The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close

Question

The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction;  its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when  the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.

(A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when
(B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when
(C) its numbers now five times more than when
(D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when 
(E) now with its numbers five greater since

Watch Out: There is a modified version of this question in  HERE

pqhai · Accepted Answer

Hi Moniriewel I'm glad to help. Note 1: for abstract numbers such as " numbers " ==> we must use " greater than ". We mean the quantity is greater, not the number itself. We CAN'T count 1 quantity, 2 quantity

Note 2: After the semicolon, we must use a clause that has its own subject and own verb. The clause after the semicolon is a dependent clause. The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's. (A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when Correct. (B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when Wrong. "fivefold" is NOT a verb. The sentence is incomplete. (C) its numbers now five times more than when Wrong. "five times more than when" is wrong comparison. (D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when Wrong. awkward sentence. (E) now with its numbers five greater since Wrong. "five greater" is wrong. In addition, we need "than" after "greater". Hope it helps.

HongHu · Answer

Notice the semicolon. The next sentence needs to be a complete sentence. Only A fits this criteria.

Folaa3 · Answer

Though (A) is the best choice, it still looks like something is wrong with (A)

qhoc0010 · Answer

OA is (A)
I don't know how to choose between (A) and (B). 
I thought the use of "times" and "-er than" is always wrong. By what I know, "times" goes with "as   as". So in (A), 

"five times greater than what" mean "its numbers are now five times as much as what they were..." because the "five times" is 

addition to "one" already.
However, in (B), it means "its numbers now" equal five multiply by "what they were". (B) means
"its numbers now" = 5 x "what they were"
And (C) means
"its numbers now" = 6 x "what they were"
How can I possibily know what the sentence supposed to mean?

HongHu · Answer

B's problem is not the use of "fivefold". It is missing a verb.

qhoc0010 · Answer

Got it! I thought "fivefold" is a verb. I was wrong. Thanks.

monirjewel · Answer

Can someone explain the question?

abrakadabra21 · Answer

@pghai --> what is the the noun for "they " here?? They refers to nothing.

sayantanc2k · Answer

The pronoun "they" refers to "numbers".

Gyrfalcon's (its) numbers now  and  its numbers (they) in the early 1970's   are compared. The two elements of comparison are:
X: its numbers (Gyrfalcon's numbers) are now....
Y: they (Gyrfalcon's numbers) were when....

22gmat · Answer

I thought a semicolon cannot function as a connector of two independent clauses, only FANBOYS?
Am I right that the two clauses are independent clauses?

Thanks.

abrakadabra21 · Answer

The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction; its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.
(A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when
(B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when
(C) its numbers now five times more than when
(D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when 
(E) now with its numbers five greater since

After semi colon there should be a complete sentence. Only A is a complete sentence. 
Greater is also better than "more" because number is not more but greater.

Numbers are more => more numbers (doesnt make sense in this context)
Number is greater => greater number

they in "A" correctly refers to "numbers"

anje29 · Answer

Semicolon is used to connect independent clauses .

HKD1710 · Answer

(A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when 
correct - subject = its numbers |verb = are |comparison - numbers now and numbers when the use of DDT...

(B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when 
this is not a sentence because there is no verb for the subject 'its numbers'. we need a clause after semi colon.

(C) its numbers now five times more than when 
same as B

(D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when  
we need a clause after semi colon.

(E) now with its numbers five greater since 
we need a clause after semi colon.

nuttyxtreme · Answer

Hi  sayantanc2k ,
Then what does "what" refer to?

gmatexam439 · Answer

The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close brush with extinction;  its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when  the use of DDT was sharply restricted in the early 1970's.

(A) its numbers are now five times greater than what they were when - Correct 
(B) its numbers now fivefold what they were when - fragment 
(C) its numbers now five times more than when - fragment 
(D) now with fivefold the numbers it had when - fragment 
(E) now with its numbers five greater since - fragment

rocko911 · Answer

Can someone explain me how can I identify if there is a verb in such long sentences or not?

in B ,

I thought 'were' is a verb but its not !

Please help me with a way I can easily identify verbs in even long sentences

Kudos to the helping hand

AliciaSierra · Answer

mikemcgarry ,  GMATNinjaTwo ,  GMATNinja ,  broall ,  Vyshak ,  hazelnut ,  generis

Why "What" is required in option A. Because of "WHAT" I rejected option A.

dabaobao · Answer

Bad modified Q of an original Q. The correct answer, which is A, in this Q is exactly the same as the wrong answer choice, which is E, in the original Q (https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-gyrfalco ... ml?kudos=1). If people have done the original Q, then might eliminate choice A because of "what" (See the original Q for why it's wrong). While this Q still provide some learning, I don't think it good to have modified Q whose correct answer is a wrong answer in the original Q.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

What's the "antecedent" of "they" in A?

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The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close

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The gyrfalcon, an arctic bird of prey, has survived a close

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards