by: kb26
3 mins
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Sep 2107:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included!
Posts: 259
Why is the comparison in A considered logical? How can a number be logically compared to a date in time?
"its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's."
How can "it's numbers be 5 times greater" than "when DDT was sharply restricted"?
What makes sense is "it's numbers are now fives times greater than it's numbers when DDT was sharply restricted".
Can anyone explain?
"its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's."
How can "it's numbers be 5 times greater" than "when DDT was sharply restricted"?
What makes sense is "it's numbers are now fives times greater than it's numbers when DDT was sharply restricted".
Can anyone explain?
mSKR
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 10 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,202
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
fireagablast
Whenever you are confused in basic concepts, think of simple examples.
Example1:
Your house is bigger than mine--> perfect sense as you expect : comparison your house vs mine
What if you want to compare your house in different times
Your house NOW is bigger than your house when you were 10 years old.
Make it simple:
Your house now is bigger than when you were 10 years old
your house is elliptical in 2nd phrase.
why? because there is no other noun that can make other sense.
you are comparing your house in different times; comparison --> your house this time vs that time
let's read A:
its numbers are now five times greater than when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's
time vs time
How can you avoid such issues?
--> Think of meaning --> you can depict comparison elements --> identify errors
I hope it is clear:)
svasan05
Thanks for this response.
I am not convinced.
"now" is redundant in the sentence, which would be exactly the same had we dropped it.
What's the indication that we're comparing numbers at another point in time for "when..." in the sentence?
Hello thereisaFire ,
Thank you for reaching out through the PM.
You said:
There is a very simple explanation for this. How do we define 57 > 38? We say 57 is GREATER THAN 38. If we keep this point in mind, we will not have this confusion.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
_________________
Thank you for reaching out through the PM.
You said:
Quote:
There is a very simple explanation for this. How do we define 57 > 38? We say 57 is GREATER THAN 38. If we keep this point in mind, we will not have this confusion.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
_________________
Free Trial: Get 25 AI-powered videos | 400 practice questions | 8 free webinars | 1 full + 3 sectional mocks
Record Success delivered in 2025-26: 100th percentile scores | 250-pt improvements | Success in less than 60 days
MBA admits: M7 admits | T20 admits | ISB admits | $100k Scholarships
Learn why e-GMAT has 2X more verified 705+ scores than other GMAT Club partners – Read our 2800+ reviews
Record Success delivered in 2025-26: 100th percentile scores | 250-pt improvements | Success in less than 60 days
MBA admits: M7 admits | T20 admits | ISB admits | $100k Scholarships
Learn why e-GMAT has 2X more verified 705+ scores than other GMAT Club partners – Read our 2800+ reviews
CEdward
Not sure if it will help, but we touched on this (admittedly) tricky point in this post and then answered a follow-up question in this post. Hopefully those will help a little!
_________________
GMAT/GRE/EA tutors @ www.gmatninja.com | YouTube | Articles | IG
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40
Posts: 11
Hi, GMATNinja
I read all your explanations. I understand why A is correct, and how E can be eliminated on the basis of the "what" error (which would have felt really counter-intuitive, had you not provided supporting examples).
While solving the question, I could not help but think about differences in how the comparison is carried out, and the use of "now". Please let me know if my understanding of the comparison, and of the use of "now" is correct.
Issue#1: the comparison (ellipsis)
In A,
However in E,
I drew a pattern of such questions and discovered that every time an ellipsis is conveyed in the sentence, the its or similar pronouns become important in justifying that ellipsis.
Issue #2: the use and placement of "now"
In A,
But in E,
This, to me, implies that the gyrfalcon has survived this time (now) with the help of numbers five times greater than...? I found this illogical and this is what helped me eliminate E while I was solving the problem with the clock ticking.
It would be really helpful if you could clarify my concerns. Thank you!
I read all your explanations. I understand why A is correct, and how E can be eliminated on the basis of the "what" error (which would have felt really counter-intuitive, had you not provided supporting examples).
