Although damaged with bone infection, paleontologists were successful

The phrase 'Although damaged with bone infection' should modify Big AI. So A and B out. In option E, we are not sure whether the phrase is modifying Paleontologists or Big AI.

A. Although damaged with bone infection, paleontologists were successful in excavating Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period.

B. Although damaged with bone infection, paleontologists succeeded in excavating Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period.

C. Although damaged with bone infection, Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, could be successfully excavated by paleontologists.

D. Although damaged with bone infection, Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur could be excavated by paleontologists from Jurassic period.

E. Paleontologists succeed in excavating Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, although damaged with bone infection.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

A. "Although damaged with bone infection" incorrectly modifies "paleontologists".

B. "Although damaged with bone infection" incorrectly modifies "paleontologists".

C. Correct. "Although damaged with bone infection" correctly modifies "Big Al"; This choice effectively expresses the intended meaning of the sentence.

D. Changes the meaning suggesting that the Paleontologists were from the Jurassic era.

E. "Although damaged with bone infection" comes in very late, leading to ambiguity on what was damaged with bone infection.

Source: Experts Global

Correct positions of the words “Big Al” and “ from Jurassic period” in C makes the case.
Selected C.

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Here in option C, the word "could" changes the meaning.
Please help to clarify this doubt.

In Option C, could be changed the intended meaning of the sentence. Whereas, E states it better. Suggest your take on this.
GMATNinja payaltandon daagh Sir @e-gmat manhattan

Option C changes the intended meaning with "could" adding capability, whereas the main sentence conveys that the event was successfully completed.

Though in option E,

E. Paleontologists succeed in excavating Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, although damaged with bone infection.

although ..... is placed away from the Big Al, it conveys the intended meaning.

GMATNinja, Bunuel, bb, @e-gmat, manhattan, @karishmaveritas- Doesn't option C change the intended meaning from - that they had excavated the bones to that they can excavate the bones?

I think it is a poor quality question which does not meet the standard of GMAT.
How can they define the usage of "COULD" be appropriate just by declaring others to be wrong.
I think "COULD" is shifting the meaning completely and does not make sense.

I agree this is a poor quality question where the meaning of the sentence is very different.
The tense used was past tense and now "could" indicates a fact.

Hello kittle,

We hope this finds you well.

To provide a bit of clarity here, "could" is actually the simple past tense form of "can", so the usage of "could" to convey that an action was possible in the past is correct.

For example - Simple present tense - "John can see the dog."
Simple past tense - "John could see the dog."

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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ExpertsGlobal5

Could means having the ability or potential. According to the question it seems the intended meaning is the paleontologists were successful in excavation. It does not imply anywhere that they had the potential or ability to successfully do so. I think better answer to this question would be E

Hello CrackGMat656,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, saying that "X could do something" or "X was able to do something" literally means that X had the capability to do something, but it is typically understood to mean that "X, practically, did something.

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

Hi, GMATNinja
Can you clarify the possibility of using 'COULD' as something other than a conditional tense. Is it possible to use 'could' for an event that has for sure happened in the past?

Although damaged with bone infection, Big Al, a specimen of Allosaurus dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, could be successfully excavated by paleontologists.

Hello StringArgs,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the use of "could" is correct here because in this context it refers to the act of being possible; for example, "When I was younger, I could swim very well." - in this sentence, "could" does not refer to a hypothetical action, rather it means "was able to".

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