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Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such

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Bunuel
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Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink] New post   24 Sep 2021, 05:30
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Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it.


A. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it

B. Over a long period of time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it

C. Over time, weightlessness cause medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration

D. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronaut are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration

E. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, but astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration
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Re: Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink] New post   26 Sep 2021, 05:30
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it.


A. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it

Although this answer choice is stylistically flawed as the pronoun it is ambiguous, it is the best of the five answer choices.

The three answer choices that correct the stylistic mistake, namely, the ambiguity, are grammatically incorrect or illogical.

Remember that unlike grammatical mistakes, which must always be corrected, stylistic mistakes, namely, redundancy and ambiguity, are not always corrected.

Therefore, If you don't find a perfect answer choice and have to choose between a grammatically incorrect answer and a stylistically flawed one, choose the latter.


B. Over a long period of time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid it

This answer choice is redundant as a result of adding the words a long period of. These words also change the meaning of the original sentence.



C. Over time, weightlessness cause medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration

While this answer choice corrects the original ambiguity mistake, it is grammatically incorrect. Replacing the singular verb causes with the plural cause creates a Subject Verb Agreement mistake.


D. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, so astronaut are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration

While this answer choice corrects the original ambiguity mistake, it is grammatically incorrect. Replacing the plural noun astronauts with the singular astronaut creates a Subject Verb Agreement mistake.


E. Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such as the deterioration of the spinal cord, but astronauts are advised to train rigorously in order to avoid such backbone deterioration

While this answer choice corrects the original ambiguity mistake, it is illogical as a result of replacing the conclusion word so with the opposition word but.
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Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink] New post   24 Sep 2021, 06:30
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A and B suggest, by the use of "it" at the end, that the astronauts are training to avoid weightlessness, when instead the sentence presumably means the astronauts are training to prevent spinal issues. C and D have singular/plural agreement errors (C would need to say "weightlessness causes" and D would need to say "astronauts are advised"). Even E is not well-written but it's the only possible answer.
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Re: Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink] New post   26 Sep 2021, 08:15
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That "official explanation" is wrong for at least three reasons: you are not, on the GMAT, ever confronted with one answer choice that is grammatically right but stylistically wrong, and another that is grammatically wrong but stylistically right. You don't need to learn what criteria to use to decide between two answer choices like that. The right answer to a GMAT SC question will be correct grammatically and stylistically. And the pronoun "it" is not ambiguous in answer A; it unambiguously refers to "weightlessness", which makes no logical sense, so A is completely unacceptable. Finally, there is nothing wrong with using "but" in place of "so" in this sentence (it changes the meaning, but the new meaning is fine) so their justification for ruling out E isn't right.
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Re: Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink] New post   07 Apr 2023, 01:27
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

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Re: Over time, weightlessness causes medical problems in astronauts, such [#permalink]
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