The ultimate pendulum clock, indeed the ultimate mechanical clock of a

Here is my interpretation of Q4.

Question 4. The passage most strongly suggests that which of the
following is true of the chamber in which a Shortt clock's
primary pendulum was housed?

Interpretation: I need to find an answer which is not directly mentioned as a detail in the passage - I need to draw an inference. The question is asking about what can be inferred about the "Chamber" in which the primary pendulum was housed.

A) It contained elaborate mechanisms that were
attached to, and moved by, the pendulum
INCORRECT: If you read the last part of the first para, it says that the secondary pendulum sent a signal to the Primary pendulum via an elaborate mechanism. From this statement, we cant figure out whether the mechanism is attached to the primary pendulum or the chamber it is housed it. Since this is an inference question, the answer MUST BE TRUE. This is a maybe ans choice. So I'd keep it on hold and come back to it if I cant find a "MUST BE TRUE CHOICE"

B) It was firmly sealed during normal operation of the
clock.
CORRECT: The passage says that the primary pendulum was kept in a vacuum chamber. This implies that it had to be air tight/ firmly sealed, else it could not be a vacuum.

C) It was at least partly transparent so as to allow for
certain types of visual data output.
INCORRECT: Maybe it was transparent, maybe it wasnt, the passage does not say anything about it.

D) It housed both the primary pendulum and another
pendulum.
INCORRECT: Nope, the passage says that the secondary pendulum was housed next to it.

E) It contained a transmitter that was activated at
irregular intervals to send a signal to the secondary
pendulum.
INCORRECT: Maybe, but if there was a transmitter, it would probably be attached to the pendulum and not the chamber it was housed in.

TAKE AWAY: At times, the gmat might give you tempting choices, such as ans choice A. Make sure you do not get confused between two objects being discussed - the pendulum and the chamber it was housed in.

Hi Dabu3790 VeritasKarishma GMATNinja BrightOutlookJenn

In passage it is written "In return, via an elaborate electromechanical linkage, the primary pendulum ensured".Can't we say that since primary pendulum is part of its housing chamber,so chamber contains "elaborate mechanisms" as mentioned in choice "A" ?

Question 4

Take a look at this explanation of question 4 and let us know whether that clears things up!

hello expert,
any expert can help on Q2? I know it should be pinpointed "The ???rst indications of seasonal variations in the earth's rotation were gleaned (by the use of) Shortt clocks", but I can't understand what "seasonal variations" has something to do with "earth's rotation varies"? Hope you explain, and thanks.

Hi Experts

GMATNinja KarishmaB MartyTargetTestPrep


Can somone please explain question 1. I am not able to understand that how we are inferring answer from first line of te passage
According to me the answer is D (Also Can you please give reason why option D is wrong)

Please explain question 1 all options in detail. I'm not able to understand why D is wrong and C is right. Thanks.