While solving the question, I could not help but think about differences in how the comparison is carried out, and the use of "now". Please let me know if my understanding of the comparison, and of the use of "now" is correct.
Issue#1: the comparison (ellipsis)
In A,
Quote:
its numbers, as written in the bracket, does logically fill the ellipsis because numbers is attached to its, meaning we know that the numbers are of the gyrfalcon.
However in E,
Quote:
the numbers, in the bracket, does not clearly indicate whose numbers are referred to. Are these the numbers of the gyrfalcon? Unclear.
I drew a pattern of such questions and discovered that every time an ellipsis is conveyed in the sentence, the its or similar pronouns become important in justifying that ellipsis.
Issue #2: the use and placement of "now"
In A,
Quote:
The placement of "now" is conveying the intended meaning that the numbers are now five times the old numbers.
But in E,
Quote:
What I'm reading is: The gyrfalcon has survived...extinction, now "with" numbers five times greater...
This, to me, implies that the gyrfalcon has survived this time (now) with the help of numbers five times greater than...? I found this illogical and this is what helped me eliminate E while I was solving the problem with the clock ticking.
It would be really helpful if you could clarify my concerns. Thank you!
RohitSaluja
Joined: 02 Aug 2020
Last visit: 21 Sep 2024
Posts: 196
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Healthcare
Schools: HEC'22 (J)
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V40
GPA: 3.8
WE:Consulting (Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals)
Products:
boeinz
Hi EducationAisle VeritasKarishma, can you refer any blog/article/post that details out on usage of more and greater, I always find myself in soup when I need to evaluate the correct answer choice, and it becomes even more difficut for me, when I cant confidently evaluate whether the subject is countable or uncountable.
Appreciate the repsonse on this one.
RohitSaluja
Hi Rohit, our book EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana discusses the topic of more vs greater. Have attached the corresponding section of the book, for your reference.
Attachments
_________________
Ashish
MBA-ISB Hyderabad, GMAT-99th percentile
www.EducationAisle.com
MBA-ISB Hyderabad, GMAT-99th percentile
www.EducationAisle.com
Posts: 938
(A) extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than
This as a mathematical expression can be stated with greater than with more
(B) extinction; its numbers are now five times more than
This is very difficult to distinguish however since greater is better therefore we discard
(C) extinction, their numbers now fivefold what they were
one mistake ig is the absence of as a connector between 5 fold and what
(D) extinction, now with fivefold the numbers they had
The tense is incorrect
(E) extinction, now with numbers five times greater than
This is has to do with the comparison of noun therefore we discard '
Hence IMO C
This as a mathematical expression can be stated with greater than with more
(B) extinction; its numbers are now five times more than
This is very difficult to distinguish however since greater is better therefore we discard
(C) extinction, their numbers now fivefold what they were
one mistake ig is the absence of as a connector between 5 fold and what
(D) extinction, now with fivefold the numbers they had
The tense is incorrect
(E) extinction, now with numbers five times greater than
This is has to do with the comparison of noun therefore we discard '
Hence IMO C
dingodudesir
Regarding issue #1: I agree, that the "its" in (A) helps clarify that we are comparing the gyrfalcon's numbers now to the gyrfalcon's numbers in the early 1970's.
Regarding issue #2:
- In (E), the "now" part seems to modify the preceding clause. As you explained, that doesn't make much sense.
- In (A), we have, "its numbers are now five times greater than [they were] when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's" Here, the "now" part very clearly modifies the verb "are". When are its numbers five times greater than they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted {...}? Now.
I don't think either of these points is enough to definitively eliminate (E), though. And I certainly wouldn't try to turn these into rules that you can blindly apply to other questions. You looked at the differences, compared those differences based on meaning, realized that these tiny differences made the meaning clearer in (A), and then counted them as votes in favor of (A) over (E) -- and that's exactly the sort of thing that we encourage our students to do.
