NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 26 Apr 2024, 14:00 It is currently 26 Apr 2024, 14:00
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

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

The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
L
Bunuel
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92948
Own Kudos [?]: 619230 [13]
Given Kudos: 81609
Send PM
CAT Tests Forum Quiz Mode
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   29 Aug 2019, 21:36
12
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

41% (01:17) correct 59% (01:24) wrong based on 729 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.

A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
User avatar
S
ahabib
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Dec 2018
Posts: 101
Own Kudos [?]: 125 [3]
Given Kudos: 101
Location: Canada
GMAT 1: 720 Q48 V41
Send PM
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   30 Aug 2019, 03:55
2
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bunuel wrote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.


A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than -> Correct
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than -> Although I'm not a fan of such logic: "Greater than" preferred over "More than"
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold -> "Their" referring back to "The Watsons", which is singular (the verb "has" also gives us this clue)
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets (fragmented sentence)
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than (fragmented sentence)
User avatar
L
Abhi077
SC Moderator
Joined: 25 Sep 2018
Posts: 1122
Own Kudos [?]: 2209 [1]
Given Kudos: 1665
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Schools: Rotman '21 Jindal '21 Stern '21
GPA: 3.97
WE:Investment Banking (Investment Banking)
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User Reviews Badge
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2020, 20:58
1
Kudos
imSKR wrote:
Quote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.



How to decide whether its (A,B ) or their (C)?

Hello Moderators, Abhi077, generis, BillyZ

Could you please comment on this problem?


'The watsons' - Is the subject

'a prominent Staten Island family'- additional information about subject/modifier which tells us more about the watsons

Has survived- Is the verb

Now, The non underlined part clearly states that our subject 'The watsons' is followed by the verb 'Has survived' hence it should be treated as singular and should be followed by singular pronoun. So clearly C is out.

Now between A & B,

It's a comparison of degree/level/Number. By definition, Asset is classified as a resource with economic value Hence It's often classified as number. So in this case we prefer greater than. It conveys 'The number of X(present) is greater than Number of Y(what was before)\

I hope this helps :)
avatar
B
Ankit137
Intern
Intern
Joined: 11 May 2020
Posts: 15
Own Kudos [?]: 6 [1]
Given Kudos: 28
Location: India
GMAT 1: 610 Q47 V27
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V34
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   09 Jan 2021, 23:05
1
Kudos
bahruz1992 wrote:
Why The Watsons is singular? Can anyone explain?


Hi bahruz1992

In the sentence it states 'a prominent Staten Island Family', therefore Watsons refers to a family (singular) instead of people (plural). That's what my guess is.

Thanks
User avatar
B
arnab2312
Intern
Intern
Joined: 09 Sep 2020
Posts: 39
Own Kudos [?]: 5 [2]
Given Kudos: 34
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Real Estate (Commercial Banking)
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   11 Jan 2021, 02:00
1
Kudos
In this question what does the "their" in the end part (non underlined portion) refer to, if "Watsons" as a family is to be taken in a singular manner. Isn't their a conflict in number here. So with Option "A" the whole sentence becomes :


Its assets ...... commencement of their Problem .
avatar
B
allan89
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Posts: 17
Own Kudos [?]: 6 [0]
Given Kudos: 267
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   05 Jul 2020, 01:06
Bunuel wrote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.

A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than




How is its referring to The watsons ?
avatar
B
Gauravvinod92
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Jun 2020
Posts: 37
Own Kudos [?]: 18 [0]
Given Kudos: 169
Location: India
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   10 Jul 2020, 01:24
ahabib wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.


A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than -> Correct
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than -> Although I'm not a fan of such logic: "Greater than" preferred over "More than"
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold -> "Their" referring back to "The Watsons", which is singular (the verb "has" also gives us this clue)
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets (fragmented sentence)
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than (fragmented sentence)


Can you please tell what is "their" referring to in the first option?

regards,
Kumar Gaurav
User avatar
S
thelion10
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 May 2019
Posts: 32
Own Kudos [?]: 48 [1]
Given Kudos: 41
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   10 Jul 2020, 16:10
Seems like their refers to the members within the family. It refers to the family as a unit

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
B
Gauravvinod92
Intern
Intern
Joined: 02 Jun 2020
Posts: 37
Own Kudos [?]: 18 [0]
Given Kudos: 169
Location: India
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   10 Jul 2020, 21:40
thelion10 wrote:
Seems like their refers to the members within the family. It refers to the family as a unit

Posted from my mobile device


I also thought of the same, but i can't convince myself.
And Thanks

Regards,
Kumar Gaurav
avatar
B
5thEagle
Current Student
Joined: 15 Aug 2020
Posts: 4
Own Kudos [?]: 6 [0]
Given Kudos: 23
Send PM
Reviews Badge
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2020, 18:07
thelion10 wrote:
Seems like their refers to the members within the family. It refers to the family as a unit

Posted from my mobile device


Seems like that would have to be the logic, but I can't picture the phrase "The [Smiths] has [verbed][preposition]" in just about any situation...
User avatar
L
mSKR
VP
VP
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Posts: 1378
Own Kudos [?]: 846 [0]
Given Kudos: 381
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2020, 20:09
Quote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.



