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605-655 Level|   Grammatical/Rhetorical Construction|                  
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 27 Jul 2019, 14:45
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twentylegend20
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Hello Everyone!

Even though the stats for this question show it's a tricky one, we can narrow down to the right option by exploiting the error type clues.

Let's start by looking at the differences in the options:

1. that is so saturated / saturated enough
2. acquires / to acquire
3. character / characteristics

Verb tenses are often an easy place to start narrowing down options, so definitely let's start by tackling #2 on our list: acquires vs. to acquire.

When we use the to+verb combination, it implies intention. This means that when we say the sand wants "to acquire" the characteristics of water, it is a thinking, breathing, intentional being that chooses to go out and get the characteristics of water. We know that sand isn't a living thing that has intentions of its own. Therefore, it isn't appropriate to say "to acquire." Here are some examples:

I want to acquire the rights to that song for my movie. = CORRECT (I'm a person with thoughts and intentions, so it's okay.)

The chair is so short as to acquire the perfect balance for short children. = WRONG (A chair can't want "to acquire" balance from somewhere - it's either balanced or it's not. The chair can't decide for itself what it wants to be!)

The school acquires new students every fall. = CORRECT (Just saying "acquires" doesn't imply intention is involved. It just happens, so it's okay.)

Now, let's use that understanding and we'll be able to decimate the incorrect options. Check it out:

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character


There we have it. The only answer that doesn't imply that sand or quicksand "chooses" to take on the characteristics of a liquid is answer B.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Hi,

I've come across an OG question below:
'Between 14,000 and 8,000 b.c. the ice cap that covered northern Asia, Europe, and America began to melt, uncovering vast new areas that were to be occupied by migrating peoples moving northward.'

Please explain the difference between the role played by 'began to melt' in this question vs 'to acquire' in the quicksand question. Neither are living, but one implies intention while the other appears not to.

Appreciate the help, thanks in advance.
Show more
If you are trying to come up with a set of hard and fast rules regarding which words/phrases imply intention and which don't, I think you are barking up the wrong tree. You are always looking for the best choice among the five choices in front of you and, aside from a very short list of grammar rules (such as subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, etc.), there aren't many sure-fire rules to cling to.

In the ice cap example, "began to melt" simply means "started to melt". Nothing about intention here.

As described in this post, "so as to" seems to imply some degree of intention in choice (D)... but that is certainly not a reason to eliminate (D) right away. When we compare (B) and (D) directly, the intended meaning is much clearer in (B), making it the best choice.

That does NOT mean that we should start looking for instances of "so as to" used with inanimate objects and crossing out those choices immediately. As always, you have to think about the unique logic behind every question, and searching too hard for universal rules probably won't help much, sadly.

thangvietnam
I guess "a liquid's character" is wrong in choice A. we need 'the character of a liquid". choice B means the liquidity of a liquid. choice A mean "a character of a liquid", which possibly is not the liquidity but another character of a liquid. so, the meaning is not logic

am I right. ?

sorry for posting 2 times.
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That is part of it! Check this explanation by GMATGuruNY, and let us know if you still have questions.

hbawa993
GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo VeritasKarishma
Are possessives allowed for non living things? (Used in option A in this question)
eg. Is '' India's economy '' correct according to the GMAT?
Show more
Yes, that's perfectly acceptable, as are all of these:

  • The building's exterior...
  • The mug's handle...
  • The pizza's crust...

(Yes, I'm just looking around the room for examples. Mmm... pizza. :tongue_opt2 )

I hope this helps!
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 15 Sep 2019, 10:12
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 09 Nov 2019, 00:35
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EMPOWERgmatVerbal
Hello Everyone!

Even though the stats for this question show it's a tricky one, we can narrow down to the right option by exploiting the error type clues.

Let's start by looking at the differences in the options:

1. that is so saturated / saturated enough
2. acquires / to acquire
3. character / characteristics

Verb tenses are often an easy place to start narrowing down options, so definitely let's start by tackling #2 on our list: acquires vs. to acquire.

