The electronics company has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s

A. to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a hand held computer, and it weighs
"It" is referring to computer rather than camcorder so this option is incorrect. Moreover "to be" makes this option passive.

B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a hand held computer, weighing
This sentence makes "which is as long as a hand held computer" as non essential clause and means that camcorder is weighing only 11 ounce. But logically speaking Camcorder length and weight both as its attribute. Moreover "to be" makes this option passive. Moreover "Which" is referring to "world".

C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a hand held computer, and it weighs
"It" is referring to computer rather than camcorder and "Which" is referring to "world", so this option is incorrect.

D. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a hand held computer and weighs.
"Which" is clearly referring to "camcorder".

E. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a hand held computer, weighing
"the length of which is that of a hand held computer" is an awkward construction. "which is as long as a hand held computer" is much better.

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 is that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and this camcorder is as long as a handheld computer and weighs less than 11 ounces.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Verb Forms + Pronouns + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• A pronoun and its derivatives can only refer to one noun in a single sentence.
• The introduction of the present participle (“verb+ing” – “weighing” in this sentence) after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + be” in this sentence) to refer to an action that takes place in the current time frame; remember, the simple present tense is used to refer to actions that take place in the current time frame. Further, the sentence formed by Option A incorrectly uses the pronoun “it” to refer to both “the electronics company” and “camcorder”; remember, a pronoun and its derivatives can only refer to one noun in a single sentence. Additionally, Option A uses the needlessly wordy clauses “the length of which is that of a handheld computer” and “and it weighs…”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb” – “to + be” in this sentence) to refer to an action that takes place in the current time frame; remember, the simple present tense is used to refer to actions that take place in the current time frame. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “weighing less than 11 ounces”; the use of the “comma + present participle (“verb+ing” – “weighing” in this sentence)” construction incorrectly implies that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and as a result, the company weighs less than 11 ounces; the intended meaning is that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and as a separate action, this camcorder weighs less than 11 ounces; remember, the introduction of the present participle (“verb+ing” – “weighing” in this sentence) after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Additionally, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase "the smallest network digital camcorder in the world", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: The sentence formed by this answer choice incorrectly uses the pronoun “it” to refer to both “the electronics company” and “camcorder”; remember, a pronoun and its derivatives can only refer to one noun in a single sentence. Further, Option C uses the needlessly wordy constructions “the smallest network digital camcorder in the world” and “and it weighs…”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “and weighs less than 11 ounces”, conveying the intended meaning – that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and as a separate action, this camcorder weighs less than 11 ounces. Further, the sentence formed by Option D correctly uses the pronoun “it” to refer to just one noun – “the electronics company”. Additionally, Option D correctly refers to an action that takes place in the current time frame with the simple present tense verb “is”. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “weighing less than 11 ounces”; the use of the “comma + present participle (“verb+ing” – “weighing” in this sentence)” construction incorrectly implies that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and as a result, the company weighs less than 11 ounces; the intended meaning is that the electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, and as a separate action, this camcorder weighs less than 11 ounces; remember, the introduction of the present participle (“verb+ing” – “weighing” in this sentence) after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Further, Option E uses the needlessly wordy clause “the length of which is that of a handheld computer”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

claims and 'to be' go well together.
I dont see anything wrong (gramatically) with A or D.

I would go with A (original) in that case.

A. The electronics company has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs less than 11 ounces.

D. The electronics company has unveiled what it is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a handheld computer and weighs less than 11 ounces.

B,C-- out becuase which modifies the world instead of camcorder.
E -- it talks about weighing handled computer not digital camcorder
A -- its not clear whether it repsents handled computer or digital camcorder


I will chose D.

A. to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs
B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing
C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, and it weighs
D. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a handheld computer and weighs
E. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, weighing


I got the answer in about 30 seconds. D.

So, scan the ends, and go through the choices shortest to longest.

Start with D:

the which properly refers to camcorder, and if you ellipse which with is and weighs, it is correct. D has no grammatical flaws, and is short and concise, let's hold onto it.

E. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, weighing
E: correct-- but 'length of which' is a bit wordy. D does the same thing but is shorter and more concise.

C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, and it weighs
WRONG-- which refers to WORLD. Completely wrong.

B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing
WRONG-- same thing, WHICH refers to WORLD.

A. to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs
It works, but D is more concise.


Hence the answer is D.

Even though claims to be is the correct idiom, the errors in (A) and (B) are so conspicuous, that I will refrain from picking them as answer choices.
Besides, there is nothing wrong in using "The electronics company has unveiled what it claims is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder"

claim(s) to be >>>> correct idiom. So, A and B left.

I am not clear on the usage of WHICH in B as it is modifying EARTH. Even if you remove the non-essential part from B, which is as long as a handheld computer,, the participle weighing modifies WORLD, which is still awkward placement.

Can someone explain on this usage?

OA is D,
Check out this link:

https://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/use ... t1766.html

Answer b and a can not be OA, because in that choice we have two problems. First of all,
to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs

it is very ambigious, it could equally refer to computer and camcorder.

B.to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing

In B, which is incorrectly modifying world, and weighting incorrectly is modifying computer
Hope that helps.

Sujit2k7-

The GMAT generally tries to avoid 'stacking' modifiers one after another, but the key issue in option B is with the word 'which'. On the GMAT, 'which' is a noun modifier and it must modify the noun it's 'touching' - in this case the noun would be world. The 'which' phrase in option B is clearly not meant to modify the world, so this option is illogical and incorrect.

KW

Thanks for your reply .
But 'in the world' just modifying which can't be placed anywhere else in the same sentence. I think there are so many problems where the touching rule is violated if there is something essential before the modifier.

please correct me if wrong..

The GMAT is strict about it's treatment of 'which'. 'Which' will modify the noun it touches. In your example, the phrase 'in the world' can't be effectively moved as-is, but you can change the phrase and retain the same meaning with 'the world's smallest' - the phrase used in options A, D, and E.

KW

Posted from my mobile device

Is "claim to be" always wrong?

Not always, Manhattan SC describes it as "suspect". I.e. it can be correct if it is the best AC.
Always wrong: Claim sh as...
Always correct: Claim sb a friend.


Are you saying that the touch rule can be violated and the sentence will still be fully correct? Can the rule be neglected? I am a bit confused now!

Hi HumptyDumpty,

All three examples that I have posted in my response are the correct version of the official problems. This means that none of the sentence breaks any rules of modification. Each of them complies to the rule. It's just that general understanding about the rule is little limited.

Please review the article in the following like to understand when noun modifiers can modify a slightly far away noun and when they cannot:
noun-modifiers-can-modify-slightly-far-away-noun-135868.html

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha

The electronics company has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs less than 11 ounces.

Intended meaning:
The electronics company has unveiled SNDC.
SNDC is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder.
SNDC is as long as a handheld computer and weighs less than 11 ounces.

A. to be the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, and it weighs
>>Distorts the intended meaning; it weighs is made || to main clause.
B. to be the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, weighing
>>Distorts the intended meaning as per coma + ing rule.
C. is the smallest network digital camcorder in the world, which is as long as a handheld computer, and it weighs
>>Same as A
D. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, which is as long as a handheld computer and weighs
E. is the world’s smallest network digital camcorder, the length of which is that of a handheld computer, weighing
>>Same as B.


Claim to be Vs Claim is: [Courtesy MGMAT]

I still don't get the rule. Could someone please explain when to use "claim to be" and when to use "claim is"?
I am pretty sure I have heard sentences like "She claims to be the king's daughter", and cannot understand on what context it becomes "claims is the king's daughter".

Stelle wrote


The answer lies how confident the company is about the claim; if the company feels very confident, then it can forthrightly declare that ‘it claims is’. On the contrary, if it is a little hesitant, then it might say that ‘it claims to be’; however both expressions are correct in their own right. Only thing, in the current context, ‘claims is’ more appropriate since the company is quite candid in its claim.