Human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the possibility..

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest that it is possible that the normal human life span has an even number of days.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Tenses + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• Information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature.
• The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + comprise" in this case) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.

A: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase possibility that the normal human life span comprises", conveying the intended meaning - that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest that it is possible that the normal human life span has an even number of days. Further, Option A correctly uses the simple present tense verb "comprises" to refer to information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present continuous tense verb "be comprising" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature. Further, Option B redundantly uses the word "may" alongside the word "possibility" and uses the passive voice construction "may be comprising", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "to be comprised"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest that it is possible that the normal human life span has an even number of days.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrases "possibility of" and "that may comprise"; the construction of these phrases illogically implies that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the existence of an even number of days that comprise the normal human life span; the intended meaning of this sentence is that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest that it is possible that the normal human life span has an even number of days. Further, Option D redundantly uses the word "may" alongside the word "possibility" and uses the passive voice construction "may be comprising", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrases "possibility of" "to comprise"; the construction of these phrases illogically implies that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the existence of an even number of days for the purpose of comprising the normal human life span; the intended meaning of this sentence is that human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest that it is possible that the normal human life span has an even number of days; remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + comprise" in this case) is the preferred construction for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.

Hence, A is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



To understand the concept of "Simple Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi Experts / chetan2u,

I opted for correct option, but can you please check my approach.

The meaning of the sentence suggest that the natural deaths suggest the possibility that... Blah Blah Blah...!!

1) This sentence states the STATISTICS suggest something. So, there should not be any DOUBT in it.
Therefore, the usage of CONDITIONAL word like MAY can be eliminated.
This eliminates B and D.
2) E shows intention TO COMPRISE but there is no intention. This eliminates Option E.

1) A uses---> comprises ( uses present tense to stte a fact which is correct)
2) C uses--> to be comprised (which is PAST tense)

To state a general phenomena we use present tense. This eliminates option C
Hence A is correct.

Thanks and Regards,
Prakhar

Hi,

the points you have worked on are generally correct..

But the reason for eliminating choices containing MAY should be the use of possiblity and not 'statistics'......
the stats if used to talk of result of a future event is a possiblity and not a sure shot confirmation..

example -
India has won all matches against Pakistan at Eden gardens as per the stats. So India may win this time too....
Or I can write " It is a possiblity that India will win this match as per the statistics available..

chetan2u
Thanks for your response.

Yes, tour are correct. elimination of "May" should be because of "possibility".
Thanks

Hi Experts / chetan2u,

I have reached to the final answer A just by looking for the right meaning from the 5 answer options.

While, option A and C, says, normal human life span comprises an even number of days, the remaining choices options B, D and E, says, an even number of days that may comprise the normal human life span.

According to me the meaning that is extracted from the options B, D and E is not appropriate, as, it should be, human life comprises an even number of days and not the vice versa.

Down to options A and C, suggest + 'that' is only present in option A. So, I picked option A.

Is my reasoning correct? Any suggestions?

Hi,

Not in all choices the meaning may be different ..
there could be voice difference - active or passive ..

Most of the Qs are based on grammatical sense, which should not have some illogical meaning...
At times the ORIGINAl meaning may be very awkward and then, we have to look for the best possible choice available..

So whenever you are doing these SC ..
1) see Grammatically what all is correct..
2) If there are more than one correct grammatically, look for meaning issue....
If the original meaning is logical, choose the answer which follows the original meaning

Hi all,

I got this question in mock and marked "D", here are my reasons

in this sentence word used was "suggest", I got this question is about subjunctive and must follow the structure:

Suggest + That + "pural verb"

This was followed only in D and E

In E, because of word "To", I rejected this option.

Can anyone tell me why I got this one wrong

Yup - meaning.

Let's break down D and E:
D. of an even number of days that may comprise the normal human life span
This means that number of days consist of the life span. Can days consist of the life span? They can't.
E. of an even number of days to comprise the normal human life span
Same as D - the sentence doesn't make sense.

A little tip - pay close attention to the meaning of the sentences. GMAT is including meaning traps in more SC problems than they did in the past.

Hope this helped

Hi all,

Could you help me with the difference between suggest + that-clase (subjunctive mood) and the one used here?