When we use the to+verb combination, it implies intention. This means that when we say the sand wants "to acquire" the characteristics of water, it is a thinking, breathing, intentional being that chooses to go out and get the characteristics of water. We know that sand isn't a living thing that has intentions of its own. Therefore, it isn't appropriate to say "to acquire." Here are some examples:

I want to acquire the rights to that song for my movie. = CORRECT (I'm a person with thoughts and intentions, so it's okay.)

The chair is so short as to acquire the perfect balance for short children. = WRONG (A chair can't want "to acquire" balance from somewhere - it's either balanced or it's not. The chair can't decide for itself what it wants to be!)

The school acquires new students every fall. = CORRECT (Just saying "acquires" doesn't imply intention is involved. It just happens, so it's okay.)

Now, let's use that understanding and we'll be able to decimate the incorrect options. Check it out:

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character


There we have it. The only answer that doesn't imply that sand or quicksand "chooses" to take on the characteristics of a liquid is answer B.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
Show more

hello sir , doesn't the phrase " so saturated with water " in both option (A) and (B) implies we are doing it on purpose / or some external agent is doing it , like we say for any scientific process , for e.g. : metal surface is bombarded with photons excite the electrons , my point is all scientific processes that are carried by external agent are on a purpose and here quicksand is developed artificially , on purpose , so why are thinking of it as sand's intention , that is naturally not implied
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 11 Nov 2019, 16:57
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siddharth19
EMPOWERgmatVerbal
Hello Everyone!

Even though the stats for this question show it's a tricky one, we can narrow down to the right option by exploiting the error type clues.

Let's start by looking at the differences in the options:

1. that is so saturated / saturated enough
2. acquires / to acquire
3. character / characteristics

Verb tenses are often an easy place to start narrowing down options, so definitely let's start by tackling #2 on our list: acquires vs. to acquire.

When we use the to+verb combination, it implies intention. This means that when we say the sand wants "to acquire" the characteristics of water, it is a thinking, breathing, intentional being that chooses to go out and get the characteristics of water. We know that sand isn't a living thing that has intentions of its own. Therefore, it isn't appropriate to say "to acquire." Here are some examples:

I want to acquire the rights to that song for my movie. = CORRECT (I'm a person with thoughts and intentions, so it's okay.)

The chair is so short as to acquire the perfect balance for short children. = WRONG (A chair can't want "to acquire" balance from somewhere - it's either balanced or it's not. The chair can't decide for itself what it wants to be!)

The school acquires new students every fall. = CORRECT (Just saying "acquires" doesn't imply intention is involved. It just happens, so it's okay.)

Now, let's use that understanding and we'll be able to decimate the incorrect options. Check it out:

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character


There we have it. The only answer that doesn't imply that sand or quicksand "chooses" to take on the characteristics of a liquid is answer B.

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

hello sir , doesn't the phrase " so saturated with water " in both option (A) and (B) implies we are doing it on purpose / or some external agent is doing it , like we say for any scientific process , for e.g. : metal surface is bombarded with photons excite the electrons , my point is all scientific processes that are carried by external agent are on a purpose and here quicksand is developed artificially , on purpose , so why are thinking of it as sand's intention , that is naturally not implied
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Hello siddharth19!

Great question! The phrase "so saturated with water" isn't implying that it was done on purpose. It's implying that the sand is saturated with an exceptionally large amount of water. It's the same as saying "the sad was saturated with so much water."

I hope that helps! Keep tagging me at EMPOWERgmatVerbal if you have any other questions!
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 24 Apr 2020, 00:38
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Hi experts / egmat,

There has been a lot of varying discussions on this question. I have two questions:

1) I'm still a little confused on how the two idioms "so...as to..." and "so...that.." is different. Can you please clarify?
2) OG 2019 gives the following explanation of why Option A is wrong:

The matter of degree in this option is introduced with the word so, which is used to indicate that the relevant degree of saturation will be specified with a clause that states a condition-a statement that includes both a subject and a verb-that implies a certain degree of saturation. Lacking a subject, this sentence fails to state a clear condition.

