Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connect

Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one thing at a time, and narrow down our options quickly so we know how to answer questions like this when they pop up on the GMAT! To begin, let's take a quick look at the question and highlight any major differences between the options in orange:

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

(A) Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”
(B) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.
(C) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to Loch Ness’s, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.
(D) Like Loch Ness’ reputed monster, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”
(E) Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

After a quick glance over the options, we have a couple areas we can focus on:

1. How to compare the Lake Champlain & Loch Ness "sea monsters"
2. How to compare Lake Champlain & Loch Ness as inland lakes

Remember that whenever you see an entire sentence underlined (especially one this long), there is one grammar issue you can almost guarantee on:

MODIFIERS!

We need to make sure the phrases used to compare the monsters and the lakes are placed directly next to what they're modifying without changing the overall meaning. Let's take a closer look by highlighting the modifiers in blue and the antecedents in green or red:

(A) Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

This is INCORRECT because both modifier phrases are located directly before "inhabitants," which is not the correct antecedent. The inhabitants are not "like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness" - that would mean the inhabitants are the same as the sea monster? The phrase "also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river" should also be paired up with Lake Champlain, not Loch Ness. Let's rule this one out.


(B) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.

This seems OKAY for now. The phrase used to compare the Loch Ness monster with the Lake Champlain "sea monster" are next to each other. The phrase showing similarities between Lake Champlain and Loch Ness are also next to each other. Let's save this one for now.


(C) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to Loch Ness’s, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.

This is INCORRECT because it is trying to say BOTH the Lake Champlain "sea monster" AND Lake Champlain are "similar to the Loch Ness's." It makes sense to pair up the phrase "similar to the Loch Ness's" to the sea monster, but it does NOT work to say that the Loch Ness's monster is similar to Lake Champlain. Let's rule this one out.


(D) Like Loch Ness’ reputed monster, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

This is INCORRECT because the modifier "Like Loch Ness's reputed monster" is directly before "inhabitants." This means that the writer thinks that the Loch Ness monster and the inhabitants are similar?? That doesn't make sense. Let's rule this one out too.


(E) Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

This is INCORRECT because, just like in option D, this sentence is trying to say that the Loch Ness monster and the inhabitants are similar, which isn't the meaning we're going for.


There you have it - option B is the only one that places the modifier phrases directly before/after what they're modifying. By knowing the trick about GMAT SC questions that are completely underlined, you can focus on modifiers first to eliminate a few (or all) of the wrong choices!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.
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Official Explanation

Logical predication; Rhetorical construction

As written, the phrase Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness . . . compares the one to what comes immediately after the comma directly after the river, namely inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain. That is surely not the intended comparison.

The intended meaning of the sentence, of course, is that the “sea monster” reputedly sighted at Loch Ness is like the “sea monster” reputedly sighted at Lake Champlain.

An additional problem with this sentence is that the separation between one and “sea monster” is too great; as a result, it is not clear what the word one refers to.

A. This choice suffers from the problems indicated above.

B. Correct. This choice clearly and efficiently conveys its intended meaning.

C. This version of the sentence appears to assert that the Loch Ness “sea monster” actually exists. Furthermore, it inappropriately uses the phrase is an inland lake to modify Loch Ness's [sea monster], not Loch Ness.

D. As in choice A, this version of the sentence inappropriately compares Loch Ness's reputed monster to inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain.

E. This version of the sentence inappropriately uses the phrase Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness to modify inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain.

The correct answer is B.

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

(A) Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”( comparison is between one and inhabitants, incorrect)

(B) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.( correct, comparison is between sea monster in lake Champlain and sea monster in Loch Ness)

(C) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to Loch Ness’s, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.( incorrect comparison between sea monster and something possessed by loch Ness's)

(D) Like Loch Ness’ reputed monster, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”( same as in A)

(E) Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”( Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness should be placed after sea monster.)

Will go with choice B.

Thanks
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(A) Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”
This is incorrect use of "Like"; Like is used for comparison. In this case it should be "Like A, B" or "A Like B". Therefore this choice is incorrect.

(B) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.

Inhabitants claim sightings of a monster similar to the one in Loch Ness (P), which, LIKE Lake Champlain (Q)is an inland lake.
Inhabitants claim sightings of A similar to B in P, which, Like Q is an inland lake.
This choice correctly uses "A similar to B" and "P, which, Like Q". Also the clause is well constructed. So B is Correct choice.


(C) Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to Loch Ness’s, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.

Here focus on "Loch Ness's, which, like Lake Champlain", this is incorrect usage of Like. Here, Loch Ness's implies the Monster in Loch Ness, which is compared with Lake Champlain (Monster compared with lake), it should have been the comparison between Loch Ness's Monster and Lake Champlain's Monster., Therefore choice is incorrect.

