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Updated on: 05 Jun 2021, 12:12
Originally posted by nightwing79 on 22 May 2009, 18:51.
Last edited by Bunuel on 05 Jun 2021, 12:12, edited 6 times in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 05 Jun 2021, 12:12, edited 6 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
73% (01:27) correct
27%
(01:36)
wrong
based on 16135
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Nobody knows exactly how many languages there are in the world, partly because of the difficulty of distinguishing between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found about five thousand.
(A) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found
(B) and the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried counting typically finding
(C) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried counting it typically find
(D) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, but those who tried to count them typically found
(E) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried to count typically finding
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(A) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried to count typically have found
(B) and the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried counting typically finding
(C) and the sub-languages or dialects within it, but those who have tried counting it typically find
(D) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, but those who tried to count them typically found
(E) or the sub-languages or dialects within them, with those who have tried to count typically finding
Attachment:
L1.jpg [ 48.24 KiB | Viewed 131255 times ]
Attachment:
L2.jpg [ 60.65 KiB | Viewed 131293 times ]
Solving this question helps.
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19 Jul 2017, 10:40
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Quote:
I don't love the sound of this answer choice, but SC isn't ever about sound, so... whatever.
The "it" is perfect here. What are the singular nouns that precede "it"? "A language" is the only reasonable option -- and that makes perfect sense. "Those" generally works better with an antecedent of some sort, but it's basically just a synonym for "people" here, and that's acceptable. Keep (A).
Quote:
"Them" is confusing: does it refer to "dialects", "sub-languages," or all the way back to "languages" at the beginning of the sentence? I also can't figure out why we would want to conjoin these phrases with "with" -- that doesn't make much sense. (A) is much better, so (B) is out.
Quote:
I'm cool with the first "it", but the second "it" doesn't work: "those who have tried counting the language..."? We're trying to count languages, and that needs to be plural. Eliminate (C).
Quote:
Same problem with "them" as in answer choice (B). Plus, I don't see any good reason to use past tense here. The use of present perfect in (A) makes more sense, since people have presumably attempted to count languages in the past, and continue to do so in the present. (D) is gone.
Quote:
Just a hybrid of the worst elements of (B) and (C). (E) is out, and (A) is correct.
Updated on: 23 Aug 2015, 01:15
Originally posted by RaviChandra on 03 Oct 2009, 05:46.
Last edited by RaviChandra on 23 Aug 2015, 01:15, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by RaviChandra on 23 Aug 2015, 01:15, edited 1 time in total.
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Error Analysis:
Questions to ask here are
1) what are the X & Y for between (between X & Y).
2) what does IT refer to.
B: THEM reference is wrong(it should be IT) - referring to Language
D: "between X or Y" is wrong. THEM reference is wrong(it should be IT) - referring to Language
E: "between X or Y" is wrong. "but those who have tried to Count" is not Clause t
C: but those who have tried to Count(Present Continuous) , typically find (Simple Present) - Wrong
Questions to ask here are
1) what are the X & Y for between (between X & Y).
2) what does IT refer to.
B: THEM reference is wrong(it should be IT) - referring to Language
D: "between X or Y" is wrong. THEM reference is wrong(it should be IT) - referring to Language
E: "between X or Y" is wrong. "but those who have tried to Count" is not Clause t
C: but those who have tried to Count(Present Continuous) , typically find (Simple Present) - Wrong
01 Nov 2021, 04:38
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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 the crucial part of this sentence is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Meaning + Pronouns + Verb Forms
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
• “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
A: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun “language” with the singular pronoun “it”. Further, Option A uses the phrase "but those who have tried to count", conveying the intended meaning - that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option A correctly uses the present perfect tense verbs "have tried" and "have found" to refer to actions that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option A correctly uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + count” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) and B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option C uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb “tried” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option D incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “finding” in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of using "Infinitive Verb Forms" and "Present Participles" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
nightwing79
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
Concepts tested here: Tenses + Meaning + Pronouns + Verb Forms
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• The infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing”) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
• “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
A: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun “language” with the singular pronoun “it”. Further, Option A uses the phrase "but those who have tried to count", conveying the intended meaning - that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option A correctly uses the present perfect tense verbs "have tried" and "have found" to refer to actions that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option A correctly uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + count” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”. Moreover, Option A correctly uses the idiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) and B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option C uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) to refer to the intent behind the action “tried”; please remember, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb”) is preferred over the present participle (“verb+ing” – “counting” in this sentence) for referring to the purpose/intent of an action.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb “tried” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Moreover, Option D incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb “find” to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun “language” with the plural pronoun “them”. Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “with those who have tried “; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, and those who have tried to count have found about five thousand; the intended meaning is that although it is difficult to distinguish between a language and the sub-languages or dialects within it, those who have tried to count have found about five thousand. Additionally, Option E incorrectly uses the present participle (“verb+ing” – “finding” in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present. Besides, Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “distinguish between A (“a language”) or B (“the sub-languages or dialects”)”; please remember, “distinguish A from B” and “distinguish between A and B” are the only two correct usages of “distinguish”.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of using "Infinitive Verb Forms" and "Present Participles" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
