Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 03:20 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 03:20
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
   1   2   3 
555-605 Level|   Conjunctions (FANBOYS)|   Idioms/Diction/Redundancy|                     
User avatar
hassan233
User avatar
Joined: 28 Dec 2020
Last visit: 16 Feb 2022
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
55
Given Kudos: 25
Location: United States
Posts: 52
Kudos: 55
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 01 Aug 2021, 11:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let's use a different domain; it may be easier to see what is happening here.

comes within the domain “connected vehicles" ==> missing something
comes within the domain of a “connected vehicles" ==> clearly wrong
comes within the domain of “connected vehicles" ==> sounds nice

I say, try not to use your ears, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do.
User avatar
hassan233
User avatar
Joined: 28 Dec 2020
Last visit: 16 Feb 2022
Posts: 52
Own Kudos:
55
 [1]
Given Kudos: 25
Location: United States
Posts: 52
Kudos: 55
 [1]
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 01 Aug 2021, 11:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A) The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror comes within the domain of “theory of mind,” thus is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition. ===> sentence fragment, what is "best studied as part of the field of animal cognition"


D) The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror comes within the domain of “theory of mind,” and thus is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition. ===> parallel

The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror
1) comes within the domain of “theory of mind,”
2) is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition.
avatar
danielddf
avatar
Joined: 21 Aug 2020
Last visit: 17 Nov 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5
Kudos: 3
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 27 Jan 2022, 13:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mikemcgarry


Hey Mike! I'm struggling with your interpretation of the "theory of mind" in letter E -> theory of mind isn't a specific theory that the author is citing? So if it's a particular theory, it will be proceeded by "the." What am I missing here?
Thanks!
User avatar
DmitryFarber
User avatar
Manhattan Prep Instructor
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Last visit: 08 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,020
Own Kudos:
8,563
 [2]
Given Kudos: 57
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 745 Q86 V90 DI85
Posts: 3,020
Kudos: 8,563
 [2]
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 29 Jan 2022, 01:44
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
danielddf

Actually, "theory of mind" is not a particular theory. It simply refers to our understanding of others as having mental states distinct from our own. (There's much debate about which species other than humans have theory of mind.) However, the GMAT won't rely on our content knowledge. As Mike and others have pointed out, there is plenty to disqualify E, and since that's the only choice with "the," we know "the" isn't needed. Honestly, it would be a little too good to be true if there were a clearly needed word that only occurred in one answer. I suppose that happens occasionally, but not much. It's more common that we decide a particular word or phrasing is needed without a strong basis for that decision, and then we end up crossing out the right answer prematurely.
avatar
danielddf
avatar
Joined: 21 Aug 2020
Last visit: 17 Nov 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 5
Kudos: 3
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 29 Jan 2022, 14:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
DmitryFarber

Awesome explanantion and insight - I didn't realize that letter E is the only option with "the".
Thanks!

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
niyatisuri
User avatar
Joined: 02 Feb 2022
Last visit: 19 Dec 2022
Posts: 37
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 12
Posts: 37
Kudos: 1
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 01 Apr 2022, 18:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello GMATNinja, egmat,

The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror comes within the domain of “theory of mind,” thus is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition.


(B) “theory of mind,” and so is best to be
(E) of the “theory of mind,” and so it is best to be

Can I say that 'It doesnt make sense to have two conjunctions to join two IC
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,445
Own Kudos:
69,782
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,445
Kudos: 69,782
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 05 Apr 2022, 07:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
niyatisuri
Hello GMATNinja, egmat,

The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror comes within the domain of “theory of mind,” thus is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition.


(B) “theory of mind,” and so is best to be
(E) of the “theory of mind,” and so it is best to be

Can I say that 'It doesnt make sense to have two conjunctions to join two IC
Show more
Interesting question. I wouldn't call "and so" a concrete error, because "so" can also be used as an adverb, meaning "thus" or "therefore." That construction could work in the right context. Better to see that the "to be" is, at best, unnecessary in both options and potentially confusing.

