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The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin

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Bunuel
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The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   07 May 2021, 08:30
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A
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E

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25% (medium)

Question Stats:

63% (00:49) correct 37% (01:02) wrong based on 156 sessions
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The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or
B. can be a failure to function or
C. describes the failure to function of
D. is often used to describe a failure to function or
E. describes a failure to function or
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Bunuel
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   14 May 2021, 08:45
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or

Incorrect.

This answer choice is illogical. The subject of the sentence is The term "malfunction", not an actual malfunction. A malfunction (not the term malfunction) is the failure to function or abnormal functioning. The term malfunction refers to/defines/describes this failure.

What helps us identify this mistake is the following Stop Sign:

The word/term... (it) is...

Whenever we see this Stop Sign, we know that the topic that the question checks is pronouns, specifically using refers to/defines/describes after the word/term (and not is).


B. can be a failure to function or

Incorrect.

This answer choice repeats the original Pronoun mistake. The subject of the sentence is The term malfunction, not an actual malfunction. A malfunction (not the term malfunction) is the failure to function or abnormal functioning. The term malfunction refers to/defines/describes this failure.


C. describes the failure to function of

Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the Pronoun error of the original sentence, it changes its meaning: the failure of abnormal functioning is not the same as the failure or abnormal functioning. In GMAT Sentence Correction, attention to details is paramount.

The lesson to be learned here is not to automatically choose the first answer choice that corrects the original mistake. Remember that in Sentence Correction questions, we do not choose a correct answer but rather eliminate four incorrect answer choices and choose the last one standing.

After eliminating answer choices that repeat the original mistake (if there is one), you have to go over all the remaining answer choices carefully and compare them word for word. This is the only way you'll be able to correctly eliminate all but one of them.

D. is often used to describe a failure to function or

Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the original Pronoun mistake, it unnecessarily changes its meaning, by adding the word often.


E. describes a failure to function or

This answer choice corrects the logical mistake in the original sentence. The subject of the sentence is The term malfunction, not an actual malfunction. A malfunction (not the term malfunction) is the failure to function or abnormal functioning. The term malfunction refers to/defines/describes this failure.
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   11 May 2021, 14:09
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The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or
B. can be a failure to function or
C. describes the failure to function of
D. is often used to describe a failure to function or
E. describes a failure to function or

A bit tricky question

The first thing to notice is "the term". So we need something that whos what this term does or explain

The options that contain "describes " are the best.

However, between C and E we do have "the" failure vs "a failure". here we need the description in general of all failure, not THE failure, which means the main failure.

E is the best option
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   11 May 2021, 22:14
Bunuel wrote:
The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or
B. can be a failure to function or
C. describes the failure to function of- Need or instead of "of"
D. is often used to describe a failure to function or-Redundant as other short concise version is present.
E. describes a failure to function or


I am confused between "A" and "E" but i think in "E" describe is not correct to define malfunction.

So "A" i think is the answer.
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   11 May 2021, 22:45
jrk23 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or
B. can be a failure to function or
C. describes the failure to function of- Need or instead of "of"
D. is often used to describe a failure to function or-Redundant as other short concise version is present.
E. describes a failure to function or


I am confused between "A" and "E" but i think in "E" describe is not correct to define malfunction.

So "A" i think is the answer.


I think you have focussed more on the literal meaning of "malfunction" to arrive at choice A.
Just ask yourself, what can a term do?

Note 1: A term refers/describes an action/a feature/an incident etc.
Note 2 : Whenever you see linking verbs (e.g. Is,are,seem,appear etc) ,you place equals (=) there and see if it's meaningful.


Here, A term (be it anything) CAN'T be a failure itself.

The choice A basically says that :
Malfunction = a failure to function.
But,
actually it should be
Malfunction implies to a failure to function
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   11 May 2021, 23:32
The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functioning.

A. is a failure to function or Incorrect

B. can be a failure to function or Incorrect

C. describes the failure to function of Incorrect

D. is often used to describe a failure to function or Incorrect

E. describes a failure to function or Incorrect

A term cant be a failure; A/the term must always be refers to / describe something
eliminate A & B

In C -' ..........the failure to function of abnormal functioning' changes meaning and sounds awkward; eliminate

In D 'often used to ' changes meaning and redundant, so eliminate

Answer E
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink] New post   12 May 2021, 07:26
with the word " term" i think we should use describe so, between C and E, E is the best option becuase of ''of'' in option C.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
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Re: The term "malfunction" is a failure to function or abnormal functionin [#permalink]
12 May 2021, 07:26
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