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09 Feb 2022, 01:00
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
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64% (01:45) correct
36%
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The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with the issues at the forefront of the field.
A) the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with
B) what the word means for most people, numerical and algebraic relationships, do not have a relationship with
C) the popular definition of the word, numerical and algebraic relationships, both irrelevant to
D) what is popularly understood of the word—numerical and algebraic relationships—has little bearing on
E) what most people think about—numerical and algebraic relationships—are irrelevant to
09 Feb 2022, 01:04
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
• Note: I included all analysis provided by Magoosh Official Explanation (rephrased in places) but added some of my own analysis.
THE PROMPT
NOTE: when a colon is separates two parts of a sentence, only the first part must be an independent clause.
The second part can be and often is not a full clause—if that second part is a list, identifies something, adds emphasis, or is part of dialogue.
→ He did tours in three countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
→ He had only one aspiration: power.
What comes after a colon can be an independent clause.
Their guilt was obvious: they could not look me in the eye.
By contrast, a semicolon must always come between two independent clauses.
THE OPTIONS
The relative pronoun which is the subject of the relative clause that follows.
The word which refers to "numerical and algebraic relationships"— which is plural and requires a plural verb.
The singular verbs is and doesn't do not match the plural subject relationships.
• Diction/ Style and Usage
The construction doesn't have much to do with is very casual and sloppy and would not appear in formal academic writing or on the GMAT.
Eliminate A
In this option, a clause (what the word means for most people) is the subject of the verb.
(That construction is called a noun clause. To learn about noun clauses and to see examples, go to my post here.)
A noun clause is construed as a singular subject.
So the clause what the word means for most people is singular, but there's a plural verb (do not have).
We face another SVA error.
• Diction/ Style and Usage
Option B also contains a too casual, sloppy, and unfortunate construction: have a relationship with.
Eliminate B
This construction lacks a verb, so what follows the colon is not an independent clause.
This scenario is tricky.
If two sentences are joined by a colon, the first sentence must be a full clause.
The second part of the construction can be an independent clause but does not have to be so.
What follows a colon can simply be a noun or a noun-phrase if we are giving examples or providing an identity.
"... chamber music: string quartets, piano trios, and so forth."
"... the second-largest country on Earth: Canada."
In option C, what immediately precedes the colon is the phrase generally accepted definition.
What follows the clause is not going to be an example of generally accepted definition, because the first part says it doesn't exist; consequently, what comes after the colon is affected.
What we need here is additional clarification, precisely because the fact stated in the first part of the sentence may seem surprising to some people.
That is, we need an explanation of why the word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition, and an explanation requires a full clause after the colon.
Thus, we need a full clause after the colon.
A full clause contains a verb. No verb exists in the second part, so this choice commits the famous missing verb mistake.
Eliminate C
It correctly sets off the examples in double em-dashes.
The phrase has little bearing on is a very sophisticated phrase.
This entire choice is problem-free.
KEEP
• Subject/verb agreement
The singular subject what most people think about (a noun clause) does not agree with the plural verb are.
• Diction/ Style; Usage; Logic
The phrase "what most people think about" is colloquial.
The phrase is also logically imprecise. Do most people out there think about numerical and algebraic relationships?
Eliminate E.
The answer is (D).
COMMENTS
These answers are quite good.
Happy kudos.
• Note: I included all analysis provided by Magoosh Official Explanation (rephrased in places) but added some of my own analysis.
THE PROMPT
Quote:
The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with the issues at the forefront of the field.
NOTE: when a colon is separates two parts of a sentence, only the first part must be an independent clause.
The second part can be and often is not a full clause—if that second part is a list, identifies something, adds emphasis, or is part of dialogue.
→ He did tours in three countries: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
→ He had only one aspiration: power.
What comes after a colon can be an independent clause.
Their guilt was obvious: they could not look me in the eye.
By contrast, a semicolon must always come between two independent clauses.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
A) The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with the issues at the forefront of the field.
• Subject/verb agreementThe relative pronoun which is the subject of the relative clause that follows.
The word which refers to "numerical and algebraic relationships"— which is plural and requires a plural verb.
The singular verbs is and doesn't do not match the plural subject relationships.
• Diction/ Style and Usage
The construction doesn't have much to do with is very casual and sloppy and would not appear in formal academic writing or on the GMAT.