Very nice work!
_________________
GMAT/GRE/EA tutors @ www.gmatninja.com | YouTube | Articles | IG
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Posts: 2
GMATNinja
GMATNinja
I am your Big fan, I have watched all your Youtube videos and always scroll down to see if you have explained a certain question! I really love your approach and explanation.
In this particular explanation I have one doubt. You mentioned the following sentence in the explanation which I feel is ambiguous:
I ate more burritos than Mike last night.
Should we not say "I ate more burritos than Mike did last night."?
Lalitmohan777
Thank you for the kind words!
As for your question, you want to bear in mind that sometimes the verb in a comparison can be implied, as long as there's no other reasonable interpretation. In this case, no reader would look at that sentence and think, "Wait. Someone wants to eat burritos more than he wants to eat Mike! Cannibal alert!"
Instead, the reader would recognize that the only way the sentence conveys a sensible meaning is if the second "ate" is implied. "I ate more burritos than Mike [ate.]" That's okay.
If, however, there were a genuine ambiguity, then we'd have a problem. For example, if I wrote "I love burritos more than Mike", this could mean that I love burritos more than Mike loves burritos OR it could mean that I love burritos more than I love Mike. Now we'd want the second verb so that it's clear to the reader what we wish to convey.
I hope that clears things up a bit!
_________________
GMAT/GRE/EA tutors @ www.gmatninja.com | YouTube | Articles | IG
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
AmandeepSingh0796
Joined: 24 Sep 2021
Last visit: 14 Nov 2022
Posts: 6
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
GPA: 3.7
WE:Project Management (Energy)
GMAT 1: 720 Q50 V38
Posts: 6
GMATNinja
Hi,
Isn't the comparison inaccurate in A, if I am being literal with meaning, numbers are being compared to a time period?
For this reason only I chose C even though it did the pronoun error
CRACKGMATNUT
Joined: 23 Jul 2020
Last visit: 26 May 2024
Posts: 147
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Marketing
Schools: Ivey '24 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35
AmandeepSingh0796
Hi,
I guess I can help you here.
Now in LHS of than clearly indicates the time comparsion.
Always remember RHS of than can have verb / noun / and sometimes the entire phrase in ellipsis as long as it doesn't create ambiguity.
Eg I am closer to Penny than Leonard
Take me I = A
Penny = B
And Leonard = C
Now remember this standard ABC test to check ambiguity
AB more than AC
I(A) am closer to Penny(B) than I (A) closer to Leonard
or,
AB more than CB
I (A) am closer to Penny (B) than Leonard (C) is closer to Penny
What the heck? Who is closer to who ? Can't make out of it. Hence meaning ambiguity.
(In such cases we can't keep RHS in ellipsis)
On the contrary if I want relation 1 --> I will add preposition after than ( I am closer to Penny than to leonard)
Or if I want relation 2--> I will explicitly mention verb after than ( I am closer to Penny than Leonard is )
This is where ellipsis was not possible ( omitting preposition or verb was not feasible because of meaning ambiguity)
* Self activity--> Try doing ABC test in option A, you won't find any reason to keep everything RHS of than in ellipsis.
The biggest battle in this question is between Greater and More. I am attaching one framework below that might help you in this.
Posted from my mobile device
Attachments
Screenshot_20211102-225348_WhatsApp.jpg [ 44.87 KiB | Viewed 2551 times ]
AmandeepSingh0796
Check out this post about (A) if you haven't already.
As explained in that post, the comparison isn't fundamentally illogical or confusing in (A). And, as you mentioned, (C) has a glaring pronoun error, so it has to be eliminated. Unfortunately, (A) is the best we can do here!
