Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tis

Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

"in that" means - "for the reason that". Both "because" and "in that" are correct as both state the reason why teratomas are unusual. Let's look for other concrete reasons to get to the right answer.


(A) because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone
It is not tooth and bone that are not normally found in the organ but tissues. Eliminate.

(B) because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are
Same as A. Eliminate.

(C) because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues
It is incorrect to use “like” as we are talking about types of tissues. Hence the use of “such as” is correct. Eliminate

(D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is
It is not the composition that is not normally found but tissues.

(E) in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues
Correct. The use of the absolute modifier brings clarity to the sentence.
Teratomas are composed of tissues such as tooth bone, tissues not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

VP
GMAT SME

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that teratomas are unusual forms of cancer in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, which are tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

Concepts tested here: Idioms + Modifiers + Meaning

• “because” is used to show a cause-effect relationship and “in that” is used to refer to an intrinsic property.
• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

A: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “tooth and bone not normally found in…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that teratomas are composed of tissues such as those specific teeth and bone that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; the intended meaning of this sentence is that teratomas are composed of tissues such as teeth and bone, which are tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. Further, Option A incorrectly uses “because” to refer to the intrinsic property of the teratomas- being composed of tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; please remember, “because” is used to show a cause-effect relationship and “in that” is used to refer to an intrinsic property.

B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “tooth and bone not normally found in…”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that teratomas are composed of tissues such as those specific teeth and bone that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; the intended meaning of this sentence is that teratomas are composed of tissues such as teeth and bone, which are tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. Further, Option B incorrectly uses “because” to refer to the intrinsic property of the teratomas- being composed of tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; please remember, “because” is used to show a cause-effect relationship and “in that” is used to refer to an intrinsic property. Additionally, Option B incorrectly uses “like” to provide the example of "teenth and bone"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

C: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses “because” to refer to the intrinsic property of the teratomas- being composed of tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; please remember, “because” is used to show a cause-effect relationship and “in that” is used to refer to an intrinsic property. Further, Option C incorrectly uses “like” to provide the example of "teenth and bone"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "their composition...not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears”; the construction of this clause illogically implies that the composition of the teratomas is not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears; the intended meaning of this sentence is that teratomas are unusual forms of cancer in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, and these tissues are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

E: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses “tissues not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears” to modify “tissues such as tooth and bone”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that teratomas are unusual forms of cancer in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, and these tissues are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. Further, Option E correctly uses “such as” to introduce the examples of “teeth and bone”. Additionally, Option E correctly uses “in that” to refer to an intrinsic property of the teratomas- being composed of tissues that are not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Because" vs "In That" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



To understand the concept of "Like" vs "As" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

E is the best

A. Changes meaning, no connection between two sentence
Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone

not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.
What not normally found ? tissues, not "tooth and bone"
there is no connection between the two sentences

B. like cannot be used, it says they are tissues something like toot and bone, but not tooth and bone, always in these cases, "such as" is correct. It is a classic mistake of like.

C same error as in B

D same error as in A

E Correct, uses such as, uses "tissues" to connect the two sentences.
hope this helps....

IMO E.

Today, I read one post here which said that:
When GMAT puts ‘because’ and ‘in that’ in a sentence, more often than not, ‘in that’ would be correct. ‘In that qualifies’ the previous sentence, while ‘because’ is just used to show a simple causal relationship. Read the post:

sc1000-895-warbler-48355.html

Happy to help
Sorry for messing the term - its resumptive modifier.

A resumptive modifier picks up a word or phrase from a sentence that seems to be
finished and then adds information and takes the reader into new territory of thought.


Example :
Since the 1930’s aircraft manufacturers have tried to build airplanes with frictionless
wings, shaped so smoothly and perfectly that the air passing over them would not
become turbulent.
(A) wings, shaped so smoothly and perfectly
(B) wings, wings so smooth and so perfectly shaped
(C) wings that are shaped so smooth and perfect
(D) wings, shaped in such a smooth and perfect manner
(E) wings, wings having been shaped smoothly and perfectly so

OA : B


Wings is required to unambiguously convey the meaning of the sentence. It is the wings that are shaped so perfectly and smoothly (adjective). Note how the subject "wings" is unambiguously and descriptively modified in B. Whereas A has ambiguity - it can modify "airplanes" instead of "wings".

