To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account

Question

To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so  cannot result in competitive interest levels.

(A) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so

(B) Using a savings account to store large funds over a long period of time is perhaps safer than investing them, but it

(C) It is maybe safer to store large funds over long time periods in a savings account, but doing so

(D) Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so

(E) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is possibly safer than to invest them, but it

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so  cannot result in competitive interest levels.

(A) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so

Incorrect.

The word  maybe  is considered too simple for the GMAT. Thus, whenever you see it in a Sentence Correction question, eliminate all answer choices that include it, and choose answer choices that use  perhaps ,  possibly  or  probably  instead.

(B) Using a savings account to store large funds over a long period of time is perhaps safer than investing them, but it

Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the original mistake by replacing  maybe  with  perhaps , it is grammatically incorrect. A pronoun (in this case,  it ) refers to a previously mentioned noun. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb ( using ), we need to use the phrase  to do so  or  doing so .

What helps us identify this question as a Pronoun question is the following Stop Sign: Any pronoun in the underlined part or after it.

(C) It is maybe safer to store large funds over long time periods in a savings account, but doing so

Incorrect.

This answer choice repeats the original mistake. The word  maybe  is considered too simple for the GMAT. Thus, whenever you see it in a Sentence Correction question, eliminate all answer choices that include it, and choose answer choices that use  perhaps ,  possibly  or  probably  instead.

(D) Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so

The word  maybe  is considered too simple for the GMAT. Thus, whenever you see it in a Sentence Correction question, eliminate all answer choices that include it, and choose answer choices that use  perhaps ,  possibly  or  probably  instead.

(E) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is possibly safer than to invest them, but it

Incorrect.

Although this answer choice corrects the original error by replacing  maybe  with  possibly , it is grammatically incorrect. A pronoun (in this case,  it ) refers to a previously mentioned noun. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb ( to store ), we need to use the phrase  to do so  or  doing so .

crazyBuny · Answer

To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so cannot result in competitive interest levels.

(A) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so
 Use of maybe is awkward. To store: Use of infinitive is not appropriate

(B) Using a savings account to store large funds over a long period of time is perhaps safer than investing them, but it
 IT has two logical antecedent and hence ambiguous.

(C) It is maybe safer to store large funds over long time periods in a savings account, but doing so
 Missed out investing. Meaning change

(D) Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so
 Looks good

(E) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is possibly safer than to invest them, but it
 IT has two logical antecedent and hence ambiguous.

swim2109 · Answer

To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so cannot result in competitive interest levels.

Pre-thinking error: the verb 'is' doesnot have proper antecedent (subject)

(A) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so----> Eliminate error mentioned above

(B) Using a savings account to store large funds over a long period of time is perhaps safer than investing them, but it----> Pronoun issue as 'it' is ambiguous

(C) It is maybe safer to store large funds over long time periods in a savings account, but doing so----> Meaning changed as safer than investing is missed out

(D) Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so----> Looks fine. It as a subject can be used

(E) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is possibly safer than to invest them, but it----> Pronoun error same as B

parasma · Answer

Bunuel

I have a doubt.

In original sentence, is it correctly modifying both actions?

To store large funds  over a long period of time  in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so cannot result in competitive interest levels.

as in option D, precisely modifies both actions-

Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so

Is my understanding correct?
Please help.
Thanks in advance.

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

(A) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is maybe safer than to invest them, but doing so
is may be isn't the right usage therefore out

(B) Using a savings account to store large funds over a long period of time is perhaps safer than investing them, but it
we cannot figure out what it is refering to

(C) It is maybe safer to store large funds over long time periods in a savings account, but doing so
maybe is an issue and starting with it also doesn't help

(D) Over a long time period, it is perhaps safer to store large funds in a savings account than to invest them, but doing so
This conveys the right meaning therefore let us hang on to it

(E) To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account is possibly safer than to invest them, but it
Similar reasoning as B

Therefore IMO D

piyushluniya · Answer

Hi  Bunuel 
I didn't get why for Choice B,you are saying " A pronoun (in this case, it) refers to a previously mentioned noun. If we wish to refer to a previously mentioned verb (using), we need to use the phrase to do so or doing so."
According to my understanding, the "Using savings Account ...." is a clause and "it" can refer to that.
Although it sounds illogical in this case but we can use "it" to do so. Can't we?

For Ex: "Swimming is fun, but it sores my muscles" 
Isn't the above construction correct ??

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

piyushluniya

You have a point. An -ing word is not a verb. It can be part of a verb phrase ("I was swimming"), but by itself it is either a noun or a modifier. In B, "using" is a noun! So yes, in theory, we can say "it." The only objection we can make to "it" is that it is not entirely clear. D is less ambiguous, because there is only one activity that "doing so" can reasonably refer to. We could also argue that "over the long term" should apply to the entire comparison (as in D) and not just to using a savings account (as in B).

As for your example, the use of "it" is fine. We don't use "sore" as a verb, so you'd need to say "it makes my muscles sore," but the principle you are illustrating is correct.

Short version: The official explanation about "it" is not accurate, and this question as a whole is a little shaky, but D still wins out.

piyushluniya · Answer

Exactly what I wanted to say and hear as a reply 😄.
Thanks for the explanation.

Posted from my mobile device

VerbalBot · Answer

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To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account

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To store large funds over a long period of time in a savings account

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