The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the use of the bar code has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Pronouns + Grammatical Construction

• If a list has only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.
• Semicolons or "comma + conjunction" are used for introducing an independent clause.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun phrase "The use of the bar code" with the plural verb phrase "have become readily accepted".

B: This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error, as the pronoun "they" lacks a clear and logical referent.

C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun phrase "The use of the bar code" with the plural verb phrase "have become readily accepted".

D: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun phrase "The use of the bar code" with the singular verb phrase "has become readily accepted". Further, Option D avoids the pronoun error seen in Option B, as it uses no pronouns. Moreover, Option D uses the clause "The use of the bar code...has been readily accepted", conveying the intended meaning - that the practice of using bar codes has become readily accepted. Additionally, Option D correctly uses conjunction ("and" in this sentence) to join two elements in a list - the verb phrases "has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets" and "has become readily accepted...1974"; remember, if a list has only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "bar codes have become readily accepted"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that bar codes, themselves, have become readily accepted; the intended meaning is that the practice of using bar codes has become readily accepted. Further, Option E incorrectly uses conjunction ("and" in this case) to join the independent clauses "The use of the bar code...has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets" and "bar codes have become readily accepted...1974"; please remember, semicolons or "comma + conjunction" are used for introducing an independent clause.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one issue at a time, to find the correct option! Before we dive in, here is the original question with any major differences highlighted in orange:

The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974.

(A) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974
(B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974
(C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974
(D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974
(E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974

After a quick glance over each option, a couple major differences jump out at us:

1. have become vs. has become (verb tense)
2. it/they/the bar code (pronoun-antecedent agreement)

Let's start with #1 on our list, which is choosing the right verb tense. If we look at the original sentence, we see that there are two things that bar codes did for supermarkets:

The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974.

Whenever we're talking about two characteristics, properties, items, etc. they MUST use parallel structure and consistent verb tenses! Since the first part uses "has expanded," we need to use the same wording (has + verb) to match. Let's see how each option stacks up:

(A) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974
(B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974
(C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974
(D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974
(E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974

We can eliminate options A, C, and E because they don't uses consistent verb tense/wording for both phrases.

Now that we're only left with 2 options, let's tackle #2 on our list: pronouns! Whenever we're dealing with pronouns, we must make sure the pronouns are clear and refer back to the right antecedent. Let's see how each option handles this:

(B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974

This option is INCORRECT because it's not 100% clear what "they" is referring to: bar codes, supermarkets, retail outlets, customers, etc? Since the writer didn't make it absolutely clear, we can rule this one out.

(D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974

This is CORRECT because the writer makes it absolutely clear that bar codes were introduced in 1974, and nothing else! When you have so many nouns that a pronoun could refer back to, sometimes it's best to just repeat the antecedent instead of replacing it with a pronoun. It also uses consistent wording/verb tense throughout.

There you have it - option D is the best choice!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

D is the correct answer
no SVA, pronoun ambiguity

The use of barcode has expanded and has become readily accepted. 'Has' is required to maintain parallelism and SV agreement. A, C and E are out.

B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974 . Barcode is singular, and its not clear what 'they' is referring to.

Choice 'D' is the right answer

Correct answer must be (D) , for correct Pronoun usage ...

The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974.

Exploring option (E)

The use of the barcode, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and bar codes have become readily accepted despite initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974.

Check carefully, option (E) has Pronoun Antecedent error as highlighted above...

Can someone explain why E is wrong. It appeared to me that "bar code become more accepted" makes more sense than "use of bar code become more accepted" !!

However, that also changes the intended meaning. Otherwise D.

Hi experts and GMATNinja

Option D is the best choice but is this construction correct:

The use of bar code has become readily accepted.............

The subject 'use' does not really makes sense as it won't be correct to say that 'use' has become readily accepted.

I assume that 'use' is the subject of both the verbs because the two verbs 'has expanded' and 'has become' are connected using 'and'.


Please explain if this understanding is correct or not?


Thanks

Hey woohoo921

Happy to answer your questions on choice D.

Choice D: The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974.




"has become" vs "is":

Shift and Conflict in Meaning: The verb "is" conveys a fact limited to the present. So, when we say "The use of the bar code is readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974" we create a conflict in meaning. How can the use of the bar code be readily accepted when there was some initial opposition? The fact that there was some initial opposition implies that earlier it wasn't readily accepted. The acceptance has grown over time. There has been a transition in its level of acceptance. Hence, we must use a verb that conveys this change of state. So, "has become" is not only not redundant, it's also essential to the meaning of the sentence.

