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souvik101990
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Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,313
Given Kudos: 2,326
Location: United States (WA)
Concentration: Leadership, General Management
Schools: Ross '20 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
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Expert reply
Updated on: 06 Mar 2019, 02:17
Originally posted by souvik101990 on 26 Mar 2015, 19:37.
Last edited by Bunuel on 06 Mar 2019, 02:17, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 06 Mar 2019, 02:17, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
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Question Stats:
74% (01:09) correct
26%
(01:18)
wrong
based on 1468
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This question is part of the GMAT Club Sentence Correction : Pronoun Revision Project.
One of the important functions of the United Nations is to decide if they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that assumed power through violence.
A. to decide if they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
B. to decide whether to recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
C. deciding whether to recognize a new government to be legitimate that
D. to decide if it should recognize the legitimacy of a new government, which
E. deciding whether they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
One of the important functions of the United Nations is to decide if they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that assumed power through violence.
A. to decide if they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
B. to decide whether to recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
C. deciding whether to recognize a new government to be legitimate that
D. to decide if it should recognize the legitimacy of a new government, which
E. deciding whether they should recognize the legitimacy of a new government that
souvik101990
Expert
Alum
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,313
Given Kudos: 2,326
Location: United States (WA)
Concentration: Leadership, General Management
Schools: Ross '20 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Expert reply
29 Mar 2015, 19:29
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In the original sentence, the plural pronoun “they” has no clear antecedent. It is trying
to refer to the United Nations, which is a singular noun. Additionally, on the GMAT, “if”
is used for a conditional idea, while “whether” is used for an alternative or possibility.
In this sentence, the United Nations is choosing between two possibilities: either it will
recognize the legitimacy of a new government or it will not. Thus, “whether” is the
appropriate word.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) CORRECT. This choice correctly resolves the pronoun issue, and is the only
answer choice that avoids serious problems.
(C) The use of “deciding” as opposed to the infinitive “decide” is appropriate, but this
sentence incorrectly separates the modifier “that assumed power through violence”
from the modified noun “government,” making this choice awkward and incorrect.
(D) In this choice, “if” is incorrectly used to distinguish between alternatives.
Furthermore the non-restrictive relative pronoun “which” is used to introduce a
restrictive clause. Because the clause “that assumed power through violence” is
essential to the meaning of the sentence, “that” must introduce the clause.
Conversely, “which” is used to introduce nonessential elements.
(E) In this choice, the pronoun “they” has no clear antecedent, since the United
Nations is a singular entity.
to refer to the United Nations, which is a singular noun. Additionally, on the GMAT, “if”
is used for a conditional idea, while “whether” is used for an alternative or possibility.
In this sentence, the United Nations is choosing between two possibilities: either it will
recognize the legitimacy of a new government or it will not. Thus, “whether” is the
appropriate word.
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) CORRECT. This choice correctly resolves the pronoun issue, and is the only
answer choice that avoids serious problems.
(C) The use of “deciding” as opposed to the infinitive “decide” is appropriate, but this
sentence incorrectly separates the modifier “that assumed power through violence”
from the modified noun “government,” making this choice awkward and incorrect.
(D) In this choice, “if” is incorrectly used to distinguish between alternatives.
Furthermore the non-restrictive relative pronoun “which” is used to introduce a
restrictive clause. Because the clause “that assumed power through violence” is
essential to the meaning of the sentence, “that” must introduce the clause.
Conversely, “which” is used to introduce nonessential elements.
(E) In this choice, the pronoun “they” has no clear antecedent, since the United
Nations is a singular entity.
General Discussion
26 Mar 2015, 19:44
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Answer should be B.
I could find two problems in original sentence:
- "The United Nations" is singular entity. "They" is not proper pronoun for it.
- "If" is normally used to show conditional situation. Here use of "whether" is required.
So, A and D are out. C and E wrong because of use of verb+ing form. It seems like "One of the important functions of the United Nations" is actually doing (deciding) something.
I could find two problems in original sentence:
- "The United Nations" is singular entity. "They" is not proper pronoun for it.
- "If" is normally used to show conditional situation. Here use of "whether" is required.
So, A and D are out. C and E wrong because of use of verb+ing form. It seems like "One of the important functions of the United Nations" is actually doing (deciding) something.
