The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations

The New Yorker - MARCH 3, 1980 ISSUE LINK

In the March SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN you will see how this paradox is resolved. You may be relieved to learn that divers and gymnasts (and free-falling cats, too) perform their midair rotations without violating any laws of physics. Moreover, the underlying physics is the same for the astronauts in space who need to control their body orientation in a weightless environment.

A and B is rejected error in comparison
in D and E as is required
Left with C as OA

Official Explanation:

Choice A - illogically identiflres the physical principles of line I as body orientations, not as principles; moreover, the origina sentence confusedly states that body orientation controls the astronauts, not that physical principles control their body orientation.
B - changes controlling to which controls, but the logical problems remain.
C- the best answer, correctly uses the plural pronoun those to identify principles as principles. By substituting to control for that control (line l),
D - violates parallel construction.
E - wordy and imprecise, seems to imply that some external agency is using physical principles to control the body orientation ofastronauts.

The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same as the body orientation controlling astronauts in a weightless environment.

Reduce the sentence to its precise form avoiding extra information. Striked part is extra information. Now read the sentence as

The underlying physical principles are the same as the body orientation controlling astronauts.

(A) as the body orientation controlling -- principles are being compared with the body. This is not a correct comparison. ELIMINATED
(B) as the body orientation which controls -- same error as in A. ELIMINATED
(C) as those controlling the body orientation of -- here principles are being compared with principles controlling the body orientation of astronauts. This is Correct
(D) ones to control the body orientation of -- "principles are the same ones", this is completely non sensical. ELIMINATED
(E) ones used in controlling the body orientation of -- same error as in D. ELIMINATED

great explanation.
the main problem in D and E is that "ones" which is "priciples" do not do controling. this is not logic and not paralel with the "principles that control". choice D and E means that "ones" do not do controling but another agent/persons do controling.

[quote="aragonn"]
The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same as the body orientation controlling astronauts in a weightless environment.

(A) as the body orientation controlling
(B) as the body orientation which controls
(C) as those controlling the body orientation of
(D) ones to control the body orientation of
(E) ones used in controlling the body orientation of

it takes long time to realize which noun is parallel to which noun

"those controling" in C is different from "in controling" in E. in C, "those" do controling while in E, "ones dose not control but is part of controling". so choice E is wrong. og explanation also shows this point but unclearly

I have a doubt, whenever 'as' is used for comparison it is followed by a clause.

I am unable to identify ther verb in the first 3 sentences.

Can anyone help me.

Posted from my mobile device

C correct

Imagine an astronaut on Earth standing on a scale. The scale would indicate weight because gravity is pulling the astronaut towards the center of the Earth but the Earth isn’t willing to get out of the way. Weight is the perception of the Earth not getting out of the way.

Now imagine that same astronaut in space, orbiting the Earth. He has the same scale, and he stands upon it. Will it show weight? No. It won’t show weight because the astronaut and scale are falling together and there is no contact with the Earth to allow the Earth to push back.

The ISS and its crew are in free fall. They are falling towards the center of the Earth but since they are also moving quickly, sideways, they keep missing the Earth. Since there is no Earth surface to push back against the ISS or its crew, there is weightlessness.

A sky-diver would experience the same thing if not for the resistance of the air below them.

Hi AjiteshArun


The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same as the body orientation controlling astronauts in a weightless environment.

D) ones to control the body orientation of
Why can't D be correct?


D. The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same ones to control the body orientation of astronauts in a weightless environment.


The principles that do X are same ones to do Y.
( same physical principles can be applied in the same way in multiple scenarios)
E.g.: Archimedes' principle is same whether the object is in air or in water. I will not say principle in water than that in air.


Please suggest AjiteshArun

Hi mSKR,

You're thinking along the right lines. However, the problem in D is not ones, but to.

1. The underlying principles that {something} are the same ones ______.

What we want at the end is something that works with principles. As far as I know, that limits us to of (principles of {something}), that (principles that), behind (principles behind {something}), and maybe for (principles for {something}).

The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same as the body orientation controlling astronauts in a weightless environment.

(A) as the body orientation controlling
(B) as the body orientation which controls
(C) as those controlling the body orientation of : Those refers to Underlying Physical Principles
(D) ones to control the body orientation of
(E) ones used in controlling the body orientation of

The correct sentence is :

The underlying physical principles that control the midair gyrations of divers and gymnasts are the same as underlying physical principles controlling the body orientation of astronauts in a weightless environment.

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.