Unlike computer skills or other technical skills, there is a disinclin

Unlike computer skills or other technical skills, there is a disinclination on the part of many people to recognize the degree to which their analytical skills are weak.

(A) Unlike computer skills or other technical skills, there is a disinclination on the part of many people to recognize the degree to which their analytical skills are weak

(D) Many people, willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills, are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak

Hello, TheUltimateWinner. There may be no reason other than a stylistic one to explain why the sentence is expressed in the manner above. It could just as easily have adopted a who clause, with or without commas:

1) Many people who are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak.

2) Many people, who are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills, are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak.

In the first sentence, we understand that the author means to single out a subset of people; in the second, we are just getting additional information about some people. It all depends on how the author of the sentence wants the reader to view the attached description of many people.

I wish there were a firm grammar-based reason I could offer, but this one could go either way. Thank you for calling my attention to the question.

- Andrew

I think you are getting too caught up in your grammar rules, TheUltimateWinner. The placement of a phrase is quite flexible. Consider any of the following valid sentences:

1) Running low on fuel, the car began to putter.

2) The car, running low on fuel, began to putter.

3) The car began to putter, running low on fuel.

It does not really matter whether the phrase interrupts the main clause or comes before or after. As long as the sentence conveys a clear meaning, that is all we are after.

- Andrew

Hello again, thereisaFire. Now we have something to work with. There are ways to convey a contrast without repeating a reference to people, but of course, such an option is not present among the answer choices. The following sentence, for example, would omit such a repetition and also fit a tight parallelism.

Many people are disinclined to recognize X but are willing to admit Y.

If we look to truncate answer choice (E) to express it in a similar way, it does appear a bit off. First, the answer choice:


Now, the more concise version:

Many people have a disinclination to recognize X while willing to admit Y.

Yes, this while is problematic, since we cannot tell how to interpret it. If it should be used to signal a contrast, as in although, then we want to move it to an earlier position in the sentence:

[While willing...] many people have... OR
Many people, while willing...

Even if you add they are or something similar to the end of the answer choice, it is still unclear whether while means to convey a simultaneous occurrence or a contrast:

Many people have a disinclination to recognize X while [they are] willing to admit Y.

The best we could do to get the sentence closer to expressing a contrast is to add a comma after X, but even then, although would work much better than while. What it comes down to, really, is that when you are working with an iteration of a sentence that you are more comfortable mulling over, if you feel as though you are kind of bending over backwards to make it work, it is probably incorrect. The less resistance you find, the better.

I hope that helps. Thank you for following up.

- Andrew

Actually willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills is not really used as a classical non-essential. So, we should read it as:

Willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills, many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak.

Also, this kind of structure is quite common. An example that comes to mind:

#25, OG13:

Neuroscientists, having amassed a wealth of knowledge over the past twenty years about the brain and its development from birth to adulthood, are now drawing solid conclusions about how the human brain grows and how babies acquire language.

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills.

Concepts tested here: Comparison + Grammatical Construction + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• A comparison must always be made between similar elements.
• Information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence can never be placed between commas.

A: This answer choice incorrectly compares the noun phrase "computer skills or other technical skills" to the clause "there is a disinclination on the part of many people to recognize the degree to which their analytical skills are weak"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Further, Option A uses the passive and needlessly indirect constructions "there is a disinclination on the part of many people" and "the degree to which their analytical skills are weak", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly compares "computer skills or other technical skills" to "many people"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Further, Option B incorrectly places information important to the core meaning of the sentence - the fact that many people are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills - between two commas; please remember, information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence can never be placed between commas.

C: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "recognize that they are weak to a degree"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that analytical skills make many people disinclined to recognize that they - the people - are weak; the intended meaning is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak. Further, Option C uses the needlessly indirect clause "analytical skills bring out a disinclination in many people", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrases "recognize that their analytical skills are weak" and "willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills", conveying the intended meaning - that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; remember, "while" is used to convey a sense of concurrence. Further, Option D avoids the comparison errors seen in Options A and B, as it makes no comparisons. Additionally, Option D only places extra information - the fact that the people are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills - between commas. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "while willing to admit their lack of computer skills or other technical"; the use of "while" incorrectly implies that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, at the time when they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; the intended meaning is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; remember, "while" is used to convey a sense of concurrence. Further, Option E uses the passive and needlessly wordy phrase "Many people have a disinclination to recognize", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Extra Information between Commas" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills.

Concepts tested here: Comparison + Grammatical Construction + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• A comparison must always be made between similar elements.
• Information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence can never be placed between commas.

A: This answer choice incorrectly compares the noun phrase "computer skills or other technical skills" to the clause "there is a disinclination on the part of many people to recognize the degree to which their analytical skills are weak"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Further, Option A uses the passive and needlessly indirect constructions "there is a disinclination on the part of many people" and "the degree to which their analytical skills are weak", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: This answer choice incorrectly compares "computer skills or other technical skills" to "many people"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements. Further, Option B incorrectly places information important to the core meaning of the sentence - the fact that many people are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills - between two commas; please remember, information that is important to the core meaning of the sentence can never be placed between commas.

C: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "recognize that they are weak to a degree"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that analytical skills make many people disinclined to recognize that they - the people - are weak; the intended meaning is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak. Further, Option C uses the needlessly indirect clause "analytical skills bring out a disinclination in many people", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrases "recognize that their analytical skills are weak" and "willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills", conveying the intended meaning - that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; remember, "while" is used to convey a sense of concurrence. Further, Option D avoids the comparison errors seen in Options A and B, as it makes no comparisons. Additionally, Option D only places extra information - the fact that the people are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills - between commas. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "while willing to admit their lack of computer skills or other technical"; the use of "while" incorrectly implies that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, at the time when they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; the intended meaning is that many people are disinclined to recognize that their analytical skills are weak, although they are willing to admit that they lack computer skills or other technical skills; remember, "while" is used to convey a sense of concurrence. Further, Option E uses the passive and needlessly wordy phrase "Many people have a disinclination to recognize", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Extra Information between Commas" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team