Last visit was: 22 Sep 2026, 19:04 It is currently 22 Sep 2026, 19:04
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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   
705-805 (Hard)|   Pronouns|      
avatar
NewKid123
avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Last visit: 21 Nov 2013
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
72
 [26]
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 7
Kudos: 72
 [26]
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 07 Oct 2013, 10:19
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
25
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

85% (hard)

Question Stats:

27% (01:15) correct 73% (01:21) wrong based on 595 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.

(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for

Source: Nova GMAT
Difficulty Level: 750
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
blueseas
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Last visit: 15 Jan 2019
Posts: 571
Own Kudos:
4,561
 [2]
Given Kudos: 197
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: PGDM (GM) '15 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
GPA: 3.6
Schools: PGDM (GM) '15 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
Posts: 571
Kudos: 4,561
 [2]
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 07 Oct 2013, 13:47
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for
Show more

BELIEVE AS ==> UNIDOMATIC.
CORRECT IDIOMATIC USAGE : BELIEVE ..TO BE

MOREOVER ONE and THAT is acting as a pronoun ==> both are refering to same thing hence use of ONE and THAT together is redundant.
basing this OPTION B is correct answer.
User avatar
amitbharadwaj7
User avatar
Joined: 01 Sep 2012
Last visit: 23 Aug 2014
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
165
Given Kudos: 60
Status:Joining Cranfield Sep 2014
Concentration: Technology, General Management
Schools: WBS '16 Cranfield '16 (I)
GMAT 1: 530 Q50 V14
GMAT 2: 630 Q48 V29
WE:Engineering (Energy)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: WBS '16 Cranfield '16 (I)
GMAT 2: 630 Q48 V29
Posts: 39
Kudos: 165
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 11 Oct 2013, 03:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
blueseas
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for

BELIEVE AS ==> UNIDOMATIC.
CORRECT IDIOMATIC USAGE : BELIEVE ..TO BE

MOREOVER ONE and THAT is acting as a pronoun ==> both are refering to same thing hence use of ONE and THAT together is redundant.
basing this OPTION B is correct answer.
Show more

I agree with your submission, but what is wrong with option D
User avatar
blueseas
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Last visit: 15 Jan 2019
Posts: 571
Own Kudos:
4,561
 [2]
Given Kudos: 197
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: PGDM (GM) '15 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
GPA: 3.6
Schools: PGDM (GM) '15 (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
Posts: 571
Kudos: 4,561
 [2]
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 11 Oct 2013, 06:52
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
amitbharadwaj7
blueseas
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for

BELIEVE AS ==> UNIDOMATIC.
CORRECT IDIOMATIC USAGE : BELIEVE ..TO BE

MOREOVER ONE and THAT is acting as a pronoun ==> both are refering to same thing hence use of ONE and THAT together is redundant.
basing this OPTION B is correct answer.

I agree with your submission, but what is wrong with option D
Show more


firstly you will probably never see COMMA before that in right option.
moreover THAT is incorrectly ambiguously refering to San Andreas Fault INSTEAD OF other fault.

hope it helps :)
User avatar
gauravkaushik8591
User avatar
Joined: 24 Oct 2013
Last visit: 05 Jul 2017
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
156
 [1]
Given Kudos: 83
Location: Canada
Schools: LBS '18
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
WE:Design (Transportation)
Schools: LBS '18
GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V38
Posts: 122
Kudos: 156
 [1]
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 08 Mar 2014, 14:02
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
blueseas
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for

BELIEVE AS ==> UNIDOMATIC.
CORRECT IDIOMATIC USAGE : BELIEVE ..TO BE

MOREOVER ONE and THAT is acting as a pronoun ==> both are refering to same thing hence use of ONE and THAT together is redundant.
basing this OPTION B is correct answer.
Show more

Impossible! I've read this 'one that' phrase in new yorker and it did strike my eye.