(D) Like Loch Ness’ reputed monster, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

Refer answer option C explanation above. Here Monster is compared with Inhabitants; focus on "Like Loch Ness’ reputed monster, inhabitants"

(E) Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

Focus on "Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness", here that is expected to have a noun following it, and the verb "reputed" is expected to have a helping verb for eg. Similar to A that is reputed to live in Loch Ness.
Even if we get the missing noun & helping verb still the comparison is illogical, because the construction, Similar to A that LIVE IN Loch Ness, Inhabitants AROUND Lake Champlain, compares inahbitants that LIVE IN one lake to that of who LIVE AROUND the other lake.

Thank You.

Official Explanation:

Choices A, D, and E illogically compare the monster reputed to live in Loch Ness to the inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, not to the monster that some local inhabitants claim to have sighted. Furthermore, in E the phrase Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness is needlessly wordy and indirect. C is faulty because the pronoun which would refer to Loch Ness, not to the "sea monster" similar to Loch Ness's. B, the best choice, uses which correctly and makes a logical comparison.

Though I got this correct, I have a query -

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”---
In case of Like X, Y or unlike X,Y - Y needs to be comparable to X

But in some cases, we have modifier- which clauses.
Like X,which is ..., Y is -- Here which modifies X and X and Y need to be comparable

But in this question, in option A,

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”---

1. Is the phrase "also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river" a modifier that modifies Loch Ness or it is compared to "the one reputed to live in Loch Ness"?

2. Like X,Z, Y -- Here Z can be any type of modifier including appositives? So we should ensure that Z modifies X logically and X and Y are comparable ?

AjiteshArun , GMATNinja , MagooshExpert , GMATGuruNY , VeritasKarishma , VeritasPrepBrian , MartyMurray , ccooley, RonPurewal , DmitryFarber, daagh , other experts - please enlighten
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skywalker

The phrase --also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river"-- is appositive that modifies the Loch Ness, which is a lake in Scotland. "The one" phrase refers to the sea monster that was assumed to live in the Loch Ness lake. That phrase refers to an animal that is comparable to a similar sea monster speculated to have lived around Lake Champlain.





Nope. While X and Y may be comparable, there is no need for Z to modify X since the Z describes and modifies a lake namely Loch Ness and not anything about X. That X is compared to Y has no bearing on Z.


Now your Z can be an appositive, a relative clause, or a participle as seen below.
Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which is a lake---This is a relative clause modifier.

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, characterized by an inland lake connected to the sea by a river. -- characterized by is an "ed" modifier.

Any reason for your saying that we should ensure Z logically modifies X?
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A. Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”
---incorrect comparison--monster is compared to inhabitants (incorrect)

B. Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, which, like Lake Champlain is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.
---correct comparison--sea monster of Lake Champlain is compared to sea monster of the lake loch ness
--which correctly modifies loch ness (correct)

C. Inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster” similar to Loch Ness’s, which, like Lake Champlain, is an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river.
----which incorrectly modifies (Loch Ness’s)how can a monster be a lake --incorrect meaning (incorrect)
----loch ness is a lake, not Loch Ness’s

D. Like Loch Ness’s reputed monster, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow "sea monster.”
---incorrect comparison ---monster is compared to inhabitants--a monster should be compared to a monster (incorrect)

E. Similar to that reputed to live in Loch Ness, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”
---again incorrect comparison--that refer to a monster and it is compared to inhabitants (incorrect)

Dear AnthonyRitz GMATGuruNY AjiteshArun IanStewart EducationAisle MartyTargetTestPrep DmitryFarber GMATRockstar GMATNinja VeritasPrepHailey,

If the comma I highlighted above were removed, would choice B. still be a correct choice?

I've found it's surprising that the Advanced OG book I've got has no comma. (as attached below)
So, I rejected this choice because "which" is enclosed in a comma pair!

That may be a typo. There should be commas both before and after "like Lake Champlain."

Please note that all other answers are so terrible that I would sooner pick B and assume a typo than pick any other answer. If you failed to pick B for this reason, you're not prioritizing properly.
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The actual option B is different -:

We have a comma before "claim" - Hence, I believe B is also incorrect

Like the one reputed to live in Loch Ness, also an inland lake connected to the ocean by a river, inhabitants of the area around Lake Champlain claim sightings of a long and narrow “sea monster.”

Remember the hint in the original sentence is that Loch Ness is also an inland lake. Therefore it is correct to infer that the comparison has been made to the Lake Champlain.