Honestly, I'm having trouble comprehending what the explanation means. Would love your help! Thanks.
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 24 Apr 2020, 02:06
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Soubhik_Bardhan
Hi experts / egmat,

There has been a lot of varying discussions on this question. I have two questions:

1) I'm still a little confused on how the two idioms "so...as to..." and "so...that.." is different. Can you please clarify?
2) OG 2019 gives the following explanation of why Option A is wrong:

The matter of degree in this option is introduced with the word so, which is used to indicate that the relevant degree of saturation will be specified with a clause that states a condition-a statement that includes both a subject and a verb-that implies a certain degree of saturation. Lacking a subject, this sentence fails to state a clear condition.

Honestly, I'm having trouble comprehending what the explanation means. Would love your help! Thanks.
Show more
Hi Soubhik, in general, whenever the intent is to express a result (of a condition), then so...that should be preferred.

Mike runs so fast that he defeats all his classmates by a comfortable margin.

Condition: Mike runs very fast

Result: he defeats all his classmates by a comfortable margin.

On the other hand, if the intent is to redefine/re-articulate a condition, then so as to is preferred:

The Emperor Augustus, it appears, commissioned an idealized sculpture portrait, the features of which are so unrealistic as to constitute what one scholar calls an "artificial face."

Condition: features of portrait are so unrealistic

Redefinition of that condition: features of portrait constitute what one scholar calls an "artificial face."
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 22 May 2020, 11:58
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Quote:
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics
(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid
(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character
Show more
GMATNinja
Pronoun ambiguity isn't automatically wrong on the GMAT -- for more on that, check out this video.

Looking at the three possible antecedents you mentioned (sand, water, and quicksand), which one makes the most sense? Can a term ("quicksand") acquire the character of a liquid? Can water, which is already a liquid, acquire the character of a liquid? It's pretty clear from the meaning that "it" refers to "sand", and since the pronoun and antecedent are both singular, the pronoun doesn't seem like a huge problem.
Show more
GMATNinja
Sir, if term could refer to someone in the following official question, why term can't 'acquire the character of a liquid?' Could you share your thought, sir?
Here is the official question:
Quote:
Although the term “psychopath”is popularly applied to an especially brutal criminal, in psychology it is someone who is apparently incapable of feeling compassion or the pangs of conscience.

(A) it is someone who is
(B) it is a person
(C) they are people who are
(D) it refers to someone who is
(E) it is in reference to people
Show more
^^ the correct choice is D for this question.


EMPOWERgmatVerbal

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
There we have it. The only answer that doesn't imply that sand or quicksand "chooses" to take on the characteristics of a liquid is answer B.
Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
Show more
AjiteshArun
maaariflo
I was between A and B - my reasoning for eliminating B was the it. Looking at potential antecedents I saw: water and sand. Therefore, I deemed option B as confusing for having that specific pronoun. Can you guys help me understand whether there's a pronoun ambiguity in this question?

Thanks!
It's reasonably easy for the reader to understand that the it refers to sand. However, pronoun ambiguity is not usually a massive problem, and you generally don't want to remove an option just because it contains an ambiguous pronoun, unless you've already checked the other options for "bigger" errors. In other words, it is possible for an option that is ambiguous to be correct.
Show more
daagh
Technically, “quicksand” is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
A. that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character--- more ideal than B as it avoids the prickly pronoun issue.
B. that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid-- 'it' may refer to either the term quicksand or just sand.
Show more
EMPOWERgmatVerbal, AjiteshArun, daagh
Hello,
I am bit confused after reading these explanation..
The choice B says:
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.
It seems that 'quicksand' can be saturated with water. So, the antecedent of IT should be 'quicksand'. How 'sand' is saturated with water? Could you clarify the highlighted part, please?