How to decide whether its (A,B ) or their (C)?

Hello Moderators, Abhi077, generis, BillyZ

Could you please comment on this problem?
User avatar
B
bhaskarmanoj3
Intern
Intern
Joined: 01 Jan 2020
Posts: 7
Own Kudos [?]: 4 [0]
Given Kudos: 112
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2020, 23:42
ahabib wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.


A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than -> Correct
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than -> Although I'm not a fan of such logic: "Greater than" preferred over "More than"
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold -> "Their" referring back to "The Watsons", which is singular (the verb "has" also gives us this clue)
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets (fragmented sentence)
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than (fragmented sentence)


Sir, can you please explain how it is fine to use " its assets" with their problems
User avatar
L
mSKR
VP
VP
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Posts: 1378
Own Kudos [?]: 846 [0]
Given Kudos: 381
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
Schools: IE (A) IIML-IPMX '22 (A) HKUST '22
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
Send PM
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   24 Aug 2020, 05:16
bhaskarmanoj3 wrote:
ahabib wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close brush with financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than what they were before their problems commenced.


A. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times greater than -> Correct
B. financial ruin; its assets are now almost three times more than -> Although I'm not a fan of such logic: "Greater than" preferred over "More than"
C. financial ruin; their assets are now almost threefold -> "Their" referring back to "The Watsons", which is singular (the verb "has" also gives us this clue)
D. financial ruin; now with threefold the assets (fragmented sentence)
E. financial ruin; now with assets three times greater than (fragmented sentence)


Sir, can you please explain how it is fine to use " its assets" with their problems


its assets is plural.
their problems refer to ASSETS' PROBLEMS not FAMILY PROBLEMS
They refer to assets.

Sneaky!
avatar
B
Ankit137
Intern
Intern
Joined: 11 May 2020
Posts: 15
Own Kudos [?]: 6 [0]
Given Kudos: 28
Location: India
GMAT 1: 610 Q47 V27
GMAT 2: 670 Q49 V34
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   08 Nov 2020, 21:29
Hi mikemcgarry,

Can you please help me the use of 'greater than' instead of 'more than' in the OA? Does it have to do anything with 'Countable vs uncountable'?

Thanks
avatar
B
bahruz1992
Intern
Intern
Joined: 30 Mar 2020
Posts: 19
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 34
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   08 Jan 2021, 03:03
Why The Watsons is singular? Can anyone explain?
User avatar
L
warrior1991
Director
Director
Joined: 03 Mar 2017
Posts: 586
Own Kudos [?]: 418 [0]
Given Kudos: 596
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Technology
Send PM
Reviews Badge
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   09 Jan 2021, 23:40
Ankit137 wrote:
bahruz1992 wrote:
Why The Watsons is singular? Can anyone explain?


Hi bahruz1992

In the sentence it states 'a prominent Staten Island Family', therefore Watsons refers to a family (singular) instead of people (plural). That's what my guess is.

Thanks


bahruz1992, I agree with Ankit137 here.

'a prominent Staten Island Family':--> makes Watsons a singular subject.
avatar
B
bahruz1992
Intern
Intern
Joined: 30 Mar 2020
Posts: 19
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 34
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   10 Jan 2021, 12:01
Thank you very much!

warrior1991 wrote:
Ankit137 wrote:
bahruz1992 wrote:
Why The Watsons is singular? Can anyone explain?


Hi bahruz1992

In the sentence it states 'a prominent Staten Island Family', therefore Watsons refers to a family (singular) instead of people (plural). That's what my guess is.

Thanks


bahruz1992, I agree with Ankit137 here.

'a prominent Staten Island Family':--> makes Watsons a singular subject.
User avatar
G
CEdward
VP
VP
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Posts: 1262
Own Kudos [?]: 201 [0]
Given Kudos: 332
Send PM
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   22 Mar 2021, 21:28
The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived

has is singular...rules out C) automatically.

I don't know that I find the OA satisfactory

more than/greater than CAN be interchangeable with 'greater than'...the latter is reserved for magnitudes (in reference to amounts) ...is it clear here that greater than is preferred in that regard? I don't know...

What do others think?

Edit: I did this question a second time and I concluded that it's not a very good question.

"has" is singular and then later in the sentence you get "their" ...you choose one or the other you can't have both.

Others have said "their" refers to assets...but that renders the sentence illogical. "Assets" don't have problems, but families do.
User avatar
G
CEdward
VP
VP
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Posts: 1262
Own Kudos [?]: 201 [0]
Given Kudos: 332
Send PM
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink] New post   29 Apr 2021, 19:45
arnab2312 wrote:
In this question what does the "their" in the end part (non underlined portion) refer to, if "Watsons" as a family is to be taken in a singular manner. Isn't their a conflict in number here. So with Option "A" the whole sentence becomes :


Its assets ...... commencement of their Problem .


It's a nonsensical question. I would ignore.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: The Watsons, a prominent Staten Island family, has survived a close br [#permalink]
29 Apr 2021, 19:45
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
6923 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
238 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions