The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now vi

Question

The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now viewed as forms of health insurance and as resources  a human is able to use to take care of one’s  later illnesses.

(A) a human is able to use to take care of one’s

(B) that a human is able to use to take care of oneself in

(C) a human is able to use to take care of oneself in

(D) humans are able to use to take care of them in

(E) humans are able to use to take care of themselves in

Source- Manhattan Review

itzmyzone911 · Accepted Answer

I would like to add my 2 cents…

This sentence hinges around the use of indefinite pronoun v/s definite pronoun.

Per my logic, subject “human” is stated explicitly, which would then require a definite pronoun. Indefinite pronouns like oneself, one, etc. come in handy in the absence of a clear subject, or while making generalizations involving no explicit subject in the sentence. To elaborate this concept, a sentence that read as follows would be correct.

The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now viewed as forms of health insurance and as resources a human is able to use to take care of  himself/herself  in later illnesses.
OR
The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now viewed as forms of health insurance and as resources one  (no clear subject, mind you 'one' is an INDEFINITE pronoun which has no clear antecedent )  is able to use to take care of  oneself  in later illnesses.

This rules out A, B and C.

Between options D and E, D fails to reinforce the intended meaning of the sentence that humans are able to take care of themselves. In grammatical terms, “them” in D may not refer to humans at all. It may refer to other objects like animals or pets of humans. In order to make the humans direct object of their action of taking care, a reflexive pronoun would be most appropriate that emphasizes the fact that the doer (human) is ultimately the receiver of the action. Hence, E is the correct answer.

pqhai · Answer

Hi rajechP Tough question, indeed. I picked E with only 50% confidence. Thanks God, it's correct.

The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now viewed as forms of health insurance and as resources a human is able to use to take care of one’s later illnesses. (A) a human is able to use to take care of one’s Wrong. "one's" is not clearly. one refers to whom? (B) that a human is able to use to take care of oneself in Wrong. Shell game. Many people will pick B because of "that", but it's wrong. Because "organs" is object of the second clause "a human is able to use to take care....". Technically, there should be a PREPOSITION before "that", for example, by that a human is able to use........ If there is NO preposition, the relative clause does not make any sense. (C) a human is able to use to take care of oneself in Wrong. Same problem as in A. oneself is not clear. (D) humans are able to use to take care of them in Wrong. "them" is wrong. Let try a quick test. I can use the organs to take care ME I can use the organs to take care myself ==> Clearly, "me" is not appropriate. ==> I should use something to take care myself. But, he/she can use something to take care me . (E) humans are able to use to take care of themselves in Correct. "themselves" is correct usage. Hope it helps.

Gnpth · Answer

Themselves is used to indicate the subject acts upon itself. Oneself is used to indicate the proper reflexive of "One".If one is used instead of person,then oneself can be used.

So Answer is E.

IVYCRACKERS.COM · Answer

(A) a human is able to use to take care of one’s----> INCORRECT. "a human" refers to a particular human, whereas a generalization is required. Hence, "humans" should be used. "one's" changed the meaning and indicates that the human will take care of someone else's illness.
(B) that a human is able to use to take care of oneself in-----> INCORRECT. Same as (A)
(C) a human is able to use to take care of oneself in----> INCORRECT. Same as (A)
(D) humans are able to use to take care of them in----->INCORRECT. "themselves would be preferred. 
(E) humans are able to use to take care of themselves in ----->  CORRECT

pqhai · Answer

Good question!

The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now viewed as
forms of health insurance and as resources  a human is able to use to take care of
one’s  later illnesses.

First split:    Oneself/themselves vs. one/them.  Which one is correct? The structure of this sentence is:  X(s) are now viewed as ..... and as resources  Y  is/are able to use to take care of  Y-self.   If you use "one/them", readers may refer the pronoun to the main subject:  "them" --> The organs of pigs  . Thus, we need to use "themselves" to make sure people take care themselves, NOT pig organs.
==> A and D are out.

