Pack 19 Q4: Because there are now so many prevalent incidences...

Question

Pack 19, Question 4 of 5:

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity. 
 
A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.

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AnirudhChalla · Accepted Answer

There's a subject-verb agreement issue in Option D. A 'group of researchers' is singular.

NiftyNiffler · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers  have  launched an online database to track induced seismicity. -- This sentence doesn't have "human-induced earthquakes" and some meaning is lost. Why some incidences around the world are making researchers do anything? SVA error as well

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched  by a  group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity. -- modifier error; passive construct

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world,  so much  that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for  their  tracking. -- "their" has no exact referent; wordy and "so much that" is wrong in the context

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.  -- CORRECT, crisp and clear in cause-effect clauses
 
E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been  launched by  a group of researchers  for tracking  induced seismicity. -- unnecessary passive construct

The answer should be  D

Akp880 · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.

Explanation:

A- Subject verb agreement error . A Group of researchers( Singular noun )---have  (plural verb)

B- Passive Construction .Incorrect

C- Pronoun antecedent ambiguity  error for "their"

D- Correct. Presents cause effect relation also with correct usage of  So X that Y idiom

E-Unnecessary  passive construction.

Hence D is the correct answer.

Regards,
Atul Pandey

winterschool · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world,  a group of researchers  have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.  Incorrect

meaning error - prevalent incidences of what? a group of researchers cant be prevalent incidences

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world,  an online database  has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.  Incorrect

meaning error - prevalent incidences of what? an online database cant be prevalent incidences

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world , so much that  a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for  their  tracking.  Incorrect

Redundancy error- ',' is not required, pronoun error - their indicates what? researchers or earthquakes

D.  The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.   Correct

seems good

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world , so much so that  an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.  Incorrect

Redundancy error- ',' is not required, 'so much so that' wrong idioms

sonalgmat123 · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity. - many + prevalent .. redundant 
B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity. -- passive voice not preferred

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking. -- incorrect idiom

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.-- SV agreement

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.-- incorrect idiom

Varunsawhney8 · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
SUBJECT VERB ERROR
A GROUP- SINGULAR
HAVE-PLURAL
INCORRECT

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.
PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
INCORRECT

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.
FOR THEIR TRACKING - INCORRECT VERB TENSE
INCORRECT

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
TO TRACK - CORRECT
IDIOM
SO ... THAT ... -> CORRECT
CORRECT

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.
PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION
FOR TRACKING-INCORRECT VERB TENSE
INCORRECT

ankurmaloo2004 · Answer

SVA error in D as well. Have is used with "a group..."

Posted from my mobile device

nothing345 · Answer

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

Split 1: Wordy construction and use of passive voice
The first two options are inefficient and have several errors. Also, we don't know what the prevalent incidences are of. Could be anything.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity. 
See above.

B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity. 
Passive voice is usually not preferred. For tracking is wrong. We use the infinitive.

Split 2: Because isn't at the start of the sentence.

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking. 
The correct form of the idiom is so much so. Same mistake as A.

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity. 
This one does not have any glaring issues. Correctly places emphasis on the incidence of the earthquakes.

E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity. 
Same mistakes as A and B. For tracking - need the infinitive. Passive voice.

massan · Answer

Can someone explain how 'a group of researchers have' is incorrect in A, but correct in D?

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation

Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.
C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.
D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.

After a quick glance over the options, there are a few key differences we can focus on:

1. “..there are now so many prevalent incidences…” / “…incidences of human-induced earthquakes are not prevalent…so much that/so…” / …incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world…” (Meaning/Clarity)
2. “…a group of researchers have launched…” / “…an online database has been launched…” (Active vs. Passive Voice)
3. to track / for the tracking of / for their tracking / for tracking (Meaning & Pronouns)

Let’s start with the either/or split in #2: Active vs. Passive Voice! Whenever possible, always go with active voice – passive voice is a major no-no on the GMAT. Let’s eliminate any that use passive voice:

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
B. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for the tracking of induced seismicity.
C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.
D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
E. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much so that an online database has been launched by a group of researchers for tracking induced seismicity.

We can eliminate options B & E because they use passive voice, which is not preferred on the GMAT. Now that we have it narrowed down a bit, let’s take a closer look at each options and eliminate any problematic choices:

A. Because there are now so many prevalent incidences around the world, a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
This is INCORRECT because it leaves out an incredibly important detail – incidences of WHAT?? The database wasn’t created because of an increase in seismicity – it was created because of an increase in human-induced earthquakes. Leaving out that important detail alters the intended meaning too much, so let’s rule this one out.

C. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now prevalent around the world, so much that a group of researchers have launched an induced seismicity database online for their tracking.
This is INCORRECT for two main reasons. First, it’s not idiomatic to say “so much that.” It’s better to say “so much so that.” Second, the pronoun “their” is too vague here. What is being tracked here? The researchers? They’re the closest possible antecedent, but it doesn’t make sense.

D. The incidences of human-induced earthquakes are now so prevalent around the world that a group of researchers have launched an online database to track induced seismicity.
Here is our CORRECT choice! “So X that Y” is an idiom structure that’s both correct and clear, and “to track induced seismicity” is much clearer than saying “their tracking.”

There you have it – option D is our winner!

Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.

NOTE:
We see that there is an issue with using "group of researchers" as a plural and not a singular noun. This is an odd exception to the collective noun rule - the word "group" can operate as both, depending on what aspects you choose to highlight. When you want to highlight that the group is comprised of individual members (in this case, researchers), it's okay to treat it like a plural noun. When you want to highlight that the group is acting as one unit, you would use a singular verb.

Also - if you weed out the options that use passive voice, the options you're left with ALL use "have launched." You can't rule them all out - so you need to focus on finding other differences, and narrow down your choices from there. Remember - the GMAT wants you to find the BEST option of the 5 given. That doesn't always mean they'll be PERFECT.

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Well done NiftyNiffler ! Another great explanation! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Well done Akp880 ! You cracked the code on this one! Check out the official explanation for the bigger problem with option A - the SV agreement isn't really the big issue here!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Well done winterschool ! Another great explanation! Kudos to you!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

You were close,  sonalgmat123 ! Check out the official explanation in the comments to see how we tackled this one!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Thanks for pointing that out  AnirudhChalla ! Check out the official explanation for how to handle questions like this - it's a tricky one!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Well done nothing345 ! Kudos to you! Looking forward to seeing how you tackle the next one!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Thanks for asking massan ! Check out the official explanation for how we tackle questions like this on the GMAT!

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Thanks for pointing that out, ankurmaloo2004 ! Check out the official explanation in the comments to see how to tackle questions like this on the GMAT!

AnirudhChalla · Answer

The answer choice that is in passive voice is much better when compared with Option D which clearly has a SV issue. Never have I ever come across a question in GMAT that has SV exception such as the one here. I kindly request you to refrain from posting questions like this as this is only likely to lead to more confusion among test takers. Off-late i have seen a lot of prep companies focussing only on exceptions rather than on meaning and construction just to stand out, a trend that is very unhealthy.

Pack 19 Q4: Because there are now so many prevalent incidences...

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Pack 19 Q4: Because there are now so many prevalent incidences...

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