Eliminate A
Quote:
B) The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: what the word means for most people, numerical and algebraic relationships, do not have a relationship with the issues at the forefront of the field.
• Subject/verb agreementIn this option, a clause (what the word means for most people) is the subject of the verb.
(That construction is called a noun clause. To learn about noun clauses and to see examples, go to my post here.)
A noun clause is construed as a singular subject.
So the clause what the word means for most people is singular, but there's a plural verb (do not have).
We face another SVA error.
• Diction/ Style and Usage
Option B also contains a too casual, sloppy, and unfortunate construction: have a relationship with.
Eliminate B
Quote:
C) The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: the popular definition of the word, numerical and algebraic relationships, [VERB?] both irrelevant to the issues at the forefront of the field.
• The Case of the Missing VerbThis construction lacks a verb, so what follows the colon is not an independent clause.
This scenario is tricky.
If two sentences are joined by a colon, the first sentence must be a full clause.
The second part of the construction can be an independent clause but does not have to be so.
What follows a colon can simply be a noun or a noun-phrase if we are giving examples or providing an identity.
"... chamber music: string quartets, piano trios, and so forth."
"... the second-largest country on Earth: Canada."
In option C, what immediately precedes the colon is the phrase generally accepted definition.
What follows the clause is not going to be an example of generally accepted definition, because the first part says it doesn't exist; consequently, what comes after the colon is affected.
What we need here is additional clarification, precisely because the fact stated in the first part of the sentence may seem surprising to some people.
That is, we need an explanation of why the word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition, and an explanation requires a full clause after the colon.
Thus, we need a full clause after the colon.
A full clause contains a verb. No verb exists in the second part, so this choice commits the famous missing verb mistake.
Eliminate C
Quote:
D) The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: what is popularly understood of the word—numerical and algebraic relationships—has little bearing on the issues at the forefront of the field.
This version is elegant and sophisticated. It correctly sets off the examples in double em-dashes.
The phrase has little bearing on is a very sophisticated phrase.
This entire choice is problem-free.
KEEP
Quote:
E) The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: what most people think about—numerical and algebraic relationships—are irrelevant to the issues at the forefront of the field.
• Subject/verb agreement
The singular subject what most people think about (a noun clause) does not agree with the plural verb are.
• Diction/ Style; Usage; Logic
The phrase "what most people think about" is colloquial.
The phrase is also logically imprecise. Do most people out there think about numerical and algebraic relationships?
Eliminate E.
The answer is (D).
COMMENTS
These answers are quite good.
Happy kudos.
General Discussion
kungfury42
Joined: 07 Jan 2022
Last visit: 31 May 2023
Posts: 580
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Schools: NUS '25 (A)
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Updated on: 09 Feb 2022, 05:58
Originally posted by kungfury42 on 09 Feb 2022, 03:42.
Last edited by kungfury42 on 09 Feb 2022, 05:58, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by kungfury42 on 09 Feb 2022, 05:58, edited 1 time in total.
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generis
The word "mathematics" has no generally accepted definition: the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with the issues at the forefront of the field.
A) the numerical and algebraic relationships, which is how the word is popularly understood, doesn't have much to do with
B) what the word means for most people, numerical and algebraic relationships, do not have a relationship with
C) the popular definition of the word, numerical and algebraic relationships, both irrelevant to
D) what is popularly understood of the word—numerical and algebraic relationships—has little bearing on
E) what most people think about—numerical and algebraic relationships—are irrelevant to
A) "the numerical and algebraic relationships" is plural and accordingly the verb form "do" should be used instead of "does". Hence, "relationships doesn't have much" is an incorrect usage and "relationships don't have much" should be used instead. Eliminate option A.
B) "the word mathematics" is singular and hence the "does" form of the verb should be used instead of "do". Hence, "the word do not have a relationship with" is an incorrect usage and "the word does not have a relationship with" should be used instead. Eliminate option B.
C) this sentence is not complete as it lacks a main verb. Eliminate option C.
D) what is popularly understood of the word—numerical and algebraic relationships—has little bearing on is grammatically correct. Most likely our answer.
E) "most people" is singular and accordingly singular verb should be used. Hence, "what most people think are irrelevant " is incorrect and "what most people think is irrelevant " should be used instead. Eliminate option E.
Hence, option D is our answer.
