Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 14:11 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 14:11
Close
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

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
petrifiedbutstanding
Joined: 19 Oct 2010
Last visit: 10 Jul 2019
Posts: 107
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Location: India
GMAT 1: 560 Q36 V31
GPA: 3
GMAT 1: 560 Q36 V31
Posts: 107
Kudos: 354
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
intcan
Joined: 27 Oct 2010
Last visit: 03 Apr 2021
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Posts: 71
Kudos: 34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
d3thknell
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
Last visit: 11 Nov 2020
Posts: 42
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 42
Posts: 42
Kudos: 73
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Bowtie
Joined: 08 Sep 2011
Last visit: 03 May 2012
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Posts: 28
Kudos: 27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B. I was between A and B but A seemed awkward. I found this one tricky
User avatar
BDSunDevil
Joined: 13 May 2011
Last visit: 24 Dec 2017
Posts: 140
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 11
Concentration: Supply Chain, Logistics
WE 1: IT 1 Yr
WE 2: Supply Chain 5 Yrs
Posts: 140
Kudos: 548
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B is clearer. Can someone explain the tense use in the second clause in B. i. e. use of "would have been".
User avatar
mourinhogmat1
Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Last visit: 11 Aug 2015
Posts: 211
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Finance
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V32
GMAT 1: 680 Q50 V32
Posts: 211
Kudos: 201
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Recent cosmological advances have made it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed.

(A) it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed
(B) it possible to observe stellar objects that would have been invisible only a decade ago
(C) possible that one can observe stellar objects invisible only a decade ago
(D) possible the observing of stellar objects that were not capable of being viewed only a decade ago
(E) possible the observing of stellar objects that only a decade ago would not have been able to be viewed

In A, what does "only a decade ago" modify? It should modify the viewing right? But it is placed so far from vieiwed. Second, if we exclude the mistake with only a decade ago, we get ...that would ...have been unable to be viewed. It sounds correct, but its wordy and unnecessary and passive?. Unable to be viewed

1) made it possible vs. made possible by --> I think both are correct. But "made possible" that is wrong. So, rule out C.
2) D and E use the construction --> made possible ...x....that
3) D has introduces capable which distorts the meaning. Capable of being viewed? This is also passive voice. Unnecessary
4)
User avatar
arps
Joined: 18 Dec 2011
Last visit: 13 Jul 2012
Posts: 42
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 113
Posts: 42
Kudos: 604
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO B, as it sounds right, is 'made it possible' not the prefered option than 'made possible' does this fall under any idiom
User avatar
soumens
Joined: 05 Sep 2012
Last visit: 21 Jun 2013
Posts: 40
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 40
Kudos: 83
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Will go with B. "It" appears to be correct.
"made possible" sounds bit weird.
User avatar
pqhai
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Last visit: 26 Nov 2015
Posts: 863
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 123
Location: United States
Posts: 863
Kudos: 8,939
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Recent cosmological advances have made it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed.

(A) it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed
Wrong. Passive voice is not necessary.

(B) it possible to observe stellar objects that would have been invisible only a decade ago
Correct. "that" modifies objects.

(C) possible that one can observe stellar objects invisible only a decade ago
Wrong. change meaning.

(D) possible the observing of stellar objects that were not capable of being viewed only a decade ago
Wrong. bad grammar structure.

(E) possible the observing of stellar objects that only a decade ago would not have been able to be viewed
Wrong. Passive voice is not necessary.
User avatar
ndqv0709
Joined: 20 Oct 2013
Last visit: 22 Dec 2024
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 15
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Real Estate
Posts: 18
Kudos: 13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
the correct idiom is "make it possible" -> C,D,E is out.

A is so wordy compared to B -> choose B
avatar
neha1993
Joined: 12 Nov 2015
Last visit: 06 Feb 2017
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 31
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
(A) it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed
have been unable to be viewed is wordy. ( invisible is the concise word)

(B) it possible to observe stellar objects that would have been invisible only a decade ago
Correct.

(C) possible that one can observe stellar objects invisible only a decade ago
Wrong. It is too concise to change the meaning.

(D) possible the observing of stellar objects that were not capable of being viewed only a decade ago
Wrong. VAN rule of manhattan gmat.
Verb > Adjective > Noun.
Here observing is used as a gerund, and is less preferable to the simple verb form used( to observe)

(E) possible the observing of stellar objects that only a decade ago would not have been able to be viewed
Wrong. Same as Option D
User avatar
devikeerthansr
Joined: 26 Sep 2017
Last visit: 29 Nov 2021
Posts: 214
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 34
Status:To infinity and beyond
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Technology
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V32
GPA: 3.31
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Products:
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Between A and B. I choose B because hypothetical past is suited here. B is right.
User avatar
sarphant123
Joined: 13 Oct 2019
Last visit: 20 May 2022
Posts: 62
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 191
Posts: 62
Kudos: 233
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Recent cosmological advances have made it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed.
Please don’t take this problem to heart. Not even close to GMAC standards.
Just try to learn something and try to make it correct. And PASS.

(A) it possible to observe stellar objects that would only a decade ago have been unable to be viewed
Redundant passive construction.
Incorrect placement of “only a decade ago”.

(B) it possible to observe stellar objects that would have been invisible only a decade ago
Best of All.

(C) possible that one can observe stellar objects invisible only a decade ago
“stellar objects invisible only a decade ago” – Were they actually invisible or what? - Incorrect
Change in meaning.

(D) possible the observing of stellar objects that were not capable of being viewed only a decade ago
Redundant passive construction
“objects that were not capable of being viewed”

(E) possible the observing of stellar objects that only a decade ago would not have been able to be viewed
Redundant passive construction
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
504 posts
358 posts