Hope you are passing good time in this pandemic! And thanks for the help in my study.
Thanks__
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 29 May 2020, 08:39
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GMATGuruNY

Quote:
There are several reasons to eliminate A and choose B.

so X as to Y implies that Y SEEMS TO BE TRUE.
Official examples:
Climatic shifts are so gradual as to be indistinguishable from ordinary fluctuations in the weather.
The features of the idealized sculpture portrait are so unrealistic as to constitute what one scholar calls an "artificial face."
In each case, the blue portion is something that SEEMS TO BE TRUE about the preceding subject in red.

so X that Y implies that Y ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
An official example:
Everyday life is so brisk that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguishing discrete sounds.
Here, the blue portion is something that ACTUALLY HAPPENS -- an action that is actually performed by the preceding subject in red.

A key difference between the two idioms:
Whereas in the second idiom Y can serve to express an actual action, in the first idiom it cannot.
In the first idiom, Y must serve to express not an actual action but something that merely SEEMS TO BE TRUE about the preceding subject.

A: so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
Here, so X as to Y incorrectly serves to express the action in red.
As noted above, Y in this idiom must serve to express not an actual action but something that merely seems to be true about the preceding subject.

Moreover, the usage of so X as to Y implies that the portion in red does not actually happen.
Not the intended meaning.
A person can DROWN in quicksand.
Thus, quicksand actually DOES acquire the character of a liquid.
To express this meaning, we should use so X that Y, as in the OA:
"Quicksand"...is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.

Another issue:

A dog's eyes can reveal much about its temperament.
Here, the phrase in blue implies that every dog has UNIQUE eyes -- eyes that can reveal much about the dog's temperament.

A: a liquid's character
This phrase seems to imply that every liquid has a UNIQUE character.
Not the intended meaning.
The intention here is to discuss the general nature of any given liquid.
The OA correctly expresses this meaning:
"Quicksand"... is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.
Here, THE CHARACTER of a liquid = the general nature of any given liquid.

For all these reasons, eliminate A.

Show more

This is a very believable reason of opting B than A.

However I saw a similar question with a sentence where "so X that Y" option was rejected.

Correct Sentence goes like this:-

Immanuel's writings are characterized by sentences so dense and convulated as to pose a significant hurdle for many readers.

here Y = pose a significant hurdle for many readers. --> doesn't seem to fit the SEEMS TO BE TRUE

Could you please help me in understanding how the above sentence is correct and is accepted rather than so X that Y?
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 29 May 2020, 12:36
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rsrighosh
I saw a similar question with a sentence where "so X that Y" option was rejected.

Correct Sentence goes like this:-

Immanuel's writings are characterized by sentences so dense and convulated as to pose a significant hurdle for many readers.

here Y = pose a significant hurdle for many readers. --> doesn't seem to fit the SEEMS TO BE TRUE

Could you please help me in understanding how the above sentence is correct and is accepted rather than so X that Y?
Show more

The SC comes from Veritas:
A: Immanuel Kant’s writings are characterized by sentences so dense and convoluted as to pose a significant hurdle for many readers who study his works.
C: Immanuel Kant’s writings are characterized by sentences so dense and convoluted that they posed a significant hurdle for many readers who study his works.

In C, the mix of past tense (posed) and present tense (study) is illogical.
Eliminate C.
Option A can be interpreted as follows:
Immanuel Kant’s writings are characterized by sentences so dense that they seem to pose a significant hurdle for many readers.
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 31 May 2020, 11:49
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Quote:
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics
(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid
(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character
GMATNinja
Pronoun ambiguity isn't automatically wrong on the GMAT -- for more on that, check out this video.

