Almost all motor vehicles on the road have a suspension system, that

Question

Almost all motor vehicles on the road have a suspension system,  that provides a smooth ride by allowing the road surface to have irregularities.

a. that provides a smooth ride by allowing the road surface to have irregularities

b. that provide a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface

c. which provides a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface

d. which provide a smooth ride by allowing the road surface to be irregular

e. which provides a smooth ride by allowing the road surface to have irregularities

chetan2u · Answer

Hi,

although Which is always used for non-essential and THAT for essential, GMAT would never eliminate a choice just on this....

1) Since we are looking for VERB for 'a suspension system', PROVIDES is the correct Verb...Eliminated B and D..
2) " allowing for irregularities' conveys the meaning correctly and not awkward meaning - " allowing the road surface to have irregularities"..

ONLY C is left and C also uses WHICH for non-essential

GGMU · Answer

Hi  chetan2u

Between C and E, I was unable to eliminate the choices based on the meaning.

CounterSniper · Answer

If we read answer choice e carefully , it says the suspension system allows the road surface to have irregularities which does not make any sense .

chetan2u · Answer

Hi  anurag16 ,

Idiom " allow for" means   to plan on possiblity of something  ...

Here C uses it correctly -
c. which provides a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface
  so supension system has already taken into consideration the possiblity of irregularities in road surface... 
That is why it helps you in having smoot ride inspite of irregular road surface

Where as E changes the meaning
e. which provides a smooth ride by allowing the road surface to have irregularities
  here ALLOW means its literal meaning - let things happen without interference..
so E illogically conveys that suspension system has permitted road surface to have irregularities..

Devlikes · Answer

Hello Chetan

! I need your help regarding this issue. As per Egmat, The Verb "Allow" requires "To Verb" Construction. But in this question, choice C is in "Allow...For" Construction. Meaning wise, I completely agree the Precedence of Choice C over E. But if we consider Egmat's rule, than isn't option C has a fatal Error ? Please advice what should I take out of this ?

I have attached the screenshot as well for your consideration. Thanks in Advance ! Sincerely, Devansh

sayantanc2k · Answer

The verb "allow" does not necessarily take "to".

Usage 1:
"Allow" when used in the sense "permit" takes "to". Example:
He did not allow me to enter (he did not permit me to enter).

Usage 2:
However, here the meaning of allow is not "permit". The usage "allow for" is idiomatic, meaning "consider" or "plan". Example:
While estimating for the labor cost, I allowed for some idle days.

chetan2u · Answer

Hi Devansh,

In response to the PM...
  These verbs can act as stand alone, that is, they mean and act as per its literal meaning...AND as a part of IDIOM, where they are just correct the way idiom has been used.

We cannot Q a IDIOM - WHY a or WHY not b? They are because they are- no logic as such..

Now lets see few of the verbs you have used.

1) WANT -  
 a) In its literal meaning  - have a desire to possess or do (something)--- here in most of the cases infinitive form should follow..
I want to go to the market.
I want him to be made the captain..

b) Idiom -  
WANT of - He was moved out of school for want of money.
Want for - the police want him for questioning

Similarly for ALLOW 
a) permit  - he was allowed to go on vacation..

b) Idiom - allow for  - leave some room for possiblity of
this is the usage here
 provides a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface..
MEANING that suspension system caters for irregularities on surface

So, whenever you something that you have learnt, first look if it is being used in its BASIC form/use...
If not, is it an idiom. You can learn idiom only by practicing more and make a NOTE of anything new you come across..

Hope it helps

aragonn · Answer

split 1: pronoun error B and D removed. Split 2 : A and E are basically same while C is different. so only C can be answer

it was more of a logical question then a SC or grammar based.

AkshdeepS · Answer

a. that provides a smooth ride  by allowing the road surface  to have irregularities (wrong modifier)

b. that  provide  a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface (we need provides - singular)

c. which provides a smooth ride by allowing for irregularities of the road surface
 
d. which  provide  a smooth ride by  allowing the road  surface to be irregular (S-V disagreement and wrong modifier)

e. which provides a smooth ride by  allowing the road surface to have  irregularities (wrong modifier with incorrect meaning)

Hence (C)

aragonn · Answer

Official Explanation Magoosh: 
Split #1: "that" vs. "which". The comma separating this clause from the rest of the sentence indicates that it is a non-restrictive modifier, and the GMAT always uses "which" for non-restrictive cases. Choices (A) & (B) are incorrect.

Split #2: SV Agreement. The "suspension system" is singular in this sentence, so it requires the singular verb "provides". Choices (B) & (D) are incorrect.

Split #3: idiom with "allow". The phrase "allowing the road to have irregularities" implies that, somehow, the suspension system is giving the road permission to have bumps --- that's not the intended meaning. The intended meaning is that the design of a suspension system allows for a smooth ride despite the fact that the road is bumpy. For this, we need the idiom "allow for." Only choices (B) & (C) use this idiom correctly.

The only possible answer is (C).

rsrighosh · Answer

i did not understand the meaning of the sentence in all the 5 choices. How suspension system can allow roads to have irregular surface?

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

rsrighosh  
That's exactly what A/D/E are saying, and that's why we throw them out. A suspension system certainly cannot allow the road surface to be irregular!

However, "allow for" has a very different meaning. When you allow for something, you are basically planning what that thing in mind. For instance, we commonly say things like this: "Plan to leave 30 minutes early to allow for traffic." This means that you are "making allowances" for traffic by leaving early, so that even if traffic is excessive, you will be on time. Similarly, a business might lower its projected profits to allow for losses from theft, etc. So in the case of this sentence (as written in B/C), the system is allowing for irregular roads by leaving room for the car to adjust its height in relation to the wheels to avoid jarring.

rsrighosh · Answer

DmitryFarber

Thank you for the explanation. I never knew the usage of "allow for". The sentence now makes sense after reading your explanation.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Almost all motor vehicles on the road have a suspension system, that

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Almost all motor vehicles on the road have a suspension system, that

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