Based on detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years, stati

Question

Based on detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years , statisticians at NYU have come to the conclusion that there is no advantage to using financial advisors who pick individual stocks over simply investing in broad index funds.

A) Based on detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years
B) With 20 years of detailed research and analysis conducted
C) Using detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years
D) By the detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years
E) Basing it on 20 years of detailed research and analysis

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

Statisticians cannot be based on something. They use research to reach the conclusion. Given sentence is incorrect.
none of the options except C can even appear correct.

with seems to indicate that research is already conducted and statisticians have come to a conclusion. 
There appeared as if there is no seeming connection between the two statements. B is incorrect.

By the detailed research  wrongly modifies the statisticians. 
persons cannot be by the research.

E is completely wrong. the pronoun it although seems to refer conclusion, its usage here is ambiguous and also you cannot base a conclusion on duration of 20 years.
duration of research is also wrong usage.

Kaushikghosh · Answer

Thanks Mechmeera
I have a query here. No doubt I have also ruled out B,D & E as they were completely wrong but got confused over A & C . I really don't see any change of meaning or grammatical mistake in A. A is wrong only because we are talking about statistician here or if we change it to scientists then what should be the answer?- "A".

Please explain

Thanks a lot

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

The point behind A is A human being can use the data but cannot be himself based on sth. Whether the term to refer human is statisticians or scientists does not matter here. The result is same. I hope this helps

Suzie · Answer

Here the phrase before the comma is modifying the noun following the comma. Thus, we cannot use 'based' since the statisticians or their existence is not "based" on anything. Rather, the statisticians are "using" some kind of analysis/data to arrive at a conclusion. Thus, clearly C is the correct answer.

This is a particular type of SC question and just while reading, I could predict what is being tested. So was able to arrive at the correct answer in about 10 sec. But of course, I'd strongly recommend that you read the complete statement and all answer choices carefully in the real exam. In fact, I did get one of this type in my actual GMAT - I was surely glad to see it ;-)

Kaushikghosh · Answer

Thanks a lot suzie for your explanation!!

daagh · Answer

At least in the initial stages, one should go through the official guides. They can help us to understand basic concepts well. For example, see an OG question cited below.
based-on-accounts-of-various-ancient-writers-scholars-have-80746.html

Based on accounts of various ancient writers, scholars have painted a sketchy picture of the activities of an all-female cult that, perhaps as early as the sixth century B.C., worshipped a goddess known in Latin as Bona Dea, “the good goddess.”

(A) Based on accounts of various ancient writers
(B) Basing it on various ancient writers’ accounts
(C) With accounts of various ancient writers used for a basis
(D) By the accounts of various ancient writers they used
(E) Using accounts of various ancient writers

The correct answer is E.

mba757 · Answer

Hi experts,

Why exactly is E incorrect? Based on the veritas explanation and above, "it" doesn't seem to have a clear referent. However, why can't "it" refer to "conclusion?"

"Basing the conclusion on 20 years of detailed research and analysis, statisticians at NYU have come to the conclusion..." - is this redundant/a circular argument? (i.e., statisticians cannot base a conclusion on X to arrive at that very conclusion?)

svasan05 · Answer

Hi Sam

The idea behind an ambiguous antecedent is exactly that - the antecedent, or that noun to which the pronoun refers, is  unclear . Yes, it is possible that "it" in option (E) could refer to "conclusion". But this is not obvious and clear. There are other inanimate nouns that "it" could, theoretically, refer to.

In such a scenario, option (E) can still be the correct answer, but only if there is no other answer option  without  any ambiguous antecedent or any other errors. In this question, we have option (C) which satisfies these criterion and hence is a better answer.

Hope this helps.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Based on detailed research and analysis conducted over 20 years, stati

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