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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 16 Dec 2021, 09:12
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NCC
Since this is an official question, I am trying to reason out each option.
Can anyone please explain Option D?
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Take another look at (D):

Quote:
Technological advances may make it possible to build robots resembling human beings regarding their dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities.
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The first time I read this, I interpreted "regarding" to mean something like "observing." That doesn't make sense: the robots don't resemble humans that observe dexterity. Doubling back, you can figure out that "regarding" here means "with respect to," but then I struggled with what "their" is referring to. "The humans?" "The robots?" It's not clear.

So there's no grammar error here, but there are multiple elements that create a confusing or illogical meaning. (C) removes "regarding" and "their" altogether, creating a much clearer, more logical sentence. So while I wouldn't necessarily toss out (D) in a vacuum, it's definitely inferior to (C).

I hope that helps!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 17 Dec 2021, 07:00
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NCC
Since this is an official question, I am trying to reason out each option.
Can anyone please explain Option D?
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HelloNCC,

We hope this finds you well.

Aside from the awkwardness of meaning pointed out by GMATNinja, Option D also incorrectly modifies the noun "robots" with the present participle "resembling" to refer to a statement of fact; please remember, statements of fact are best represented through the simple present tense.

We hope this helps.

All the best!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 10 Apr 2022, 01:21
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chetan2u
badboson
Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that resemble human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities

a.
b. that resemble human beings as far as
c. that resemble human beings in terms of
d. resembling human beings regarding their
e. resembling human

Please explain the answer. Thanks in advance!!


Hi,

1) after ROBOT , we require pronoun that and clause modifying robots..
a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause
2) Next is the meaning-
robots are being compared to three different activities-dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities- of human beings..
a)A and E do not parallel the three items converting them into {human dexterity}, {adaptability}, and {sensory capabilities}..
b)"IN TERMS OF" is the best to list out this three items
c) In D two verb+ings are used back to back and is not better than "in terms of"

C
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Hello, why "a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause"?
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 10 Apr 2022, 06:19
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that resemble human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities

a.
b. that resemble human beings as far as
c. that resemble human beings in terms of
d. resembling human beings regarding their
e. resembling human

Please explain the answer. Thanks in advance!!


Hi,

1) after ROBOT , we require pronoun that and clause modifying robots..
a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause
2) Next is the meaning-
robots are being compared to three different activities-dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities- of human beings..
a)A and E do not parallel the three items converting them into {human dexterity}, {adaptability}, and {sensory capabilities}..
b)"IN TERMS OF" is the best to list out this three items
c) In D two verb+ings are used back to back and is not better than "in terms of"

C
Hello, why "a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause"?
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Hello rrn98,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the relative clause "that resemble" is superior to the present participle ("verb+ing" - "resembling" in this sentence) because it uses the simple present tense verb "resemble" to refer to information that is permanent in nature; remember, information that is permanent in nature is best conveyed through the simple present tense.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 13 Apr 2022, 08:42
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chetan2u
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that resemble human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities

a.
b. that resemble human beings as far as
c. that resemble human beings in terms of
d. resembling human beings regarding their
e. resembling human

Please explain the answer. Thanks in advance!!


Hi,

1) after ROBOT , we require pronoun that and clause modifying robots..
a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause
2) Next is the meaning-
robots are being compared to three different activities-dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities- of human beings..
a)A and E do not parallel the three items converting them into {human dexterity}, {adaptability}, and {sensory capabilities}..
b)"IN TERMS OF" is the best to list out this three items
c) In D two verb+ings are used back to back and is not better than "in terms of"

C
Hello, why "a present participle resembling is not better than relative clause"?
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You don't need to use this decision point. Both (D) and (E) have other meaning problems.

In (D), the phrase, "human beings regarding their dexterity..." make it sound as though the humans are "regarding," or looking at, their own dexterity! You can probably figure out what the author intends if you reread a few times, but the construction is confusing at best.

In (E), it sounds as though the "robots" resemble "human dexterity," as if a robot can resemble a human attribute, as opposed to sharing some attributes. Also illogical.

The takeaway: if you're stuck between two constructions and they both seem reasonable, look for other differences! Sometimes what appears to be a juicy decision point is really just two different, but valid ways to express the same idea.

I hope that helps!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 05 Jun 2022, 10:30
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I find A and E almost similar - as one of them MUST BE eliminated, BOTH must be eliminated. A & E OUT. C is the best option - no issues with option C, very clear that the comparison of Robots is with human beings that have certain attributes (in terms of certain attributes).


badboson
Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that resemble human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities.

(A) that resemble human
(B) that resemble human beings as far as
(C) that resemble human beings in terms of
(D) resembling human beings regarding their
(E) resembling human

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Please explain the answer. Thanks in advance!!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 14 Aug 2022, 20:12
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HI GMATNinja egmat DmitryFarber Can someone please explain why E is wrong?
I mean why can't we say " build robots resembling human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities."
Because it's just like saying "I made a work of art resembling human suffering."

TIA
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 23 Aug 2022, 14:46
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HI GMATNinja egmat DmitryFarber Can someone please explain why E is wrong?
I mean why can't we say " build robots resembling human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities."
Because it's just like saying "I made a work of art resembling human suffering."

TIA
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Both are illogical. A "robot resembling human dexterity" would be a robot that looked like an abstract feature. A robot can't resemble dexterity any more than it could resemble, say, greed. It could have these features. But not resemble them.

"A work of art resembling human suffering" would be a work that looked like actual suffering. You could produce art that depicted, or portrayed, suffering, but not one that resembled suffering. Put another way, a painting can show people suffering, but the painting itself doesn't suffer.

I hope that clears things up!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 23 Sep 2022, 01:56
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GMATNinja

Both are illogical. A "robot resembling human dexterity" would be a robot that looked like an abstract feature. A robot can't resemble dexterity any more than it could resemble, say, greed. It could have these features. But not resemble them.

"A work of art resembling human suffering" would be a work that looked like actual suffering. You could produce art that depicted, or portrayed, suffering, but not one that resembled suffering. Put another way, a painting can show people suffering, but the painting itself doesn't suffer.

I hope that clears things up!
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I think you have explained it well.
Therefore a sentence like "build robots having features resembling human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities" would be correct?
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 23 Sep 2022, 04:02
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GMATNinja

Both are illogical. A "robot resembling human dexterity" would be a robot that looked like an abstract feature. A robot can't resemble dexterity any more than it could resemble, say, greed. It could have these features. But not resemble them.

"A work of art resembling human suffering" would be a work that looked like actual suffering. You could produce art that depicted, or portrayed, suffering, but not one that resembled suffering. Put another way, a painting can show people suffering, but the painting itself doesn't suffer.

I hope that clears things up!

I think you have explained it well.
Therefore a sentence like "build robots having features resembling human dexterity, adaptability, and sensory capabilities" would be correct?
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Hello manmohit10,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, yes; the sentence you have provided is correct, although it would be better to say "robots that have features...", as the action of having those features is meant to be a habitual action; remember, habitual action is best conveyed through the simple present tense.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 24 Oct 2022, 04:22
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In addition to the perfect explanations above, let me add this just incase it offers someone a soft landing:
When that is used in an essential way, I read somewhere, that it needs clarification. In this example on C that is modified to make things clearer "resemble humans in terms of " The same applies to THOSE.
It would be nice to hear a take on this
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Technological advances may make it possible to build robots that 10 Dec 2023, 04:35
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Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

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