The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s comple

The text states clearly that 'the ability of scientists has become ever more accurate’
B maintains this intent intact, while C changes the intent blatantly by saying that ‘Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models”

Should we still prefer C over B? Can someone point to a valid grammar error in B, unless he or she wants to insist on a trivial such as ‘in providing’ is not a good idiom or some such.

The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.


(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.

(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.

(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.

(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.

(E) Scientists’ ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.

What has become more accurate? The ability of scientists to provide models?

Definitely not. It is not the ability that has become more accurate but the models. We need an option that says that scientists are now able to provide accurate models

Therefore the modifier should be correctly attached to what it modifies- logically.

All the options except C, contain a modifier error. Options A and E also contain SVA errors.

Option C correctly says that scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions…

Vishnupriya
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 scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Idioms

• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
• “ability + to” is the preferred construction.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "ability" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option A alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The ability of scientists...have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses "like" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

B: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Further, Option B uses the construction "ability + in"; please remember, "ability + to" is the preferred construction.

C: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "Scientists" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option C uses the clause "Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models", conveying the intended meaning - that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Additionally, Option C correctly uses "such...as" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions". Besides, Option C uses the preferred construction "ability + to".

D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "Scientists have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists have become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate. Further, Option D incorrectly uses "like" to provide the examples of "seasonal and daily cycles" and "different planetary conjunctions"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples. Additionally, Option D uses the construction "ability + for"; please remember, "ability + to" is the preferred construction.

E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "ability" with the plural verb "have become". Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "Scientists’ ability...have become ever more accurate"; the construction of this clause illogically suggests that the scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions has become more accurate; the intended meaning is that the models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions that scientists can provide have become more accurate.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Like" versus "As" on the GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

A. The ability of scientists .. "have" become
B. The ability of scientists has not become more accurate, but rather the scientists themselves have
C. Correct
D. "ability for providing" sounds incorrect. the correct idiom should be "ability to provide"
E. Scientists' ability .. "have"

//C//

Its a matter of grammetrical expression as well as ligical reasoning.

A. "The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate ........" is always wrong because ability cannot be more or less accurate. only scientists can be more or less able.
also "like" is wrong to list out the examples.
B. same as A.
C. Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of ...... coreect.
D. Like is wrong as in A.
E. "Scientists’ ability" is pretty much similar to "the ability of scientists has become ever more accurate ........" in A and B.



Its a good question indeed.

Bigoyal if you are debating between B and C....then here is why C is better.

B. The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.

B conveys somewhat nonsensical meaning...."The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate "....Ability can never become more accurate....it is only the scientists who can become more capable or able....which is exactly what C says.

GMAT's favorite trick. like Vs "such as"
The use of like to introduce examples is always incorrect on GMAT.

That leaves B, C and E
E : has SV disagreement
B : fatal change of meaning

C it is.

The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.

(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate. - 'have' is incorrect for the singular 'ability. We need 'such as' to provide examples not 'like'. 'to provide is idiomatic.

(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. - 'in providing' is unidiomatic

(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. - 'to provide is idiomatic. 'Scientists have become able' is correct. 'such as' is used to prvide examples.

(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. - 'in their ability for providing' is awkward. 'like' is incorrect usage here.

(E) Scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate. - 'have' is incorrect for 'ability'.

A) The ability......have become ever more accurate.
B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate...how can ability become more accurate...seems wrong. Also I think we dont need comma:
conditions, such as
C)Seems good, keep it on hold.
D) Wordy and also uses like rather than such as:
changing conditions, like ....
E) Too wordy and wrong.
Scientists ability...apostrophe missing
...have become ever more accurate.

SO C is right.

Wow! Good question and glad I got it right! Here is my explanation below:
(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate. Subject-verb agreement error: ability and have
(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. Sounds confusing and wordy
(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. Correctly conveys the author's intent
(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. "like" is not allowed on GMAT when providing a list of examples
(E) Scientists’ ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate. Subject-verb agreement error ability and have

The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.

(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.
(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
(E) Scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.


Regarding this question even though I thought that ans choice c could be ans on first glance I took some time to confirm it as the ans by POE. On a general note the construction " Scientists have become able to" didn't seem correct to me and it was wordy too. Please share your opinions about the construction. Do you think the construction is grammatically right/correct. This construction is the reason why I had to use POE (taking more time) to confirm the ans.


Thanks,

haricit

(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.
Incorrect. "like" is used here to compare two actions.

(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Incorrect. "Ability of" is wrong idiom

(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Correct. Wordy but grammatically correct. And left with no other choice.

D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Incorrect. "Ability for" is a wrong idiom

(E) Scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.
Incorrect. Subject of "have" is "ability" which is singular abstract noun. There should "has" instead of "have".

Rules used:
1. Ability of x to do y is the correct idiomatic expression
2. Subject verb agreement - Singular verbs for singular nouns, plural verbs for plural nouns


The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.

(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate. Uses correct idiomatic expression but the subject here is "The ability" and not "The abilities" and hence needs "has become ever more accurate. Hence, Incorrect

(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. Incorrect idiomatic expression

(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. Correct idiomatic expression "Able to [base form of verb] Correct

(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere's complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions. Incorrect idiomatic expression

(E) Scientists' ability to provide models of the atmosphere's complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate. Subject Verb Disagreement Hence, Incorrect

Is 'Ability in' idiomatic?I did some research and found that it is being used in few cases.
Also,how can we conclude that ability has become accurate or the models.According the question statement ability has become accurate.If we go along with that meaning the B should be correct.

hi AjiteshArun..

the intent as per the original sentence is that the ability has become accurate. The text states clearly that 'the ability of scientists has become ever more accurate’

B maintains this intent intact, while C changes the intent blatantly by saying that ‘Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models”

I am still having a hard time eliminating option B. Is it the comma just before such as in option B that makes the construction in option B a lil weird?

Please help me understand this

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Adit

Hi aditliverpoolfc,

We need to look at all the 5 options and then take a call on what the sentence is trying to say. That is, it could be that only option E conveys the intended meaning (and none of the other options does). Very specifically, option A is not guaranteed to provide us the correct meaning, so we should not always try to ensure that the option that we mark is one that maintains the same meaning as option A.

If it helps, we could try checking what we'd think if what option A says were presented to us as, say, option F.

F. The ability of someone to do something have become more accurate. ← The verb is plural, and the meaning is incorrect. That is, can we say "her ability to score a 700 has become more accurate" or "his ability to identify difficult questions has become more accurate"?

If the answer is yes, that's fine. As in, we made a mistake, and that happens. We should not, however, trust what option A says blindly.

The good news is, of course, that if we take the right decision here, we can remove every option that says that the ability has become more accurate, including option B.

(A) The ability of scientists to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions, have become ever more accurate.
Illogical and SV agreement is wrong, the ability *has* not become more accurate. The sentence is trying to say that the scientists are more able to provide accurate models.

(B) The ability of scientists has become ever more accurate in providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, such as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Same illogical structure as A)

(C) Scientists have become able to provide ever more accurate models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
Corrects the illogical structure, correct SV agreement.

(D) Scientists have become ever more accurate in their ability for providing models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to changing conditions, like seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions.
"for providing" is wrong, should be "to provide"
"like X and Y" is wrong, "such as X and Y" is correct to list examples
Finally, "have become ever more accurate in their ability" is illogical, they are not more accurate "in their ability" but they are just providing more accurate models.

(E) Scientists’ ability to provide models of the atmosphere’s complex responses to such changing conditions as seasonal and daily cycles or different planetary conjunctions have become ever more accurate.
Same illogical structure as A)