For one thing, tissues like tooth and bone would not be correct, because tooth and bone are provided as examples and in such cases, such as is the correct usage, not like. Also, in that is correct, since the intent is not to strictly establish a causal sequence here (in which case, because would have been more appropriate).

Hence E.

will go with Option E.

'not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears' is a modifier. From original statement it is not clear what it is modifying. It could be modifying either 'tissue' or 'tooth and bone'. This ambiguity is resolved in E, where it is explicitly given that 'tissues' are the ones which are 'not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.'

This is the example of Noun+Noun modifier.

Choices B,C can be eliminated for using 'like' , D changes the meaning.

because’ and ‘in that’ in a sentence, mostly ‘in that’ would be correct. ‘In that qualifies’ the previous
sentence, while ‘because’ is just used to show a simple causal relationship. So (E)

D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is
Tissues .....is (no subject - verb agreement here)

Hope this helps
(my first post on GMATClub!!)

Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.
(A) because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone

This is part of original incorrect sentence. However, in the original sentence it is not clear what is being modified by "not normally found". As per the construction , this verb+ed modifier seems to modify the bone.

((B) because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are
Use of like is incorrect because the original sentence wants to convey tooth and bones as examples of tissues .The sentence does not want to compare tissues with tooth and bone .

(C) because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues

Use of like is wrong. Use of like with comma seems to modify/compare tooth and bone with Teratomas- in the second clause they is the subject and whenever like is precceded by a comma, then the noun that follows like always modifies/compares with the subject of the clause.

(D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is

This sentence is awkward. This sentence seems to suggest that the composition is found in organs.

(E) in that they are composed of tissues such tooth and bone, tissues

This choice is the CORRECT choice because it avoids all the above errors and conveys the correct meaning.It also corrects the modifier error.

There are 2 rules I have read so far concerning question of In that VS Because



1. Based on Usage -

In that = Used to talk about some aspects

Because = used to talk about all aspects

2. Bsed on Reference -

In that = Qualifies’ the previous sentence

Because = Show a simple causal relationship


PS: In the When GMAT puts ‘because’ and ‘in that’ in a sentence, more often than not, ‘in that’ would be correct.

Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears.

(A) because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone
((B) because they are composed of tissues like tooth and bone that are

tooth and bone are not normally found in the organ. that's not the point. Point is Teratomas are composed of tissues that
are not normally found in the organ.

(C) because they are composed of tissues, like tooth and bone, tissues
(D) in that their composition, tissues such as tooth and bone, is :
their composition is not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. This is not the intended meaning.

(E) in that they are composed of tissues such tooth and bone, tissues

I think "because" is wrong here. because that presents a causal effect relationship. Sentence want to explain how teratomas are unusal form of cancer. Key is here to understand difference between "How" and "Why". Here the meaning of sentence emphasise to "how" part.

E option is not correctly written.it should be : in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues


I have one doubt tissues such as tooth and bones : tooth and bones are not example of tissues. should n't right word here is "Like"

Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organ. There are four types of tissues one of which is connective tissue. Blood, bone, tendon, ligament, adipose and areolar tissues are examples of connective tissues.

For more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissue_(biology)

yes that is what i was saying ..like should be there in place of Such as and thus correct choice should be C

Note that bone (and hence tooth too) are a type of tissues.

For more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tissue_(biology)

Hi Expert,

In one of your post, you mentioned that "in that" is specific to certain verbs such as differ.

An eagle differs from crow in that ............ --correct

Please help ! In what all cases, we can use "in that" phrase. Thanks

We use such as to give example. We don't use like to give example. B and C are eliminated.

After the underlined portion we have " not normally found....". What is not normally found? Tissue.

In A bone at the end is wrong and In D "composition is not normally" is wrong. Hence E