I hope that clears things up!
avatar
rajogmat
avatar
Joined: 18 Jan 2022
Last visit: 28 Apr 2022
Posts: 8
Given Kudos: 1
Location: India
Posts: 8
Kudos: 0
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 05 Apr 2022, 19:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a mirror comes within the domain of “theory of mind,” thus is best studied as part of the field of animal cognition.

(A) of “theory of mind,” thus is best - The word thus is interesting, it explains a consequence ( means therefore) so logically it X happens and therefore Y happens , to explain this consequence 'and' is required, without an and it looks like 2 disjoint statements.
(B) “theory of mind,” and so is best to be - Parallelism is in mess here domain of X and so - of is missing; domain of something
(C) of a “theory of mind,” thus it is best - same as A + it does have a clear referrent ( domain , behaviour or animal)
(D) of “theory of mind” and thus is best - Explains the consequence properly and explains the scenario - Look at explanation of A, and is required
(E) of the “theory of mind,” and so it is best to be - it does have a clear referrent ( domain , behaviour or animal)
avatar
SBis2022
avatar
Joined: 12 Jun 2022
Last visit: 19 Oct 2022
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 35
Posts: 5
Kudos: 3
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 25 Jun 2022, 05:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I also want to add that for option E, the use of 'and' is unnecessary because 'so', which is a conjunction, has been used already.
User avatar
TomWalker
User avatar
Joined: 04 Jul 2022
Last visit: 17 Oct 2022
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 12
Location: Canada
Schools: Judge '24
GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V41
Schools: Judge '24
GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V41
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 17 Jul 2022, 22:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mikemcgarry
Two verbs with the same subject need to be linked with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, yet, etc.).
The book explains X, covers Y. (run-on sentence)
The book explains X, and covers Y.
The book explains X, but covers Y.
Show more

Thanks for this. Very helpful!
User avatar
Akhilshah
User avatar
Joined: 08 Aug 2021
Last visit: 30 Oct 2025
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 16
Location: India
Posts: 9
Kudos: 2
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 17 Jun 2023, 10:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi GMATNinja

I think option 'c' - ( of a “theory of mind,” thus it is best) is wrong because of pronoun ambiguity and 'a' before “theory of mind,”.

", thus it is best" is the legit use as subordinate conjunction (Thus) can be used to join independent clause if it has right subject/pronoun and verb.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,
Akhil Shah
User avatar
GMATNinja
User avatar
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 7,445
Own Kudos:
69,782
Given Kudos: 2,060
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170
GRE 2: Q170 V170
Posts: 7,445
Kudos: 69,782
The type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 07 Jul 2023, 13:40
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Akhilshah
Hi GMATNinja

I think option 'c' - ( of a “theory of mind,” thus it is best) is wrong because of pronoun ambiguity and 'a' before “theory of mind,”.

", thus it is best" is the legit use as subordinate conjunction (Thus) can be used to join independent clause if it has right subject/pronoun and verb.

Your thoughts?

Thanks,

Akhil Shah
Show more
Remember that GMAT SC is about the BEST available option, not labelling individual choices as right or wrong in a vacuum.

For starters, is the "a" in (C) wrong? Maybe not, but at best it's confusing and unnecessary. The use of "a" makes it sound like there multiple "theory of mind" domains, and we're only talking about one of them -- and that's odd.

Is the pronoun in (C) wrong? Probably not, but at best it's confusing and unnecessary. (For more on how pronoun ambiguity isn't an absolute rule on the GMAT, check out this video or this newer one.)

Is the comma + "thus" in (C) wrong? Maybe not, but the parallel structure in (D) is clearer and easier to follow. Why split the sentence into two "halves" when both parts should be tied back to the same subject?

If you can convince us why the second half of (C) should be treated as a subordinate clause and not an independent clause, that's great. Regardless, there's no good reason to split the sentence into two "halves," so the comma + "thus" in (C) is at best [drumroll please] confusing and unnecessary.

I hope that helps!
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 type of behavior exhibited when an animal recognizes itself in a m 11 Oct 2024, 08:00
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.
   1   2   3 
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts