Those skeptical of the extent of global warming argue that short-term

Dear GMATGuruNY AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep IanStewart DmitryFarber,

The only reason choice A. is wrong is just because of "what impact will it have" part?

We cannot invert subject and verb here?

"Divided on" is not really idiomatic English, at least the way it's used here, but that's not decisive. Answer A uses "will" instead of the "would" in the correct answer, and given the intended meaning of the sentence, "would" is preferable. The phrase "will it have" in A is phrased as a question, not as a statement, which is wrong because it's not parallel with the earlier "warming will occur", which is not phrased as a question (and we'd normally need a question mark following a question phrase too).

So A is not good for a few reasons, but the "will it" is the main issue.

egmat GMATNinja CrackVerbalGMAT please experts explain why whether and is correct, because whether "or" is used when conditional thing is discussed

Hi

You are correct that the accepted construct is "whether X or Y". However, the construct used here is not one of "whether X and Y".

Often times, the X and Y in the "whether X or Y" constructs are diametric opposites of each other. In such cases, it is acceptable to omit the Y completely since it is understood that Y is the opposite of X. This is most often done when the X and Y are verbs, where Y = not X.

For example:

I was unsure whether John would actually come with me.

The implied meaning here is:

I was unsure whether John would actually come with me or not.

Similarly, in the sentence given in the question, the implied meaning is:

Those skeptical of the extent of global warming argue that short-term temperature data are an inadequate means of predicting long-term trends and point out that the scientific community remains divided over whether significant warming will occur (or not) and what impact it would have.

Hope this helps.

Hi AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep EducationAisle EMPOWERgmatVerbal : please suggest



I read explanations above and every one empasizes that will is wrong in 2nd part of A underline part.

Actually my doubt is still, why?
If it is in present tense , then then part can have will

If it rains, I will carry the umbrella. -- whats wrong with it. rain has not yet happened . We are talking about present tense

So
if it does, it will have an impact . - affirmative


If it does, what kind of impact can happen-- this is wrong because it has question but not something affirmative ( i will carry an umbrella)
Question1: is my understanding correct? we need an affirmative statement in then part ; not what/how part ?

If it's more like a question.
the statement should be:
What impact will it have if such thing happens?- so need a question mark?
Question2: can a question mark in end of statement A correct this statement?

CAn question statement be not parallel with 1st part of A option?
i.e.: point out that the scientific on whether significant warming will occur-- CAN NOT PARALLEL WITH QUESTION STATEMENT what impact will it have if it does
Question3: can these 2 parts be parallel ? your opinion?

AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep EducationAisle EMPOWERgmatVerbal : please suggest

Thanks for asking, mSKR!

We are not dealing with a simple case of present tense here - we're dealing with a subjunctive tense. When we make hypothetical statements (they typically start with "if," the verb tenses can be different than just simply using present tense throughout. In this case, you have to choose between "were" and "would." That's why option E is the winner here.

We hope that helps! Feel free to tag us at EMPOWERgmatVerbal if you have any other questions!

in option E] could you please share how to use 'will' v/s 'would' in such sentences. How to identify where the usage is correct

Hello himanshu0123,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, “will” is preferred for referring to events that are certain to happen and “would” is preferred for referring to events that are hypothetical, meaning the use of “would” alongside verbs that express uncertainty (predict, assume, guess, etc.) is redundant; thus, the use of "would" alongside "whether" is redundant, meaning "whether significant warming will occur" is the preferred construction, whereas "what impact it would have" is the preferred construction because there is no equivalent to "whether" that can act upon that verb.

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

MartyTargetTestPrep, I agree with you explanation of using "would" in " .... and what impact it would have"
However, wont the same rationale apply to earlier "will" used in the sentence i.e over whether significant warming will occur
As rightly pointed by you, "However, the sentence has conveyed that the scientific community is not even in agreement that warming WILL occur. "

So some don't even believe it will occur. and hence according to me option E would have been correct had it been

(E) over whether significant warming will would occur and what impact it would have

Can you please correct me

Those skeptical of the extent of global warming argue that short-term temperature data are an inadequate means of predicting long-term trends and point out that the scientific community remains divided on whether significant warming will occur and what impact will it have if it does.

Option Elimination -

(A) on whether significant warming will occur and what impact will it have if it does - So, the scientific community (SC) remains divided on
1. whether significant warming will occur OR NOT - They are not sure if it will occur or not.
2. if it does, what impact will it have - this is a first conditional, which is used to share the possible condition and its LIKELY result. If it rains, we will stay indoors. So if the rain condition is met, we will stay indoors 100% and not 99.99%. There is a certainty once the sufficient condition is met. But in the first part we are talking about scientific community (SC) not sure. So if SC is not sure then how can we say with certainty that "this will happen."? Wrong. We need a Second conditional to bring that uncertain part.

So the SC is divided into "whether X happens or not" and "Z (impact of global warming) happens or not."

Moreover, "will it" is usually used for asking questions or expressing uncertainty - Given the current economic conditions, will it be feasible for the company to expand its operations into new markets? Of course, the uncertainty part is good, but then the author suddenly shifts from a question to a First conditional and that's where the problem lies. It mixes two uses: "usage of will it" to express questions or uncertainty and "first conditional" to express certainty if the ssufficientcondition is met. So, to clear this mess, we need one type and not both.

So we can have either - "Will it have an impact?" It shares the uncertainty, or if we make a statement (and not a question), we'll invert, "The SC remains divided on whether it will have an impact."

The problem arises when we use a conditional statement (in the then clause) but then mix it with a question (in the then clause). This kind of usage is rare.

(B) on whether warming that occurs will be significant and the impact it would have. There is a shift from whether warming will occur or not to the warming by the way is anyway occuring as you know but will it be significant or not. Not the intended meaning. Wrong.

(C) as to whether significant warming will occur or the impact it would have if it did - "or" here derails the entire meaning.

(D) over whether there will be significant warming or the impact it will have - the same issue of "or." Moreover, the impact by the way is anyway happening but the SC remains divided if there will be more impact or less impact or this impact vs. that impact.

(E) over whether significant warming will occur and what impact it would have - ok. SC remains divided over "whether significant warming will occur or not" (they are uncertain) and "what impact it would have IF IT WERE TO OCCUR" (the uncertainty by Second Conditional). No mix of Question formats with Conditions.