Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarte

Question

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarteners with specifically planned diets  were determined to have increased abilities  for sitting still for extended periods.

(A) were determined to have increased abilities

(B) have been determined to have an increased ability

(C) were determined to have an increasing ability

(D) had been determined to have increased abilities

(E) have been determined to have increasing abilities

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

(Error in Tense) if there is an error in the underlined part (“were determined to have increased abilities”), it must be either relating to tense in the phrase “were determined,” or relating to number in the phrase “increased abilities.”

A quick look at the answer choice shows the phrases “have been determined,” “were determined,” ” had been determined” and “have been determined,” giving us the hint that we should examinee the given sentence for an error in the use of the correct tense.

There is indeed such an error, because the first part of the sentence (appears to have a desire) is in the present tense, while the second underlined part (were determined to have) is in the past tense. So (A) is wrong.

(C) and (D) also have the same error, and can be rejected for that reason alone.

(B) and (E) both have the correct present perfect tense. But (B) mentions “an increased ability,” while (E) talks of “increasing abilities.”

The first part of the sentence talks of a completed action, “with a specially planned diet” and its effect must also be something completed such as “an increased ability,” and not something incomplete, such as “increasing” so, (B) is a better choice than (E), and is the answer.

rishab0507 · Answer

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarteners with specifically planned diets were determined to have increased abilities for sitting still for extended periods.

This question first checks knowledge of Verb tense. 
Were, had been is a past tense whereas we require present tense, as to have a desire in first part of sentence.

Option A,C,D are out for use of were.

Difference in B.E is of Increased ability and increasing abilities. 
increasing abilities: something is that is still increasing, and not finished. Why we need verb+ ing form to describe abilities. No , instead we need simple form Increased.

Option B is better than E on this account

MoulikaSaxena · Answer

Isn't it idiomatically wrong to say "abilities  for ..."?

AjiteshArun · Answer

You're right.  Ability for sitting still  is not correct.

Aviral1995 · Answer

GMATNinja   VeritasKarishma  please explain B vs E?

KarishmaB · Answer

The non underlined part talks in present tense - they appear to have a desire. 
So when we talk about some specific kindergarteners, it should be in the present tense too. So present perfect is the correct tense - the determination has happened but it has relevance to the present. 
Also, the determination has happened so we can say that "an increased ability" has been noticed. But increasing ability would need regular determination. 
So the correct answer is (B)

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

STEP 1 - UNDERSTANDING INTENDED MEANING

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarteners with specifically planned diets  were determined to have increased abilities  for sitting still for extended periods.

1. The first clause of the sentence “Most ….. learn” has the verb in the simple present tense - “appear”.
2. Thus, the second clause should be parallel to the first clause in terms of tense and meaning.
3. Hence, the use of the simple past  “were determined” is incorrect . We need to use the present perfect “have been determined” to indicate an action that is over but whose effect is still visible.
4. Since we are talking about a particular ability, the use of the  plural "abilities" is incorrect.

INTENDED MEANING

• The above construction tells us two things that have been observed about kindergarteners.
• It appears that most of them have a desire to learn
• However, it has been determined that kindergarteners with specifically planned diets have an increased ability for sitting still for extended periods.

STEP 2 - ELIMINATE CHOICES WITH IDENTIFIED ERRORS
 
Choice C has the same error as choice A.
Choice D uses the incorrect past perfect “had determined”, and the plural "abilities"

STEP 3: EVALUATE MEANING OF REMAINING CHOICES

CHOICE B

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarteners with specifically planned diets  have been determined to have an increased ability  for sitting still for extended periods.

1. Logical
2. Clear
3. Same as the intended meaning
 Correct Choice.

CHOICE E

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarteners with specifically planned diets  have been determined to have increasing abilities  for sitting still for extended periods.

• The task of determining is over. Thus, the result of “have been determined” should not be in any current increasing/progressive measure. 
 Incorrect Choice.
 
Note: The correct idiomatic expression is “ability to do something” or “ability of someone/ something”.

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarte

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Most kindergarteners appear to have a desire to learn, but kindergarte

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