Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they a

Hey everyone, I've been using GMAT Club for ages now and decided to finally start posting and helping others out.

I was stuck for a bit on D and E as well, but there is a clear reason to eliminate D that has not been mentioned.

D says, "hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey," and if you read into it the phrase is a bit ambiguous and illogical.

Hydrocarbons can't use a seismic survey...

Consider this
My friend can often be found eating a donut.



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You're right, it does sound a tad bit ambiguous and less logical than (E) on looking at it from that perspective. Thanks for the clarification!
Another thing I later noticed is, (E) captures the essence of the original sentence more effectively than (D) - since the original sentence attempts to convey a bit of a contrast / 'surprise factor' with the "even though" phrase.

But yeah certainly, the significance of your point about logic is even more important.

(A) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface. - modifier issue, 'who is using a seismic survey?' cant be hydrocarbons
(B) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, using a seismic survey. - again doesn't specific who is using a seismic survey, incomplete modifier
(C) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey. - this has some meaning issue
(D) Buried far beneath Earth’s surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey. - this also loses some of the meaning in compared to the answer choice E, there is no mention of who can detect a seismic survey to make it more accurate.
(E) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface. - correct modifier, logically makes sense.

Please let me know if I incorrect in my thinking.

Eliminating A and B is not an issue, like you have mentioned...Important thing, like someone else posted above, to notice here is the contrast marker - "even though". Only E gets both the modifier and the contrast correct.

Friends,

I would like to discuss about a question that I came across. Its an SC question, using modifiers.

Q1. Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface.

a) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface
b) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface, using a seismic survey
c) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth's surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey
d) Buried far beneath Earth's surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey
e) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface

Ans: Clearly the statement is missing the subject that the modifier "Using a seismic survey" is modifying. So a) is incorrect. e) is the best option here.
However, in passive forms of sentences, the subject is optional. So the below two forms, if given, would also have been correct:

1. Hydrocarbons can be located using a seismic survey even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface (re-shuffled option b)
2. Hydrocarbons, buried far beneath Earth's surface, can be detected using a seismic survey (re-shuffled option d)

Do you agree?

Thanks,
Saurabh

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Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface.

a) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface
b) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface, using a seismic survey
c) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth's surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey
d) Buried far beneath Earth's surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey
e) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface

Ans: Clearly the statement is missing the subject that the modifier "Using a seismic survey" is modifying. So a) is incorrect. e) is the best option here.
However, in passive forms of sentences, the subject is optional. So the below two forms, if given, would also have been correct:

1. Hydrocarbons can be located using a seismic survey even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface (re-shuffled option b)
2. Hydrocarbons, buried far beneath Earth's surface, can be detected using a seismic survey (re-shuffled option d)

Do you agree?

Dear chaudhurysr,

I'm happy to respond.

I saw your report. Rather than delete that thread, I merged it into this one.

This is a spectacularly bad practice question. The question writer seems to have been entirely unfamiliar with everything about the GMAT's standards except the basic directions of the the SC section. There are a number of major violations of the norms of Sentence Correction in this particular problem.

First of all, the introduction of the words "a geophysicist." Yes, the SC sometimes does introduce a new word in the answer choices, a word that is structural and derives from context. I have never seen something as specific the name of a scientific profession to appear only in the answer choices, let alone the OA. How is any reader supposed to know, without outside knowledge, that geophysicists are the ones to do this work (as opposed, say a seismologist)? How are we supposed to know whether the introduction of the this word changes the meaning or not?

In this question, (A) is clearly wrong. (B) and (C) are passable, not ideal, but not entirely wrong. (D) is fine. (E) is fine, except for the bizarre introduction of a new word.

investing energy into low quality verbal questions does not prepare one for the GMAT.

Here's a high quality GMAT Verbal practice question:
What the eye sees

Does all this make sense?
Mike

Saurabh, the subject is not optional. You might be referring to the agent. Even then, the issue is debatable: optional from a structural perspective or from a meaning perspective?

Mike, bringing a geophysicist in is not a problem. Test takers are expected to take such meaning calls, and past GMAT questions have done exactly this.

the answer must be E, present participle must be followed by a subject.
although D is tempting but E is more concise and clear

Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

(A) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.
(B) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, using a seismic survey.
(C) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey.
(D) Buried far beneath Earth’s surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey.
(E) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

This is a question of dangling modifiers where you have to introduce the subject itself. Who is using the seismic survey? It's ambiguous!

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