Second split:   human OR human s . Because we talk about humans in general, we do not talk about a specific person, plural form - human s  should be used. In addition, "one/oneself" is very unclear. The pronoun refers to what? Thus, only E left --> E is the answer.

Note:   When you see the deadly five -  it, its, they, them, their , you need to find correct antecedents. 
 
(A)  a human  is able to use to take care of  one’s 
Wrong.

(B) that  a human  is able to use to take care of  oneself  in
Wrong.

(C)  a human  is able to use to take care of  oneself  in
Wrong.

(D) humans are able to use to take care of  them  in
Wrong.

(E)  humans  are able to use to take care of  themselves  in
Correct.

Hope it helps.

Anigr16 · Answer

Option B is incorrect cuz of humans being referred to as 'oneself' we require itself for singular or 'themselves' for plural.
 But shouldn't option E contain a pronoun after 'resources'..??

sayantanc2k · Answer

I presume you meant the relative pronoun  that  -  ....resources  that  a human is able to use.... .

The relative pronoun  that  or  whom  may be dropped when the modified noun is the object of the modifying clause.

For example: The book that you gave me is interesting. 
The modifying clause is  that you gave me  and modified noun  book  is the object of this clause - you gave the book.
In such case the relative pronoun  that  may be dropped.

In the subject question .... resources that a human is able to use... , the modifying clause is  that a human is able to use  and the modified noun  resources  is the object of this clause. A human is able to use resources.
Therefore the relative pronoun  that  may be dropped.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

E has the fewest errors, but the sentence still needs some correction. "Take care of themselves in illnesses" is not idiomatic. We might get away with "in future illness" (with "illness" meaning "the state of being ill"), but "in case of illness" would be better. We also can't say that the organs of pigs are "forms of health insurance." Each individual organ isn't a whole form of health insurance. We could refer to the  practice  of growing or storing these organs as a form of health insurance. "Resources humans are able to use" doesn't break any grammatical rules, but it is horribly awkward.

daagh · Answer

The idea here is that the entire race of human beings can benefit from these multifarious advances to cure their own diseases multiple maladies in future. It is not that a single human being is going to use those new findings to cure himself of many diseases, which one may possess. That is the reason that A, B, and C are faulty on the face of it for using a single individual to symbolize the entire race. 
Between D and E. the pronoun, 'them" is ambiguous... It may refer to the organs or the pigs or the stem cells or resources. E, therefore.

daagh · Answer

Arvind
In B, 'that' acts as a relative clause connector, which I feel is acceptable in reported speech. You see the mention doesn't obscure the intended meaning in any manner. In other cases, the connector is not stated but clearly understood. 
Why do you feel it is wrong? Is it a grammar problem or meaning problem? 
Some may even feel that the whole structure 'humans are' is a comma splice since there is only a comma that separates two IC. However, because of the implied nature of the connector, we cannot take the second clause as an IC but just a subordinate clause.

Prateek176 · Answer

daagh sir, GMATNinja , AjiteshArun We have chosen choice E over B because we want to generalise. However i have came across another question which I believe does the opposite https://gmatclub.com/forum/cherries-tha ... 52868.html Can somebody explain this?

GMATNinja · Answer

This probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but... well, I wouldn't make too many judgments about the actual GMAT based on comparisons of non-official questions. It's brutally difficult for even the best test-prep companies to accurately mimic the style of the actual GMAT, especially on verbal. Keep in mind that the GMAT spends thousands of dollars developing and editing and testing every official test question; even the most amazing test-prep companies can't compete with that.

So don't overthink the difference between this Manhattan question and the one in your link, which has no source listed for it at all!

I hope this helps a bit!

Bunuel · Answer

MANHATTAN REVIEW OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

This question has to do with concordance of grammar. Choices A, B and C all use a human with one’s or oneself. The proper idiom in this case would be itself, or him/herself. Choice D, however, makes the mistake of being unclear as to what the ‘them’ refers. Does it refer to the organs, the pigs or the humans? Choice E is the correct answer.

VerbalBot · Answer

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The organs of pigs genetically modified by human stem-cells are now vi

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