"first introduced" vs "introduced":

Meaning Analysis: Although you're right that "introduced" means "brought into operation for the first time", this is NOT the only meaning of the word "introduced". As per meanings 9 and 10 in the Oxford Dictionary, "introduced" also means "to put something into something". So, 'first' is not automatically implied by the word "introduced" in certain meanings.

That said, in this context, there is an important clue you've missed. The sentence says that "the use of the bar code has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets". So, clearly, haven't there been multiple introductions of the bar code...first in supermarkets, and then in retail outlets? If this is clearly the case, doesn't it make sense to say "first introduced in 1974" to make it clear that we're talking about the first time the bar code was used anywhere?

To conclude, no, these expressions are not redundant. Words/phrases/expressions are considered redundant only when they repeat identical information. Neither of the above classifies as identical information. In order to master this ability to spot redundancy, you must strengthen your ability to analyze meaning closely.


I hope this helps.

Happy Learning!

Abhishek

Please tag me, if u find any other error

I have the same doubt as Shiv 2016 above

The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974.

A) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974 - Subject-verb agreement issue
B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974 - plural pronoun “they” refers to singular “bar code”
C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974 - Subject-verb agreement issue
D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974 - Correct
E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974 - use of singular pronoun “it” is incorrect since this option uses plural “bar codes” ; also we need , and to connect two independent clauses

Answer D

Apart from other issues, major elimination may happen on the basis of S-V agreement.
The parallelism is on the basis of Universal Product Code, hence "have" being a plural verb form, doesn't go with it.
A, C and E go out.


Pronoun Ambiguity: What does it refer to? Opposition or bar code?


What does They refer to? Logical referent should be "either bar code, or Universal Product Code", but "bar code, or Universal Product Code" is singular.
Also they seem to refer to opposition here.

(C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974


Tense
No Pronoun ambiguity.
Best Choice


There isn't any need to mention BAR CODES, destroys parallelism....

The use of the bar code, or Universal Product Code, which was created in part to enable supermarkets to process customers at a faster rate, has expanded beyond supermarkets to other retail outlets and have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974.

(A) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974( use of have incorrect): as its not parallel and if you will see the non-underline part. There they have used has. So its a clue for those who are getting confuse between have and has. So right answer should be HAS)

(B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974( They????? to whom its referring. So wrong)

(C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974( use of have incorrect): as its not parallel and if you will see the non-underline part. There they have used has. So its a clue for those who are getting confuse between have and has. So right answer should be HAS)

(D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974. ( Correct. if you will compare B and D. In place of THEY. they have clearly mentioned the bar code( now its clear to whom its referring)

(E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974( use of have incorrect): as its not parallel and if you will see the non-underline part. There they have used has. So its a clue for those who are getting confuse between have and has. So right answer should be HAS)

in choice (E), there is a typo. The word "some" is missing here. The original from OG is given bellow.

(E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974

Bunuel

The concepts that are tested here include SVA, Pronouns and Parallelism.

We can first use SVA and Parallelism to find a foothold in this question. By the time we get to the underlined part of the sentence that begins with ‘have become’ both SVA and Parallelism are flouted.

The previous portion of the sentence says ‘has expanded’. Since it is not underlined, we can go ahead and look at the options vertically to find an option that begins with ‘has’ – why? So that it maintains parallelism and is consistent with the subject.

(A) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974

(B) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when they were first introduced in 1974

(C) have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when first introduced in 1974

(D) has become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when the bar code was first introduced in 1974

(E) bar codes have become readily accepted despite some initial opposition when it was first introduced in 1974

Eliminate Options A and C. E has a different beginning. It’s definitely breaking parallelism. Eliminate Option E.

Now we need to decide between Options B and D.

B has the pronoun ‘they’ which is ambiguous. We don’t need any more ammo to eliminate this option.

Option D is the best choice here.

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for this thorough explanation! To follow-up, would the use of "is" be correct in this example if you paired it was a change of state such as "now" --> "is now"?

Hey woohoo921

Yes, that would work. "Now" would certainly imply the change of state, and, since these are verb phrases of two independent clauses fused into one, we can change the tense from present perfect (has expanded) to simple present (is).

So, yes, that would work just fine.

Hope this helps.

Happy Learning!


Abhishek