I ended up eliminating option A because I thought that what follows "suggest" on this question should be used with subjunctive mood. Is the reasoning that the statistics are not "suggesting" that human life span "do" something? Actually they are suggesting "a possibility that"...?

For ex:
I suggest that he study.
vs.
Statistics suggest the possilibity that..?

Thanks.

Original question tells us that statistic suggest the possibility and show that possibility:
Human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the possibility
that the normal human life span comprises an even number of days.
To the original question, that clause modifies possibility .
Choice B and D change the meaning of original question, it means that stastistics show possibility to comprise… in other words, to be comprise in choice c and to comprise in choi e modify suggest, show the purpose of suggestion. This is not intended meaning. :
Human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the possibility of the normal human life span to be comprised of an even number of days
Choice d, that modifies days=>eliminate.
Choice b: awkward and change meaning.

IMO, there are two decision points in terms of logical prediction/Idiom: I) reporting verb II) redundancy

1) to suggest is a reporting verb in this context, that requires a + THAT construction (check out substantive clauses). Additionally, there is no need for subjunctive, because its function is not to demand something but rather to report something; therefore the use of indicative is justified.
Another reason why it is logical to claim the need of " THAT " is because the sentence needs a descriptive phrase. In other words " The study suggests WHAT? ". If a modifier is used in a form of a prepositional sentence ( " OF ... " ) the sentence does not convey the message. Compare the following:

The study suggests the possibility that it rains tomorrow. -> descriptive phrase describes what will actually happen
The study suggests the possibility of rain tomorrow. -> modifier describes a certain type of possibility

II) Redundancy: possibilty itself describes a hypothetical scenario, therefore a " hypothetical verb" is redundant.

Compare this:

The study suggests the possibility that it rains tomorrow -> describes hypothetical scenario
The study suggests that it may rain tomorrow -> describes hypothetical scenario

Redundant: The study suggests the possibility that it may rain tomorrow

A) correct
B) redundant; also even days comprise a human life span vs. a human life span compromises even days (only the second is logical)
C) reporting verb; to be compromised suggests "required action "
D) reporting verb; redundant; logic (similar to B)
E) reporting verb; to comprise suggests purpose (not logical)

Human mortality statistics on natural deaths suggest the possibility that the normal human life span comprises an even number of days.

A. that the normal human life span comprises an even number of days

B. that an even number of days may be comprising the normal human life span (possibility)

C. of the normal human life span to be comprised of an even number of days

D. of an even number of days that may comprise the normal human life span (possibility)

E. of an even number of days to comprise the normal human life span

Below was my POE. Please advice is this is right

A. that the normal human life span comprises an even number of days

B. that an even number of days may be comprising the normal human life spanfirstly, maybe comprising is wrong. Secondly, it is passive voice

C. of the normal human life span to be comprised of an even number of daysto be comprised

D. of an even number of days that may comprise the normal human life spanmay comprise, and passive voice

E. of an even number of days to comprise the normal human life spanagain passive voice

IMO, the original sentence means X comprises Y

Options B, D and E states Y comprises X which changes the meaning of the sentence slightly.

Is my logic correct ?

Dear expert, GMATNinja, sayantanc2k, mikemcgarry, anyone..

I chose A for this question. But I realize something : "SUGGEST" is a subjunctive verb, isn't it?

If so, then, the correct choice should be "suggest the possibility THAT the normal human life span COMPRISE (plural verb)".
As we can see, choice A use "COMPRISES" instead of "COMPRISE".

Another exception of rule (sorry for become to mechanical!) or do I miss something here?

Wdyt?

The verb 'suggest' would have taken its subjunctive form if it were directly followed by 'that'.
Statistics suggest that human life span comprise an even number of days.
Here, the statistics are suggesting a possibility (that human life span comprises). The subjunctive form is not used because the structure here is simply X suggests Y.
Hope it clears your doubt.

I scored all the way down and found out that nobody has asked about this.

what does it mean " the normal human life span comprises and even number of days"?
What the "even number of days" mean?

IMO, it literally means that the life of a human being ends on an even day (i.e., # of days = 2*n)