly a vote in favor of (C) over (A).

Second,

• In (A), "if they rate the watt-hour higher" leaves the reader wondering, "Higher than what?". It sounds as though we are comparing the watt-hour rating of the battery to something else.
• On the other hand, we interpret (C) as, "the higher the watt-hour rating [is], the longer the battery can be expected to last." With this wording, it is clearer that we aren't comparing the watt-hour rating of the battery to something else.
• Again, on its own, that might not be a definitive reason to eliminate (A), but it's another vote in favor of (C) over (A).

One final, subtle point:

• In (A), we have "if [the manufacturers] rate the watt-hour higher, the longer the battery can be expected to last."
• This seems to imply that the rating is somehow subjective and that the manufacturers are deciding what to rate the watt-hour (like Simon Cowell after a singing performance).
• But that connotation isn't quite right -- the rating should be a quality or characteristic of the battery. The manufacturers certainly have to determine that value (by measuring it, or whatever). But the rating should be objective.

With three votes against (A) and no issues with (C), we can safely eliminate (A).


The first issue with (E) is the pronoun "it."

• What does "it" refer to? Well, the "it" is preceded by the singular noun "watt-hour rating," so at first glance (E) seems to say, "when the watt-hour rating is higher, the longer the watt-hour rating is the battery can be expected to last." That obviously doesn't make any sense.
• Okay, well, we can also read (E) as, "when the watt-hour rating is higher, the longer it is [that] the battery can be expected to last." That's not terrible: in this case, the pronoun "it" doesn't really refer to anything, making "it" a non-referential pronoun. Non-referential pronouns aren't necessarily wrong, but you don’t see them very often in correct GMAT answers. At the very least, the pronoun is confusing and suggests an illogical interpretation. So that's one vote against (E).

Also, as we saw in (A), the construction "when the watt-hour rating is higher" leaves the reader wondering, "Higher than what?". That's another vote against (E).

(E) might not have any straightforward grammatical errors. But it has a couple issues that are avoided in (C), making (C) the better choice.

I hope that helps!

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 the crucial part of this sentence is that there is a positive correlation between the watt-hour rating and how long the battery can be expected to last.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• “when” is only used to refer to a point in time.

A: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "the longer the battery can be expected to last"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that there is a positive correlation between the watt-hour rating and how long the battery can be expected to last. Further, Option A uses the passive voice construction "the longer the battery can be expected to last", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses "rating the watt-hour higher" to modify the placeholder pronoun "it", leading to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that there is a positive correlation between the watt-hour rating and how long the battery can be expected to last; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option B uses the needlessly wordy construction "it is that much longer", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the construction "the higher the watt-hour rating, the longer the battery can be expected to last", conveying the intended meaning - that there is a positive correlation between the watt-hour rating and how long the battery can be expected to last; please remember, "adjective phrase + comma + adjective phrase" is an idiomatic construction that implies a correlation between the two adjectives - for example, "the darker the skin, the sweeter the fruit" or "low supply, high prices". Further, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy construction "it is that much longer that", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "when the watt-hour rating is higher"; the use of "when" leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that there is a positive correlation between the watt-hour rating and how long the battery can be expected to last; remember, "when" is used to refer to a point in time. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "the longer it is the battery can be expected to last", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, C 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 (~1minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

B is actually worse than what you give it credit for: ).

rating the watt-hour higher is a participial phrase and so, will modify the word next to the participial phrase: it, nonsensically suggesting that it (and there is no referent for it, as is very evident, because there is no singular noun that it can refer to) is rating the watt-hour higher.

Isn't semicolon should follow by an independent clause with SV+ a complete thought???? no?

yes and that's the case here too :
the higher the watt-hour rating, the longer the battery is expected to last.

The correct answer looks like this:


2. Manufacturers rate batteries in watt-hours; the higher the watt-hour rating, the longer the battery can be expected.

What are the SV after semicolon? Battery expected?

Invert the sentence in this way:

The battery can be expected to last longer.

Now it is easier to identify that Subject is "battery" and verb is "can be".

Semi Colon is used to Connect two Independent clause. 2nd part in B is not an Independent Clause.

Semi-colon is most commonly used in a single sentence to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in though.
Hence, if (A),when (E),verb-ing (B) cannot be correct.
Option 'D' reflects redundancy and also ambiguous in construction, hence incorrect.
Option C only represents the correct construction of the independent clause with no errors.
Hence right answer is Ç'.

Manufacturers rate batteries in watt-hours; if they rate the watt-hour higher, the longer the battery can be expected to last.

A. if they rate the watt-hour higher, the longer
B. rating the watt-hour higher, it is that much longer
C. the higher the watt-hour rating, the longer
D. the higher the watt-hour rating, it is that much longer that
E. when the watt-hour rating is higher, the longer it is

A semicolon precedes a full sentence, hence we can eliminate any choice that is not a full sentence.

A) "if" requires "then" ("If A, then B") and this construction is not parallel. "the (blank)er the A, the (blank)er the B" is preferred, i.e, "The more expensive the wedding, the shorter the marriage can be expected to last."
B) This is not a sentence, and "it" is not rating anything.
C) Yes.
D) Not parallel and the 2nd part is wordy. Compared to C, D is the clear loser.
E) Again, not parallel and not the accepted usage.

A Elements are not parallel. The phrase sets us up for an "If A, then B" construction, then provides a comparative adjective.
B Faulty parallelism. Also what does "it" refer to?
C Correct. Parallel and idiomatic.
D What does the "it" refer to?
E Ambiguous "it." Elements are not parallel.

If we compare choices vertically, we have ‘it’ in option B, D and E.
‘it’ does not have any antecedent. Eliminate option B, D and E.
In option A, ‘if they……’ brings condition, after comma ‘the longer……’ cannot be the outcome of given condition. Eliminate.
Option C uses correct idiom pair ‘the higher the X, the longer the Y

Yes, that is the exact rule for the construction of independent clause. IT is perfectly used in option C.
"The higher the watt-hour rating, the longer the battery can be expected to last." It is a perfect independent clause[ SV + complete thought]
Hence, C is the answer.

Hope that helps.

Rightly mentioned above:

- Option A - Elements are not parallel. The phrase sets us up for an "If A, then B" construction, then provides a comparative adjective. So when you have 'if' in a sentence, 'then' completes the clause. They go hand in hand. Hope this helps.

Manufacturers rate batteries in watt-hours; if they rate the watt-hour higher, the longer the battery can be expected to last.

A if they rate the watt-hour higher, the longer -- illogical meaning - it suggests that battery can last longer simply by being rated in higher watt-hour by the manufacturers. This does not make much sense because the manufacturers do no rate the battery on their free will. The batteries are made in different watt-hours and that is why the manufacturers rate them per their construction.
B rating the watt-hour higher, it is that much longer - Verb-ing modifier “rating” is modifying “it”
C the higher the watt-hour rating, the longer -- Correct
D the higher the watt-hour rating, it is that much longer that - Pronoun “it” has no antecedent
E when the watt-hour rating is higher, the longer it is -- awkward -- the longer it is

Answer C

I chose C, but i`m wondering why it`s not "rates" but rating ?
Is it correct to have one of the clauses with on verb?
Because I think it should be :
"The taller you are, the more you eat." , 2 verbs in this sentence !
Can anybody help me ?

Option C rectifies all Parallelism errors.

Ans:C