The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs is that

Question

The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs  is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated  in a different disposition

A. is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated

B. is some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulating

C. was that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, had metacarpals articulated

D. had been that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulated

E. is that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, having metacarpals articulated

ExpertsGlobal5 · Accepted Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Concepts tested here: Tenses + Idioms + Verb Forms

• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. 
• The past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past".
• The simple present tense is used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.
• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
• In modifying a noun, the past participle conveys that the noun took an action that concluded in the past. 
• The present participle is used to refer to an ongoing action in any time period.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "some specimens" with the singular verb "has". Further Option A incorrectly uses the simple present tense verbs "is" and "has" to refer to actions that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses "like" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

B:  This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "have" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "articulating" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, in modifying a noun, the past participle conveys that the noun took an action that concluded in the past, and the present participle is used to refer to an ongoing action in any time period.

C:   Correct.  THis answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "specimens" with "had", which can refer to both plural and singular nouns. Moreover, Option C acts upon the independent noun "specimens" with the active verb "had" to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Further, Option C correctly uses the simple past tense verbs "was" and "had" to refer to events that concluded in the past. Additionally, Option C correctly uses the past participle ("articulated" in this sentence) to refer to an action that concluded in the past. Besides, Option C correctly uses "such as" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"

D:  This answer choice incorrectly uses the past perfect tense verb "had been" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the past perfect tense (marked by the use of helping verb "had") is only used when a sentence contains two actions in the past; the helping verb "had" is used with the action in the "greater past". Further, Option D incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "have" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature. Additionally, Option D incorrectly uses "like" to provide the example of the "skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.

E:  This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "having" is a noun modifier, there is no active verb to act upon the subject "specimens". Further, Option E incorrectly uses the simple present tense verb "is" to refer to an action that concluded in the past; please remember, the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past, and the simple present tense is only used to indicate actions taking place in the current time frame, indicate habitual actions, state universal truths, and convey information that is permanent in nature.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZj-SubJwsM

To understand the concept of "Past Perfect Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGxC37OOGU

To understand the concept of "Like" Versus "As" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RDBnJBNtyk

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

aditi1903 · Answer

I believe its e
Below are the reasons:
A.  is that  some specimens,  like  a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated
B.is   some  specimens,  such as  a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulating
C.  was that  some specimens,  such as  a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, had metacarpals articulated
D.  had been that  some specimens,  like a  skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulated
E.  is that  some specimens,  such as  a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, having metacarpals articulated

the correct ones are highlighted in green and the incorrect are highlighted in RED

getgyan · Answer

A. is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated
B.is some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulating
C. was that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, had metacarpals articulated
D. had been that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulated
E. is that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, having metacarpals articulated

archilles · Answer

Just look at the "TENSES" to solve this question.

sentence says " Skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago " which is in Past tense.

this requires HAD & not have / has.

It's straightforward  C

souvik101990 · Answer

The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated in a different disposition
 A. is that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, has metacarpals articulated  Like is incorrect when it is used for examples.
 B. is some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulating  "that" is required. (for example: the problem with him is that he is obstinate>>>the problem with him is he is obstinate)
 C. was that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, had metacarpals articulated (Correct)
  D. had been that some specimens, like a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, have metacarpals articulated Like is incorrect when it is used for examples.
E.  is that some specimens, such as a skeleton of Stegosaurus armatus found nearly a century ago, having metacarpals articulated  Fragment

yashii9 · Answer

when we are talking about views we need a "that" here, so we can straightaway eliminate choices that dont have "that" - eliminate B

we have an example of skeleton here and we only use "such as" to give examples hence eliminate choices with "like" - eliminate A,D

Issue with D- Had been (although I would not out rightly eliminate a choice just because it has "been" ) +have can not work together - so eliminate this choice.

Its not so difficult to choose between C and E.

if you closely look at the 2nd half of the sentence E doesnt have a verb. "Having" is incorrect and does not serve as a verb here. so eliminate E.

C is the correct answer.

getgyan · Answer

What about C? Where did that disappear? :-D

souvik101990 · Answer

I think yashii9 meant C
HE/She clearly eliminated B already!

getgyan · Answer

Look at her explanation at the top. Only yashii can tell. :-D

Ashank07 · Answer

A – ̳like‘ cannot be used to give examples, use ̳such as‘ instead. ̳has‘ does not agree with the plural ̳specimens‘
B – ̳is‘ needs to be followed by ̳that‘. Avoid the continuous tense ̳articulating‘.
D - Use of past perfect tense ̳had‘ is incorrect since there are no two things taking place at different times in the past. ̳like‘ cannot be used to give examples, use ̳such as‘ instead. ̳have‘ does not agree with rest of the sentence which is in the past tense. 
E – ̳having metacarpals articulated‘ makes no sense.

The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs is that

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The problem with the traditional view of stegosaurs is that

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