Looking at the three possible antecedents you mentioned (sand, water, and quicksand), which one makes the most sense? Can a term ("quicksand") acquire the character of a liquid? Can water, which is already a liquid, acquire the character of a liquid? It's pretty clear from the meaning that "it" refers to "sand", and since the pronoun and antecedent are both singular, the pronoun doesn't seem like a huge problem.
GMATNinja
Sir, if term could refer to someone in the following official question, why term can't 'acquire the character of a liquid?' Could you share your thought, sir?
Here is the official question:
Quote:
Although the term “psychopath”is popularly applied to an especially brutal criminal, in psychology it is someone who is apparently incapable of feeling compassion or the pangs of conscience.

(A) it is someone who is
(B) it is a person
(C) they are people who are
(D) it refers to someone who is
(E) it is in reference to people
^^ the correct choice is D for this question.
...
Show more
A "term" can certainly refer to something or someone. In fact, that's exactly what a term does, by definition!

But that does not mean that the term, itself, has all of the same characteristics of that something or someone. In other words, a "term" can refer to a person, but that doesn't mean that the "term" and the person are exactly the same thing -- one is the actual thing, and the other (the term) is a word or phrase that simply refers to that person.

Similarly, a "term" can refer to a liquid, but that doesn't mean that the "term" itself can acquire the character of a liquid.

I hope that helps!
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 28 Jul 2020, 19:06
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Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019


(SC00971)
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Can I ask a silly question ? GMATNinja

Why is the second "that" not referring to the closest noun "water"?

Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 27 Aug 2020, 12:57
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AnirudhaS
Bunuel
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019


(SC00971)

Can I ask a silly question ? GMATNinja

Why is the second "that" not referring to the closest noun "water"?

Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
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Not a silly question! This is a tricky construction, and the English language is generally kind of silly. ;)

We're used to seeing "that" function as a noun modifier. For example,

    "The water that came from my two-year-old's cup is not safe to drink." - "that came from my two-year-old's cup" modifies "the water."

But that's not what we have with the second "that" in choice (B). The second "that" doesn't modify "water" directly. Instead, it is part of a "so... that" construction that describes the degree to which the water is saturated with water:

    How saturated with water is the sand? So saturated with water THAT [the sand] acquires the character of a liquid.

I hope that helps!
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 28 Aug 2020, 12:53
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Hi Sir AndrewN ( sorry to bother you again)

i wanted to clear concepts for so that vs so as to .
Based on my understanding , i drove as below:
Please correct my understanding. Kinldy add your inputs if have some mistakes.
1.
Quote:
so X as to Y: extend the meaning of X to Y
Show more
If X adjective:
Adjective makes sense to show extension of the meaning
no need of doer as it is extension of meaning
Example:
1.The room is so dark as to appear black- no doer-Correct
2. He is so dark as to appear black – doer present- Correct
(dark appears like black. extension of dark meaning)

If X is verb:
If verb then how a non-living thing can take action or show any purpose. The purpose must be denoted by a living thing.
3. He has so stretched out the cloth as to tear it. ( he is doer , he stretched so that clothe is torn)- correct
4. Wrong: Cloth is so stretched out as to torn- WRONG
(stretched action ; tear action – can not be done by cloth itself – doesn’t make sense)

2.
Quote:
so x that Y
Show more
So that” is used as a subordinate clause to show purpose or to give an explanation.
5. Cloth is so stretched out that it is torn- Correct ( give an explanation )
6. Ram becomes so dark that he appears black. – Correct ( show purpose)

Based on above theory, can i apply the logic on question as :
Quote:
(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
Show more
matches to example 4: wrong -sand can not acquire characteristics by itself

Quote:
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
Show more
Example no. 5 - correct

Please check any mistake in my explanation related with logic so that vs so as to

GMATNinja AndrewN

Thanks in advance!
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 28 Aug 2020, 17:41
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Hello, imSKR. Do not worry about bothering me. I could always choose to take a break, but I like to volunteer my time to help others reach their GMAT™ goals. I am honored whenever anyone asks for my input. How about we take a look, then?