_________________
GMAT/GRE/EA tutors @ www.gmatninja.com | YouTube | Articles | IG
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Beginners' Guides: RC | CR | Complete Resource Compilations: RC | CR
YouTube LIVE webinars: all videos by topic + 24-hour marathon for Ukraine
Question Explanation Collections: RC | CR | SC
Posts: 189
lets say we have
''its numbers are now five times lower than before''
isn't 'lower' here literally means lower in height or something.
when do we use less/lesser/lower
''its numbers are now five times lower than before''
isn't 'lower' here literally means lower in height or something.
when do we use less/lesser/lower
Posts: 6,486
himanshu0123
Hello himanshu0123,
We hope this finds you well.
To answer your query, the use of "lower" need not refer to a literal "lower" physical position; it can also metaphorically mean "lesser".
Further, "less" and "lesser" are used to refer to singular nouns and uncountable nouns.
We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' global Team
_________________
TheUltimateWinner
Joined: 23 Feb 2015
Last visit: 29 Aug 2026
Posts: 2,464
Concentration: Finance, Technology
Schools: Harvard '24 Judge '23 LBS '24 McCombs '24 Mendoza Tepper '24 Ross '24 Cox Marshall '24 Fisher Kelley '24 Jones McDonough '24 Owen '24 Terry BU Simon '24 Katz GWU Mason Babson Gabelli Foster '24 Goizueta '24 Scheller Stern '23 CBS '23 Booth '23 Haas '25 Wharton '25 Stanford '26 Johnson'23 Fuqua '23 Kellogg '23 Kenan-Flagler'23 INSEAD Aug 22 intake Olin '23 Said '23 Sloan '23 Carey Arizona "22 Yale '23 UC Davis Madison '23 Anderson '23 Carroll Carlson '23 Darden '23
Schools: Harvard '24 Judge '23 LBS '24 McCombs '24 Mendoza Tepper '24 Ross '24 Cox Marshall '24 Fisher Kelley '24 Jones McDonough '24 Owen '24 Terry BU Simon '24 Katz GWU Mason Babson Gabelli Foster '24 Goizueta '24 Scheller Stern '23 CBS '23 Booth '23 Haas '25 Wharton '25 Stanford '26 Johnson'23 Fuqua '23 Kellogg '23 Kenan-Flagler'23 INSEAD Aug 22 intake Olin '23 Said '23 Sloan '23 Carey Arizona "22 Yale '23 UC Davis Madison '23 Anderson '23 Carroll Carlson '23 Darden '23
Posts: 2,464
GMATNinja
GMATNinja,
Thank you sir for the nice explanation. I'm confused on this question as this one has one more similar official version. According to you this choice (E) is the crappier version of A but this version (E) is also the right choice in another similar official question.
In the following question, choice A is the correct one which resembles choice E in the question that we have in our hand.
https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-gyrfalco ... 13398.html
The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.
(A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when
(B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when
(C) its numbers now five times more than when
(D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when
(E) now with its numbers five greater since
_________________
Do d and e suffer any modifier issue? Please help.
Eliminates d on basis of pronoun they. e on basis of what.
Eliminates d on basis of pronoun they. e on basis of what.
Posts: 6,486
TBT
Hello TBT,
We hope this finds you well.
To answer your query, yes; Option D incorrectly modifies “close brush with extinction” using “now with fivefold the numbers they had…1970s”, illogically implying that close brush with extinction has fivefold the numbers the gyrfalcon had when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970s.; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the gyrfalcon is an Arctic bird of prey that has survived a close brush with extinction, as evidenced by the fact that its numbers are now five times greater than its numbers when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970s; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
Option E displays a similar error in modifying “close brush with extinction” using “now with numbers five times greater than…1970s”.
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
_________________
Moderators:
Announcements
Monday, Sep 14, 2026
11:30am NY / 3:30pm London / 9pm Mumbai
Subscribe to GMAT Club for New Podcast Episodes, Debriefs, & Insightful Sessions on GMAT Preparation
Tuck at Dartmouth
AI at Dartmouth Tuck: How the School Is Preparing Leaders for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos
Success stories and strategies from high-scoring candidates.