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Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
84% (01:39) correct
16%
(01:48)
wrong
based on 313
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The idea of using plants, both transgenic as well as unmodified, to clean the atmosphere inside buildings had been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the higher number of plants required per unit area for effective cleaning.
(A) idea of using plants, both transgenic as well as unmodified, to clean the atmosphere inside buildings had been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the higher number of plants required
(B) idea of using plants, both transgenic and unmodified, to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required
(C) idea of using plants, transgenic, and unmodified to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the requirement of high number of plants
(D) idea of using plants inside buildings, both transgenic and unmodified, to clean the atmosphere has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high requirement of number of plants
(E) partially successful idea of using plants, transgenic as well as unmodified, for cleaning the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades because of the high number of plants required
(A) idea of using plants, both transgenic as well as unmodified, to clean the atmosphere inside buildings had been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the higher number of plants required
(B) idea of using plants, both transgenic and unmodified, to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required
(C) idea of using plants, transgenic, and unmodified to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the requirement of high number of plants
(D) idea of using plants inside buildings, both transgenic and unmodified, to clean the atmosphere has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high requirement of number of plants
(E) partially successful idea of using plants, transgenic as well as unmodified, for cleaning the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades because of the high number of plants required
27 Mar 2020, 08:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:
The sentence uses incorrect idiom both X as well as Y.
The correct idiom is both X and Y. Use of the comparative word higher is incorrect because there is no comparison intended.
Use of past perfect tense verb had been is incorrect because the idea has existed for a long period of time and is still around.
(A) Incorrect
Errors: as discussed above
(B) Correct
This choice rectifies all the errors of Choice A and clearly conveys the intended meaning.
(C) Incorrect
Parallelism Error leading to Meaning Error:
1. Per this choice, the noun plants and the adjectives transgenic and unmodified make a list.
2. This list is neither grammatical nor logical.
3. The two adjectives are meant to modify the plants.
(D) Incorrect
Modifier Errors:
1. The idiom both… illogically modifies the preceding noun buildings.
2. Change in the placement of the phrase inside buildings no more conveys that the idea is to clean the atmosphere specifically inside buildings.
Meaning Error:
1. Per the original sentence, the number of plants must be high. Per this choice, the requirement is high.
(E) Incorrect
Meaning Errors:
1. Placement of partially successful before idea distorts the intended meaning. The idea of using plants has been around for some time now. When the idea came into existence, it was not partially successful. Hence, we cannot say that the partially successful idea has been around for decades.
2. The original sentence presents the reason for why the ideas has been partially successful. This choice presents the reason for why the idea has been around for many years.
Idiom Error:
1. The correct idiom is the idea to do something and not the idea for doing something. Hence, the usage of for cleaning is incorrect.
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The sentence uses incorrect idiom both X as well as Y.
The correct idiom is both X and Y. Use of the comparative word higher is incorrect because there is no comparison intended.
Use of past perfect tense verb had been is incorrect because the idea has existed for a long period of time and is still around.
(A) Incorrect
Errors: as discussed above
(B) Correct
This choice rectifies all the errors of Choice A and clearly conveys the intended meaning.
(C) Incorrect
Parallelism Error leading to Meaning Error:
1. Per this choice, the noun plants and the adjectives transgenic and unmodified make a list.
2. This list is neither grammatical nor logical.
3. The two adjectives are meant to modify the plants.
(D) Incorrect
Modifier Errors:
1. The idiom both… illogically modifies the preceding noun buildings.
2. Change in the placement of the phrase inside buildings no more conveys that the idea is to clean the atmosphere specifically inside buildings.
Meaning Error:
1. Per the original sentence, the number of plants must be high. Per this choice, the requirement is high.
(E) Incorrect
Meaning Errors:
1. Placement of partially successful before idea distorts the intended meaning. The idea of using plants has been around for some time now. When the idea came into existence, it was not partially successful. Hence, we cannot say that the partially successful idea has been around for decades.
2. The original sentence presents the reason for why the ideas has been partially successful. This choice presents the reason for why the idea has been around for many years.
Idiom Error:
1. The correct idiom is the idea to do something and not the idea for doing something. Hence, the usage of for cleaning is incorrect.
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13 Oct 2021, 03:37
Kudos
Bookmarks
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 the idea of using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required per unit area.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Tenses + Idioms + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The comparative forms are used to compare two elements and superlative forms are used to compare more than two elements.
• A list separated by commas represents similar elements; in this case, the three phrases involved have different roles in the correct meaning of the sentence.
• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
• For referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" – “to + clean” in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) construction.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had been around" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "both A ("transgenic" in this sentence) as well as B ("unmodified" in this sentence); please remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the comparative form "higher", when no comparison is being made; please remember, the comparative forms are used to compare two elements.
B: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies the noun "plants" with the phrase "both transgenic and unmodified", conveying the intended meaning - that the idea involves using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings. Moreover, Option B uses the phrase "has been only partially successful...cleaning", conveying the intended meaning - that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades and has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required. Further, Option B correctly uses the present perfect tense verb "has been around" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present. Additionally, Option B correctly uses the idiomatic construction "both A ("transgenic" in this sentence) and B ("unmodified" in this sentence)". Moreover, Option B uses the the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" - "to + clean" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "using plants". Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
C: This answer choice incorrectly places the noun "plants" and the adjectives "transgenic" and "unmodified" together in a list separated by commas, although "plants" is a noun and "transgenic" and "unmodified" are modifiers meant to modify "plants"; please remember, a list separated by commas represents similar elements; in this case, the three words involved have different roles in the correct meaning of the sentence. Further, Option C uses the passive voice construction "requirement of high number of plants", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
D: This answer choice incorrectly modifies "buildings" with the phrase "both transgenic and unmodified", illogically implying that the the idea involves using plants inside both transgenic and unmodified building to clean the entire atmosphere; the intended meaning is that the idea involves using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings; please remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "high requirement of number of plants", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "has been around...because of the high number...cleaning"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings is partially successful and has been around for decades because of the high number of plants required; the intended meaning is that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades and has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required. Further, Option E uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "using plants"; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) construction.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Infinitive" versus "Present Participle" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
carma19
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 the idea of using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades but has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required per unit area.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Tenses + Idioms + Verb Forms + Awkwardness/Redundancy
• The present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present.
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The comparative forms are used to compare two elements and superlative forms are used to compare more than two elements.
• A list separated by commas represents similar elements; in this case, the three phrases involved have different roles in the correct meaning of the sentence.
• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable.
• For referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" – “to + clean” in this sentence) is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) construction.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had been around" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present; please remember, the present perfect tense (marked by the use of the helping verb “has/have”) is used to describe events that concluded in the past but continue to affect the present, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Further, Option A incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "both A ("transgenic" in this sentence) as well as B ("unmodified" in this sentence); please remember, “both A and B" or "A as well as B" are the correct usages; A and B must be parallel and comparable. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the comparative form "higher", when no comparison is being made; please remember, the comparative forms are used to compare two elements.
B: Correct. This answer choice correctly modifies the noun "plants" with the phrase "both transgenic and unmodified", conveying the intended meaning - that the idea involves using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings. Moreover, Option B uses the phrase "has been only partially successful...cleaning", conveying the intended meaning - that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades and has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required. Further, Option B correctly uses the present perfect tense verb "has been around" to refer to an action that concluded in the past but continues to affect the present. Additionally, Option B correctly uses the idiomatic construction "both A ("transgenic" in this sentence) and B ("unmodified" in this sentence)". Moreover, Option B uses the the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb" - "to + clean" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "using plants". Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
C: This answer choice incorrectly places the noun "plants" and the adjectives "transgenic" and "unmodified" together in a list separated by commas, although "plants" is a noun and "transgenic" and "unmodified" are modifiers meant to modify "plants"; please remember, a list separated by commas represents similar elements; in this case, the three words involved have different roles in the correct meaning of the sentence. Further, Option C uses the passive voice construction "requirement of high number of plants", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
D: This answer choice incorrectly modifies "buildings" with the phrase "both transgenic and unmodified", illogically implying that the the idea involves using plants inside both transgenic and unmodified building to clean the entire atmosphere; the intended meaning is that the idea involves using both transgenic and unmodified plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings; please remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "high requirement of number of plants", rendering it awkward and needlessly indirect.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "has been around...because of the high number...cleaning"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings is partially successful and has been around for decades because of the high number of plants required; the intended meaning is that the idea to use plants to clean the atmosphere inside buildings has been around for decades and has been only partially successful because of the high number of plants required. Further, Option E uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose of the action "using plants"; please remember, for referring to the purpose or intent of an action, the infinitive verb form (“to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "cleaning" in this sentence) construction.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.
To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Infinitive" versus "Present Participle" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