imSKR
Hi Sir AndrewN ( sorry to bother you again)

i wanted to clear concepts for so that vs so as to .
Based on my understanding , i drove as below:
Please correct my understanding. Kinldy add your inputs if have some mistakes.
1.
Quote:
so X as to Y: extend the meaning of X to Y
If X adjective:
Adjective makes sense to show extension of the meaning
no need of doer as it is extension of meaning
Example:
1.The room is so dark as to appear black- no doer-Correct
2. He is so dark as to appear black – doer present- Correct
(dark appears like black. extension of dark meaning)

If X is verb:
If verb then how a non-living thing can take action or show any purpose. The purpose must be denoted by a living thing.
3. He has so stretched out the cloth as to tear it. ( he is doer , he stretched so that clothe is torn)- correct
4. Wrong: Cloth is so stretched out as to torn- WRONG
(stretched action ; tear action – can not be done by cloth itself – doesn’t make sense)
Show more
In sentence 4, the verb is is—Bill Clinton, anyone?—stretched out would merely fit into the adjective mold you outlined earlier. It would be odd to write, The cloth is so stretched out as to be torn, but it could pass for a sentence. It is not a sentence you would see on the GMAT™, though, at least not a correct SC sentence. (There would be a better, more direct way to express the same notion.)

imSKR
2.
Quote:
so x that Y
So that” is used as a subordinate clause to show purpose or to give an explanation.
5. Cloth is so stretched out that it is torn- Correct ( give an explanation )
6. Ram becomes so dark that he appears black. – Correct ( show purpose)

Based on above theory, can i apply the logic on question as :
Quote:
(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
matches to example 4: wrong -sand can not acquire characteristics by itself

Quote:
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
Example no. 5 - correct

Please check any mistake in my explanation related with logic so that vs so as to

GMATNinja AndrewN

Thanks in advance!
Show more
To be honest, I would not have thought to trace such a rule-based line of reasoning, but if it helped you arrive at the correct conclusion, then so much the better. Keep going with your approach. Explore the nooks and crannies it takes you to. I am happy to offer my thoughts as I can.

- Andrew
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 28 Aug 2020, 23:44
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Hello, imSKR. Do not worry about bothering me. I could always choose to take a break, but I like to volunteer my time to help others reach their GMAT™ goals. I am honored whenever anyone asks for my input. How about we take a look, then?

Thanks in advance!
Show more
To be honest, I would not have thought to trace such a rule-based line of reasoning, but if it helped you arrive at the correct conclusion, then so much the better. Keep going with your approach. Explore the nooks and crannies it takes you to. I am happy to offer my thoughts as I can.

- Andrew[/quote]


Hi Sir,

A small clarification on the same question:

Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
if A is changed to
(Anew) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a character of a liquid
Anew would still be wrong because sand can not do the action of acquiring as purpose . as to acquire reflects the purpose ; so Anew still wrong

Quote:
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
How sand can acquire the character of a liquid ? Should not B be better if :
(Bnew) that is so saturated with water that it seem to have the character of a liquid

( the confusion is : how sand can be doer of acquiring the character of a liquid , it happens automatically to sand in natural process)
or we treat sand as doer when there is physical doer for such environmental scenarios
( similarly from other example: By skimming along the top of the atmosphere, a proposed new style of aircraft xx - here aircraft is doer of action even it gets benefit of earth rotation in natural sense)

In summary,
1. Any non human object can not show PURPOSE - reject A
2. Any non human object can be DOER even if there is any natural process involved ( such as sand acquires character and Aircraft skim through top of atmosphere and takes few hours for flight )- accepts B
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 29 Aug 2020, 06:37
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imSKR
Hi Sir,

A small clarification on the same question:

Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character
if A is changed to
(Anew) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a character of a liquid
Anew would still be wrong because sand can not do the action of acquiring as purpose . as to acquire reflects the purpose ; so Anew still wrong

Quote:
(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
How sand can acquire the character of a liquid ? Should not B be better if :
(Bnew) that is so saturated with water that it seem to have the character of a liquid

( the confusion is : how sand can be doer of acquiring the character of a liquid , it happens automatically to sand in natural process)
or we treat sand as doer when there is physical doer for such environmental scenarios
( similarly from other example: By skimming along the top of the atmosphere, a proposed new style of aircraft xx - here aircraft is doer of action even it gets benefit of earth rotation in natural sense)

In summary,
1. Any non human object can not show PURPOSE - reject A
2. Any non human object can be DOER even if there is any natural process involved ( such as sand acquires character and Aircraft skim through top of atmosphere and takes few hours for flight )- accepts B
Show more
Hello, imSKR. I think you are treading some dangerous territory here, looking to create absolute rules and construct sentence variants for further analysis. The five options are presented exactly as they are because that is how GMAC™ has designed the question. You are meant to expose certain flaws and arrive at a correct conclusion if you can. Anyway, the character of a liquid already suggests the seems that you wanted to insert to clarify the matter in your second sentence. The character of something just implies a similarity, not an exact likeness. For instance, if I say that "pop" dancing has acquired the character of fluid movement over the years (look up David Elsewhere on YouTube if you are unfamiliar with this style of dance), you should understand that I am not comparing a dance to water, just that I am remarking on a similarity in movement that I perceive between the two.

My advice: stick with what is on the screen. Adapt your approach to the question at hand, and if you miss it, use the opportunity to build your understanding.

- Andrew
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 24 Mar 2021, 02:29
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AndrewN
I have gone through the entire thread (4 pages), but nowhere is the explanation provided by experts overlapping with OG's explanation (screenshot from OG attached).

OG'19 explains that in Option A there is a missing subject (hence Option A is eliminated), whereas Option B solves this issue by placing the subject, "it". Could you please elaborate the OG's point? Thanks

I understood the idiom application explained by experts in this thread.


Bunuel
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019


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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 24 Mar 2021, 04:16
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AndrewN: Sorry for tagging you in the 3rd post for the same question. :please:

Neither did I understand this point:
a liquid's character: How does it imply that every liquid has a unique character?
Would "the liquid's character" be correct?

GMATGuruNY

Another issue:

A dog's eyes can reveal much about its temperament.
Here, the phrase in blue implies that every dog has UNIQUE eyes -- eyes that can reveal much about the dog's temperament.

A: a liquid's character
This phrase seems to imply that every liquid has a UNIQUE character.
Not the intended meaning.
The intention here is to discuss the general nature of any given liquid.
The OA correctly expresses this meaning:
"Quicksand"... is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.
Here, THE CHARACTER of a liquid = the general nature of any given liquid.

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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit Updated on: 24 Mar 2021, 06:58
Originally posted by mSKR on 24 Mar 2021, 06:47.
Last edited by mSKR on 24 Mar 2021, 06:58, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi Pankaj0901

let Experts reply your queries. I add my cents how I understood this riddle. I would like to know also expert comments on this methodology. please comment AndrewN sir:)

Case1: A can do B so as to X
Meaning: A can do B and in process X appears to happen.
Note1: It has not happened but it seems to happen something hypothetical situation.

OG Example: https://gmatclub.com/forum/often-major- ... 94376.html

Often major economic shifts are so gradual as to be indistinguishable at first from ordinary fluctuations in the financial markets.
1. Economic shifts seem to be indistinguishable. It express intensity of gradual that it appears to be indistinguishable- CORRECT


Case2: A can do B so that X
A can do B so that X can happen
Note1: Someone is doer of X ( have purpose).
Note2: Why do you do B? -- > for the purpose of X.


OG Example: https://gmatclub.com/forum/congress-is- ... 67594.html
Congress is debating a bill requiring certain employers to provide workers with unpaid leave so that they can care for sick or newborn children.
1. Why unpaid leave? Purpose: to care for sick or newborn children.
2. have doer: workers

Another Example: https://gmatclub.com/forum/sophisticated-laser-guided-land-graders-can-now-flatten-uneven-305959.html
Sophisticated laser-guided land graders can now flatten uneven farmland almost perfectly so as not to waste rainwater in runoff down sloping fields.
(A) so as not to waste rainwater-- you know why is it wrong? Because rainwater waste doesn't happen in process( read case1)
(B) so that rainwater is not wasted --> whatever flatten happens it has purpose.
1. Purpose is to stop wasting of rainwater
2. Doer is people doing action of flattening ( not directly present in sentence)


Case3: A do B so that X happenss in the process
Note1: Something that already happens in the process
OG example: Current question
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid
You can shorten the sentence: Sand is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid.
Note: sand already acquires the character

Now let's see what is the meaning:
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
Shorten: Sand is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.
It doesn't appear only to acquire liquid character but it has actually acquired the liquid character.
For better clarity you can see the exact definition of quicksand : https://www.britannica.com/story/how-de ... -quicksand
It means a person can actually drown in the quicksand not just appears to be drown.
<So as to be > case1 : is not applicable here.

I hope it is clear.
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Technically, quicksand is the term for sand that is so saturated wit 24 Mar 2021, 06:55
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Pankaj0901
AndrewN
I have gone through the entire thread (4 pages), but nowhere is the explanation provided by experts overlapping with OG's explanation (screenshot from OG attached).

OG'19 explains that in Option A there is a missing subject (hence Option A is eliminated), whereas Option B solves this issue by placing the subject, "it". Could you please elaborate the OG's point? Thanks

I understood the idiom application explained by experts in this thread.


Bunuel
Technically, "quicksand" is the term for sand that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character.

(A) that is so saturated with water as to acquire a liquid's character

(B) that is so saturated with water that it acquires the character of a liquid

(C) that is saturated with water enough to acquire liquid characteristics

(D) saturated enough with water so as to acquire the character of a liquid

(E) saturated with water so much as to acquire a liquid character

NEW question from GMAT® Official Guide 2019


(SC00971)
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Hello, Pankaj0901. I think the OA describes just what it means to convey, that so _____ in this context, a construct that indicates the extent of something, will precede an embedded clause—that...—to draw a proper comparison (the clear condition of the OA). In any case, I did not approach the question with such a consideration. Instead, I considered (A) through (C) as one cluster and (D) and (E) as another. Here, that is warranted at the head of the underlined portion because sand serves as the subject of the embedded clause (and could stand in for that). Then, (C) is the odd one out because it adopts a juvenile-sounding saturated... enough that also focuses on the lower limit of saturation rather than emphasizing that same degree of saturation (by using so saturated). That is, if the sentence aims to compare quicksand to water, then so saturated is more fitting. Finally, between (A) and (B), I like to ask myself when I encounter such a comparison that hinges on a verb what, exactly, is verb-ed. (A) delays this vital information by launching into a possessive, a common trap on GMAT™ SC questions: to acquire a liquid's [something]. This type of comparison is too compact and is actually harder to follow than one that spells out what is, in this case, acquired: that it acquires the character. Yes, the character is vague, and I still need to qualify the type of character that is acquired, but I have an answer to my what right where it belongs. The question took me 47 seconds before I committed to (B), and I can see from the timer data that the average time spent is hovering just over a minute, even for those who miss the question.

The point I am hoping to make is that you can often approach a question in a different manner from what the OA might indicate or from what an Expert might outline. As for my own approach, in keeping with the water theme, I like to take the path of least resistance—I look for easy entry points to weed out answers that are obviously incorrect or subpar. With what is left, I seek to work from a place of comfort. If I am unsure about a certain split, that is okay. I look for something else to lean on instead. And, of course, the answer that I find the hardest to argue against is the one I pursue. I stopped chasing what I thought were correct answers some time ago. When I started practicing this evidence-based approach instead, my accuracy improved considerably.

I think you have a couple questions for GMATGuruNY, who could probably better explain what he meant in his earlier post. I hope my response helps you in a different way. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this tough question.

- Andrew
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