And for everyone's reference. This is a question statement from OG13.
Attachments

Screen Shot 2014-03-08 at 4.00.04 PM.png
Screen Shot 2014-03-08 at 4.00.04 PM.png [ 18.74 KiB | Viewed 8369 times ]

avatar
Udai
avatar
Joined: 05 Mar 2013
Last visit: 03 Jan 2017
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 12
Location: United States
Schools: Wharton '17 Kellogg '17 Goizueta '17 Haas '17 Kelley '17 Ross '17 Tuck '17 Booth '17 Anderson '17 Duke '17 McDonough '17 Johnson '17 Yale '17
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V33
GPA: 3.56
WE:Marketing (Telecommunications)
Schools: Wharton '17 Kellogg '17 Goizueta '17 Haas '17 Kelley '17 Ross '17 Tuck '17 Booth '17 Anderson '17 Duke '17 McDonough '17 Johnson '17 Yale '17
GMAT 1: 670 Q49 V33
Posts: 36
Kudos: 23
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 09 Mar 2015, 00:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Didn't really understand why B
the way i have done this since the pronoun is singular the verb needs to be triggers and hence chose C
User avatar
MadaraU
User avatar
Joined: 07 Feb 2017
Last visit: 27 Jun 2018
Posts: 31
Own Kudos:
24
Given Kudos: 319
Posts: 31
Kudos: 24
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 03 Aug 2017, 11:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Well I feel every answer choice is wrong

Geologists.....have discovered a fault (This is your independent clause) so what comes after it should be a noun clause and noun clauses don't have verbs in it while all the answer choices have verbs

(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for
User avatar
darn
User avatar
Joined: 12 Sep 2016
Last visit: 06 Jan 2020
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
21
Given Kudos: 794
Location: India
Schools: Kellogg '20 Schulich Sept 18 Intake (I)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
GPA: 3.15
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Kellogg '20 Schulich Sept 18 Intake (I)
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
Posts: 58
Kudos: 21
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 03 Aug 2017, 14:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can an expert please give a detailed explanation on why B is the OA?
GMATNinja, what are your thoughts on this one?
User avatar
rekhabishop
User avatar
Joined: 22 Sep 2016
Last visit: 18 May 2018
Posts: 128
Own Kudos:
86
Given Kudos: 42
Location: India
Schools: Degroote McMaster"19 (A$) HBS '20 (D) Stanford '20 (D) Wharton '20 (D) Booth '20 (D) Kellogg '20 Haas '20
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
GPA: 4
Schools: Degroote McMaster"19 (A$) HBS '20 (D) Stanford '20 (D) Wharton '20 (D) Booth '20 (D) Kellogg '20 Haas '20
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
Posts: 128
Kudos: 86
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 03 Aug 2017, 20:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Isn't A fine? Not sure what is wrong with A. :(
avatar
Yoohanna
avatar
Joined: 30 Jul 2016
Last visit: 14 Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
2
 [2]
Given Kudos: 174
Posts: 4
Kudos: 2
 [2]
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 07 Aug 2017, 11:33
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Would you please explain what's wrong with C ?
Thanks in advance
User avatar
NicoleJaneway
User avatar
Joined: 18 Nov 2016
Last visit: 05 Jan 2020
Posts: 33
Own Kudos:
33
Given Kudos: 154
Posts: 33
Kudos: 33
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 18 Aug 2017, 17:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Yoohanna
Would you please explain what's wrong with C ?
Thanks in advance
Show more

I also feel like C could be right. It's grammatically correct, and it's the most active choice in my opinion.
User avatar
goforgmat
User avatar
Joined: 09 Feb 2015
Last visit: 02 Nov 2019
Posts: 235
Own Kudos:
108
Given Kudos: 232
Location: India
Concentration: Social Entrepreneurship, General Management
Schools: Booth '21 (D) Cambridge "21 (D) LBS '22 (D)
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V34
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V39
GPA: 2.8
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Booth '21 (D) Cambridge "21 (D) LBS '22 (D)
GMAT 2: 720 Q49 V39
Posts: 235
Kudos: 108
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 29 Aug 2017, 06:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for
Show more


whats wrong with C, it looks better than B. Can you specify the source and its OA.
avatar
polpanumas
avatar
Joined: 28 Aug 2017
Last visit: 11 Dec 2021
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
10
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 18
Kudos: 10
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 29 Aug 2017, 09:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
goforgmat
NewKid123
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.
(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for


whats wrong with C, it looks better than B. Can you specify the source and its OA.
Show more


Two Independent clauses need to be connected with either ; or ,FANBOYS otherwise the sentence is fragmented

As in C. Geologist...have discovered ...., one .... triggers

Hope this make sense.


Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
polpanumas
avatar
Joined: 28 Aug 2017
Last visit: 11 Dec 2021
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
10
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 18
Kudos: 10
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 29 Aug 2017, 09:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
NicoleJaneway
Yoohanna
Would you please explain what's wrong with C ?
Thanks in advance

I also feel like C could be right. It's grammatically correct, and it's the most active choice in my opinion.
Show more

Please referred to my comment below


Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
User avatar
DmitryFarberMPrep
User avatar
Manhattan Prep Instructor
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Last visit: 31 Aug 2026
Posts: 3,002
Own Kudos:
8,675
Given Kudos: 57
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 745 Q86 V90 DI85
Posts: 3,002
Kudos: 8,675
Geologists in California have discovered a fault Updated on: 16 Apr 2019, 11:05
Originally posted by DmitryFarberMPrep on 30 Aug 2017, 02:35.
Last edited by DmitryFarberMPrep on 16 Apr 2019, 11:05, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
polpanumas, I'm afraid that isn't quite right. The second part of the sentence is not an independent clause. Everything after "one" is a modifier, so there's no actual verb for "one." Compare it to this: "One movie that I think is really great." We have nouns and verbs ("I think" that "the movie is really great"), but the way the clause is structured, we still need a main verb: "One movie that I think is really great IS _____."

A quick Google search turns up the original source and explanation for this question. The authors felt that "one that" is redundant, but I don't think that would be sufficient grounds for elimination on a real GMAT question.
avatar
arorni
avatar
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Last visit: 08 Oct 2020
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
21
Given Kudos: 69
Posts: 51
Kudos: 21
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 15 Apr 2019, 13:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
darn
Can an expert please give a detailed explanation on why B is the OA?
GMATNinja, what are your thoughts on this one?
Show more
Can someone please explain in detail?
User avatar
aryamaagarwal
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 20 Jan 2022
Last visit: 30 Dec 2023
Posts: 54
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 60
Location: India
Schools: ESSEC MiM "24 (A$$) ESCP Europe (A) HEC MiM "25 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
GPA: 4
Schools: ESSEC MiM "24 (A$$) ESCP Europe (A) HEC MiM "25 (A)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V36
Posts: 54
Kudos: 7
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 15 Aug 2022, 23:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can an expert please review the answer choices? I am unable to figure out why C is wrong
User avatar
Mavisdu1017
User avatar
Joined: 10 Aug 2021
Last visit: 04 Jan 2023
Posts: 332
Own Kudos:
52
Given Kudos: 226
Posts: 332
Kudos: 52
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 16 Aug 2022, 10:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
DmitryFarber
polpanumas, I'm afraid that isn't quite right. The second part of the sentence is not an independent clause. Everything after "one" is a modifier, so there's no actual verb for "one." Compare it to this: "One movie that I think is really great." We have nouns and verbs ("I think" that "the movie is really great"), but the way the clause is structured, we still need a main verb: "One movie that I think is really great IS _____."

A quick Google search turns up the original source and explanation for this question. The authors felt that "one that" is redundant, but I don't think that would be sufficient grounds for elimination on a real GMAT question.
Show more
DmitryFarber hello expert, thanks for your confirmation, and would you like to further explain why C is wrong? Much thanks.
User avatar
saicharansingh
User avatar
Joined: 12 Oct 2020
Last visit: 18 Aug 2026
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
4
Given Kudos: 52
Posts: 6
Kudos: 4
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 16 Aug 2022, 20:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Geologists in California have discovered a fault near the famous San Andreas Fault, one that they believe to be a trigger for major quakes on the San Andreas.

(A) one that they believe to be a trigger for
(B) one they believe to be a trigger for
(C) one that they believe triggers
(D) that they believe to be a trigger for
(E) one they believe acts as a trigger for

Reason why I believe 'C' is wrong:

While the given sentence says that the fault the Geologists have discovered could be a trigger -One of the triggers probably-, option C more confidently says that the fault triggers major quakes. Now, that is a distortion of the meaning according to me and hence, an incorrect choice.
User avatar
RonTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 19 Jul 2022
Last visit: 07 Nov 2022
Posts: 429
Own Kudos:
542
Given Kudos: 1
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V51
Posts: 429
Kudos: 542
Geologists in California have discovered a fault 17 Aug 2022, 09:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aryamaagarwal
Can an expert please review the answer choices? I am unable to figure out why C is wrong
Show more

Choice C is totally fine. (Stylistically, C is better than the answer that's marked as correct.)



By the way—In choice C, "they believe" is an example a structure that's quite common for reported speech or beliefs. Sometimes, as in this example, the attribution is not comma-blocked. In other uses (e.g., The updated tax forms, the agency's press release states, will be issued during the first two weeks of September.)

For another illustration, please check out this OG problem:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-world-wi ... 03470.html
 1   2   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7400 posts
AbhishekP220108
Verbal Forum Moderator
705 posts