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The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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13 Oct 2008, 06:03
2
6
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A
B
C
D
E
Difficulty:
65% (hard)
Question Stats:
52% (00:57) correct 48% (01:06) wrong based on 688 sessions
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The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that.
(A) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that
(B) having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, costly previously
(C) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity
(D) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, whereas it had previously been costly
(E) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one
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13 Oct 2008, 18:46
I will go with E
a) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that b) having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, costly previously c) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity d) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, whereas it had previously been costly e) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one
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13 Feb 2010, 09:33
SudiptoGmat wrote:
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that.
A. being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that B· having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive C· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense D· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive E· being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one .
I didnt understand the sentence structure itself.
It looks more like the invention turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive instead of cotton gin turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive
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05 Mar 2010, 11:14
i think the correct answer should be C,because it correctly modifies "the invention of cotton gin" moreover C is most concise and clear in meaning....which i feel
i may be wrong ...if u feel so pls let me know
plus i think 'THE INVENTION OF COTTON GIN" IS WRONGLY UNDERLINED
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07 Apr 2010, 10:24
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1
Good points by lionslion.
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that.
A. being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that - being is incorrect. "had turned" is wrong. Invention turned cotton into an affordable commodity later but the commodity had been expensive before
B· having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive - "having been..." correctly modifies invention. correct tense usage
C· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense - "one of...." incorrectly modifies cotton gin. the part after comma is awkward
D· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive - "one of...." incorrectly modifies cotton gin. the part after comma is wordy
E· being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one - being is wrong. the part after comma does not sound right to me.
Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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08 Jul 2010, 09:37
1
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that.
A being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that - "expensive before that" is awkward
B having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive - "having been" is incorrect.
C one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense - "despite its previous expense" is incorrect
D one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive - "one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century" correctly modifies "The invention of coitton gin". correct tense usage. "had previously been expensive" and then invention "turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity"
E being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one - "to an affordable one" is awkward
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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20 Jul 2010, 21:17
I choose C for the reasons listed below.
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that.
A being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that "had turned" is the past particle form of the verb turn, only one action occurs in this sentence so we only need the simple past "turned"
B having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive
"having been" is unnecessarily wordy
C one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense
D one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive
'despite the fact that it had previously been expensive' is too wordy. Choice C has the same meaning
E being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one 'being one' in unnecessary 'to' is an incorrect idiom, should be in the form 'turned from A into B'
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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12 Aug 2010, 08:15
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A being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that
B having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive
C one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense
D one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive
E being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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13 Aug 2010, 21:54
RGM wrote:
For me, I'd choose E. The "it" in the other choices could refer to the cotton gin or to cotton, making it ambiguous.
I don't believe E uses the proper idiom. You don't "turn A to B" you "turn A into B".
Answer must be D, as C is incorrect by stating "despite its previous expense". Expense becomes a noun here, rather than adjective (expensive), as in "he made an expense".
What's the OA and where does the question come from?
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that.
a) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity; it was costly before that b) having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, costly previously c) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable, however costly previously, commodity d) one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity, whereas it had previously been costly e) being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously costly commodity to an affordable one
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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12 Feb 2011, 00:55
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I am afraid the topic and the choices are poorly worded and one can find a terrible uncertainty about pronoun in four of the choices. Whether the topic can stand the rigor of GMAT is indeed doubtful
A being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into anaffordable commodity even ‘though it was’ expensive before that …… What was expensive before? Is it invention or cotton gin or development or cloth or commodity? Very ambiguous pronoun.
B having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though ‘it had previously been’ expensive …… same as A
C one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite ‘its' previous expense’ ….. what does ‘its’ stand for? And again ‘its previous expense’ is menaingless.
D one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that ‘it had previously been’ expensive--- same as A and B
E being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one … The participle ‘being’ may indicate that the development is a contemporary one and still holds good. But it is a thing of past. In the context, it is also redundant. However, If we can tolerate the use of ‘being’, perhaps E can make the grade somewhat as passable. But GMAT may not accept it. _________________
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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12 Feb 2011, 19:00
"the fact that " is almost always wrong. If I see a SC like this I will mark E. "being" is almost always wrong. But its a lesser evil than pronoun ambiguity "it" in D.
I agree with below post.
daagh wrote:
I am afraid the topic and the choices are poorly worded and one can find a terrible uncertainty about pronoun in four of the choices. Whether the topic can stand the rigor of GMAT is indeed doubtful
A being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into anaffordable commodity even ‘though it was’ expensive before that …… What was expensive before? Is it invention or cotton gin or development or cloth or commodity? Very ambiguous pronoun.
B having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though ‘it had previously been’ expensive …… same as A
C one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite ‘its' previous expense’ ….. what does ‘its’ stand for? And again ‘its previous expense’ is menaingless.
D one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that ‘it had previously been’ expensive--- same as A and B
E being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one … The participle ‘being’ may indicate that the development is a contemporary one and still holds good. But it is a thing of past. In the context, it is also redundant. However, If we can tolerate the use of ‘being’, perhaps E can make the grade somewhat as passable. But GMAT may not accept it.
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14 Nov 2011, 20:12
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D for me too. I eliminate all choice contain "being" in this sentence. What's the OA? Moreover, I can assume that if 'being' can be used here, 'being' will modify the invention, not the 'cotton bin' (the intended target need modifying). The phrase between two comma will take the role of 'mission critical' modifier, according to MGMAT SC page 234
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14 Feb 2012, 16:16
I picked D also, but now I think this could be the explanation:
The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that.
A. being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that B· having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive C· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite- it shows intention but in this case doesn't fit the actual meaning its previous expense D· one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive E· being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one
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Re: The invention of the cotton gin, being one of the most significant dev
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22 Sep 2012, 01:37
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1. The textual underlining is wrong: it should start from being.
2. Here we must assume that the pronoun- it -refers to the cotton cloth and not to the invention nor gin. Because it is an invention, gin has no previousness. Secondly a gin or invention is never a commodity while the cloth is
A. being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, had turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it was expensive before that ----- had turned and was expensive are wrong tenses.
B• having been one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity even though it had previously been expensive. – Best choice with the correct phrase - having been - used in this context
C• one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite its previous expense ----- previous expense ---- wrong diction
D• one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth into an affordable commodity despite the fact that it had previously been expensive ----- despite the fact –verbose
E• being one of the most significant developments of the nineteenth century, turned cotton cloth from a previously expensive commodity to an affordable one---being carries an element of eternity and timelessness. Being implies that the invention is even today one of the best. Having been limits the event to just 19th century and hence is better.
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52% (00:57) correct 
but now I think this could be the explanation:
