Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Nov 2007:30 AM PST
-08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 2211:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Do RC/MSR passages scare you? e-GMAT is conducting a masterclass to help you learn – Learn effective reading strategies Tackle difficult RC & MSR with confidence Excel in timed test environment- Nov 23
11:00 AM IST
-01:00 PM IST
Attend this free GMAT Algebra Webinar and learn how to master the most challenging Inequalities and Absolute Value problems with ease. 
Nov 2510:00 AM EST
-11:00 AM EST
Prefer video-based learning? The Target Test Prep OnDemand course is a one-of-a-kind video masterclass featuring 400 hours of lecture-style teaching by Scott Woodbury-Stewart, founder of Target Test Prep and one of the most accomplished GMAT instructors.
22 Sep 2023, 01:30
Kudos
Bookmarks
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
77% (01:12) correct
23%
(01:00)
wrong
based on 122
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The Phlogiston theory attempted to explain combustion in terms of the release of a “heat substance” from the burning material, but that theory was inconsistent with the increase in mass of the oxides resulting from combustion.
(A) that theory was inconsistent with the increase in mass of the oxides
(B) that theory was inconsistent to the increasing mass of the oxides
(C) that this theory was inconsistent with more mass for the oxides
(D) that this theory was inconsistent for increasing the oxides mass
(E) that theory had inconsistencies in the larger masses of the oxides
(A) that theory was inconsistent with the increase in mass of the oxides
(B) that theory was inconsistent to the increasing mass of the oxides
(C) that this theory was inconsistent with more mass for the oxides
(D) that this theory was inconsistent for increasing the oxides mass
(E) that theory had inconsistencies in the larger masses of the oxides
mialanknox
Joined: 15 May 2019
Last visit: 19 Oct 2025
Posts: 141
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99
Location: Switzerland
Concentration: Finance, General Management
Schools: Wharton '26 CBS '26 Kellogg '26 Booth '26
GPA: 4
WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)
23 Sep 2023, 01:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
Bunuel
The key to solving this question is understanding the intended meaning and correct tense.
Intended meaning: The P theory explains combustion in terms of the release of a "heat substance" from the burning material, but this theory seems inconsistent when it is used to explain combustion in terms of the release of "a heat substance with a greater/larger mass".
(A) that theory was inconsistent with the increase in mass of the oxides - The theory was consistent with normal mass in heat substance but not consistent with the increase in mass. We need to use "greater mass". The use of "increase in" does not convey the intended meaning.
(B) that theory was inconsistent to the increasing mass of the oxides - Idiom issue. Inconsistent to is incorrect idiom. Meaning-wise, the theory here is equated with mass which is illogical.
(C) that this theory was inconsistent with more mass for the oxides - The comparison is correct with the use of the correct idiom. Mass is an uncountable noun, and more is used for uncountable nouns so the use of more to modify mass is correct. Meaning-wise, the sentence conveys the intended meaning. Also, the use of this is to refer to the P theory but there is only 1 theory in discussion so between this and that one is redundant. The Tense used is simple past tense which is incorrect because the timing of which action came first is questionable. Attempted was first or inconsistent was first?
(D) that this theory was inconsistent for increasing the oxides mass - Idiom issue. Inconsistent for increasing tells us that theory was doing this action which is illogical. We intend to say the theory was merely explaining A (normal mass) but was not explaining B (greater mass).
(E) that theory had inconsistencies in the larger masses of the oxides - a) Tense - Correct. Attempted - first act, but the theory had inconsistencies - second act, b) larger masses - correct use of adjective - larger or greater mass(es) (think of weight) is correct, c) Intended meaning is clearly conveyed - the theory attempted to explain ....normal mass... but that theory had inconsistencies in the larger masses.
Therefore, option E is the correct answer.
01 Oct 2023, 18:00
Kudos
Bookmarks
Bunuel
Magoosh Official Explanation:
Split #1: In this sentence, the word “that” is in its role as a demonstrative adjective, so it should simply modify a noun. We don’t need a dependent clause — after the “but“, we simply need another independent clause. Choice (C) & (D) use the word “that” as a subordinate conjunction, which is not appropriate here; those two choices are incorrect.
Split #2: idiom with “inconsistent.” The correct idiom is “inconsistent with.” Choices (B) & (D) & (E) use the wrong idiom and are incorrect.
The only possible answer is choice (A).
