Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 02:37 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 02:37
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
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

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
778,452
 [2]
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,452
 [2]
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 05:05
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

82% (00:57) correct 18% (01:19) wrong based on 302 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that consumers were unaware of its existence until it reached the stores and created a flurry of interest.


(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
User avatar
hiranmay
User avatar
Joined: 12 Dec 2015
Last visit: 22 Jun 2024
Posts: 459
Own Kudos:
560
 [2]
Given Kudos: 84
Posts: 459
Kudos: 560
 [2]
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 06:24
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that consumers were unaware of its existence until it reached the stores and created a flurry of interest.


(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that --> correct

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that --> A is better

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that --> what is modified by "Researched and tested"

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that --> plural subject "The research and testing" requires plural verb

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make --> read the complete sentence "as to make consumers were unaware"
User avatar
sudarshan22
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 30 Jan 2015
Last visit: 10 Nov 2019
Posts: 629
Own Kudos:
2,471
Given Kudos: 1,131
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
GPA: 3.5
Posts: 629
Kudos: 2,471
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 07:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
+1 for A.

(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that --> Correct, rectifies idiom error, and conveys intended meaning

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make

Hence, A.
avatar
bubna3number
avatar
Joined: 29 Jul 2018
Last visit: 28 Jan 2019
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
1
Schools: Cambridge"20 (S)
Schools: Cambridge"20 (S)
Posts: 6
Kudos: 1
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 09:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someplease please provide an extended explanation for option E
User avatar
sudarshan22
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 30 Jan 2015
Last visit: 10 Nov 2019
Posts: 629
Own Kudos:
2,471
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,131
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Marketing
GPA: 3.5
Posts: 629
Kudos: 2,471
 [1]
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 09:32
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bubna3number
Can someplease please provide an extended explanation for option E
Show more
bubna3number
First, we are not talking about any product in general i.e, "a product" , but "the product" that was researched and tested in specific.
Second, "as to make consumers were unaware" seems wrong, is wordy and "were" makes the sentence as a whole redundant.

Hope it helps! :thumbup:
avatar
ArupRS
avatar
Joined: 23 Jan 2018
Last visit: 02 Jul 2025
Posts: 254
Own Kudos:
248
Given Kudos: 358
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
Schools: Goizueta '26 (S) Rotman '24 Mendoza '26 (D) Questrom '26 (A$$)
GMAT 1: 640 Q48 V29
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V36 (Online)
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Goizueta '26 (S) Rotman '24 Mendoza '26 (D) Questrom '26 (A$$)
GMAT 2: 700 Q49 V36 (Online)
Posts: 254
Kudos: 248
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 07 Aug 2018, 12:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I will go with A. it is short and clear.
User avatar
Mo2men
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Last visit: 09 May 2023
Posts: 2,439
Own Kudos:
1,478
Given Kudos: 641
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Posts: 2,439
Kudos: 1,478
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 08 Aug 2018, 05:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bubna3number
Can someplease please provide an extended explanation for option E
Show more


Hi,

I would like to ad something about meaning too.

'as to verb' gives intention. In E, 'a product' (the subject) has intention to make consumers...... This is non nonsensical meaning.
User avatar
Mo2men
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Last visit: 09 May 2023
Posts: 2,439
Own Kudos:
1,478
Given Kudos: 641
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Erasmus (II)
Posts: 2,439
Kudos: 1,478
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 08 Aug 2018, 06:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that consumers were unaware of its existence until it reached the stores and created a flurry of interest.


(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make
Show more

Dear GMATGuruNY

While choice A is direct than B, I think choice B does have any grammatical or meaning issues.

Choice be in form of: So/Such + Adjective/Adverb + question style senescent.

Can you share please?
User avatar
rahul16singh28
User avatar
Joined: 31 Jul 2017
Last visit: 09 Jun 2020
Posts: 428
Own Kudos:
499
 [1]
Given Kudos: 752
Location: Malaysia
Schools: INSEAD Jan '19
GPA: 3.95
WE:Consulting (Energy)
Schools: INSEAD Jan '19
Posts: 428
Kudos: 499
 [1]
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 09 Aug 2018, 05:47
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that consumers were unaware of its existence until it reached the stores and created a flurry of interest.


(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make
Show more

Option A is correct because of usage of "its" in the statement.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
778,452
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,452
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 13 Aug 2018, 01:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that consumers were unaware of its existence until it reached the stores and created a flurry of interest.


(A) The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(B) So secretly was the product researched and tested in corporate headquarters that

(C) Researched and tested in corporate headquarters so secretly that

(D) The research and testing of the product in corporate headquarters has been so secret that

(E) A product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headquarters as to make
Show more

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:



The initial sentence is a bit indirect but it's not grammatically flawed so keep it for now. (B) and (C) give you more awkward variations of (A) so eliminate both. (D) is out because the plural subject (research and testing) doesn't agree with the singular verb (has been). Also, the verb's in the wrong tense. Finally, (E) doesn't make sense in the context of the sentence. (A) it is.

An 800 test taker lets the differences among the answer choices guide him when he's stumped, remembering that the point isn't to create a perfect sentence but to choose the best choice from the ones given.
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
User avatar
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,344
Own Kudos:
3,797
 [1]
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,344
Kudos: 3,797
 [1]
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 14 Aug 2018, 04:14
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mo2men
Dear GMATGuruNY

While choice A is direct than B, I think choice B does have any grammatical or meaning issues.

Choice be in form of: So/Such + Adjective/Adverb + question style senescent.

Can you share please?
Show more

A and B are both viable answer choices.
I would ignore this SC.
Instead, study the official SC on which the SC above is based:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/a-recording- ... fl=similar
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,832
Own Kudos:
986
Posts: 18,832
Kudos: 986
The product was so secretly researched and tested in corporate headqua 06 Oct 2022, 06:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts