According to the report of the UN Conference on Desertification

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION


• TWO MAJOR CONCEPTS

(1) Constructing a possessive noun: use only one method
On the GMAT, use one construction or the other, but not both

Method #1 to create a possessive noun: use 's = X's Y
Correct: my neighbor's garden

Method #2 to create a possessive noun: use of noun = Y of X
Correct: the garden of my neighbor

GMAC disallows the use of both possessive indicators in the same phrase.
WRONG: Y of X's
WRONG: the garden of my neighbor's

I have never seen an exception to this rule in an official question.

(2) Comparisons that use EQUAL are strict

Comparisons that use "equal to" are a little easier than other kinds of comparisons because equal is strict.
We just ask, "Are those two things the same?"

************
I will lay out two approaches.

I can tell from PMs that I need to address people who are at radically different stages of preparation.
The quick POE is for people who are quite far along in the GMAT journey.

The option-by-option approach is for people who may be just starting or who are at what I call the "horrible hump": at a certain point nearly everyone has tried to digest too much information and becomes stuck for a little while.

I don't need to use a dual approach with every question.

If you understand and are satisfied with the Quick POE, skip the rest (or head straight to "Comments.")

****



• Quick POE

Split #1: use size of Maine or Maine's size

Options A and E incorrectly use both possessive constructions in the same phrase.
--. . . . area the size of Maine's.
Wrong. That version uses both possessive constructions in the same phrase.
Options A and E should use one construction or the other.
Eliminate A and E

Split #2 - comparison error. An area is not a state.

Options C and D both say that ". . . deserts are claiming . . . an area equal to Maine."
An area of land is not equal to a state in a country.
Eliminate options C and D

By POE, the answer is B
-- option B correctly uses ". . . area [that is] the size of Maine
-- option B correctly uses the size of Maine rather than the size of Maine's

• ANALYSIS of EACH OPTION

THE PROMPT



THE OPTIONS


• do not use both ways to make a noun possessive
-- Correct: the size of Maine
-- Correct: Maine's size
-- Wrong: the size of Maine's

• the placement of "each year" on its own is probably not enough to eliminate this answer.
-- "each year" is an emphasis phrase: every single year, the desert expands.
-- when "adverbs of frequency" (how often does this thing happen?) are central to the meaning of the sentence, they are usually placed at the beginning of the clause
-- compare to (B)—option B wins because "each year" (1) is placed for emphasis and (2) does not get in between the description of "area" and its description

• claim/are claiming. I would be careful with this split. I think it is to close to call.
-- are + claiming is constructed in the present progressive tense.
-- present progressive suggests an event that is still happening in the present and can indicate a trend.
-- on the other hand, GMAT prefers simple present, and simple present is used to express repeated actions
I think that this verb tense issue is too close to call

The use of a "double possessive" is fatal.
Eliminate A


• I see no issues
-- the size of Maine uses the correct possessive construction (X of Y)
-- the sentence does equate a portion of land (area) and "an organized political community forming part of a country," here, ([the state of] Maine)
-- "each year" is sensibly placed
KEEP


• an area of land and the state of Maine are not equal
• placement of each year is too close to call. Although adverbs of frequency usually are placed "up front" for emphasis, they can also be placed at the end of the clause or sentence (the middle is not great)
• again, compare. (B) is clearer. When we reach "each year," we know that what follows will describe a repeated event.
In (C) we wait until the end of the sentence to find out that the desert grows each year.

The comparison error is fatal.
Eliminate C


• there is no such thing as a "worldwide desert." No desert extends throughout the [whole] world.
• an area and the state of Maine are not equal
• placement of "each year" is not ideal

The comparison error is fatal
Eliminate D


• there is no such thing as "worldwide deserts"
• size of Maine's incorrectly uses both possessive constructions, as is the case in option A
Eliminate E

The answer is B

COMMENTS

The good news: posters here display really good "test-taking sense."
Yet again I see a nice balance among focus on grammar rules, focus on meaning, and focus on subtle details.
The focus on small or subtle details will expose deal breakers in harder questions.
In easier questions, those small or subtle details often segue into bigger issues.

The bad news: none.

Here and there a few small errors exist—but I am glad to see them. Yep.
Get the wrinkles out here.
Kudos to all.