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17 Oct 2021, 00:27
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D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
77% (01:23) correct
23%
(01:49)
wrong
based on 216
sessions
History
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Time
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Unlike the roads of the Etruscans, which were made predominantly through repeated use, an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome: with cobblestone surfaces built to connect cities indefinitely, internally and externally, without reliance on regular usage.
A) the roads of the Etruscans, which were made predominantly through repeated use, an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome: with cobblestone surfaces
B) the roads of the Etruscans, which were made predominantly through repeated use, an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome: cobblestone surfaces were
C) the repeated use of roads by the Etruscans, which is predominantly how they were made, ancient Rome demonstrated an assumption of longevity throughout: cobblestone surfaces
D) Etruscan roads, which were created predominantly through repeated use, the roads throughout ancient Rome demonstrated an assumption of longevity: cobblestone surfaces
E) Etruscan roads, which were created predominantly through repeated use, an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome: cobblestone surfaces that were
17 Oct 2021, 00:31
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
• UNLIKE X, Y
The moment that you see the word unlike (a preposition that must be followed by a noun), remember that it functions just as like functions.
Unlike and like are comparison words.
Start looking for comparison or contrast errors.
Comparisons and contrasts must be drawn between things of the same kind.
X and Y must be similar. (Compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.)
• COLON USAGE
→ Whatever precedes a colon must be an independent clause.
Whatever follows a colon elaborates on the previous clause in some way.
A colon is a way to describe and/or emphasize something.
In this sentence, "an assumption of longevity" is not self-evident; a colon, used properly, could clarify what the phrase in quotation marks means.
We do not want to break up a sentence with a colon without reason.
Most of these options contain colons that don't make a lot of sense.
• Improper comparison (contrast)
→ The roads of the Etruscans are improperly compared to an assumption of longevity.
In other words, in Unlike X, Y
X = the roads of the Etruscans
Y = an assumption of longevity
The elements X and Y are not remotely similar kinds of things (and hence cannot be sensibly contrasted).
• What follows a colon almost never begins with a prepositional phrase, such as "with XYZ built to ...."
If you look in any official guide, you will find that such phrases are set off by commas, not colons.
→ Meaning issues
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
Colon usage is tested, albeit rarely.
The usage here is dicey. I don't like it. Such usage is not enough to eliminate an option, but that usage is enough to eye the option very suspiciously.
ELIMINATE A
→ The roads of the Etruscans are improperly compared to an assumption of longevity.
• Colon usage is strange.
The second part of this sentence is almost an independent clause (S/V = cobblestones were built), in which case, what follows the colon would be fine.
But in order for the second part to be an independent clause, we need the word AND to precede the last phrase, this way:
. . . Cobblestone surfaces were built to connect cities indefinitely, internally and externally, AND without reliance on regular usage.
As the part after colon stands now, the usage is atypical and jarring.
• Construction/meaning issues
What comes after the colon does not quite fit with
an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome.
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
ELIMINATE B
X = the repeated use of roads
Y = ancient Rome
That contrast makes no sense.
• Meaning error/ Nonsensical
How could ancient Rome itself, rather than its roads (which are not mentioned), demonstrate an assumption of longevity by way of cobblestone surfaces?
That meaning is strained at best.
That is, cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
ELIMINATE C
X = Etruscan roads
Y = the roads throughout ancient Rome
(It is okay that the Y element is longer. The writer is trying to make a point about almost all Roman roads)
• the colon is used properly
A colon can be used to present an explanation, emphasize or draw attention to something, present a list, or join ideas together.
What comes after the colon clearly and colorfully describes what the author means by roads that demonstrated "an assumption of longevity."
KEEP
X = Etruscan roads
Y = an assumption of longevity
We cannot logically compare Etruscan roads with an assumption of longevity.
• Construction/meaning issues
What comes after the colon does not quite fit with
an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome.
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome.
ELIMINATE E
The correct answer is D.
COMMENTS
These answers range from very good to excellent.
I like most of the explanations.
Keep up the good work.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• UNLIKE X, Y
The moment that you see the word unlike (a preposition that must be followed by a noun), remember that it functions just as like functions.
Unlike and like are comparison words.
Start looking for comparison or contrast errors.
Comparisons and contrasts must be drawn between things of the same kind.
X and Y must be similar. (Compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.)
• COLON USAGE
→ Whatever precedes a colon must be an independent clause.
Whatever follows a colon elaborates on the previous clause in some way.
A colon is a way to describe and/or emphasize something.
In this sentence, "an assumption of longevity" is not self-evident; a colon, used properly, could clarify what the phrase in quotation marks means.
We do not want to break up a sentence with a colon without reason.
Most of these options contain colons that don't make a lot of sense.
Quote:
• Improper comparison (contrast)
→ The roads of the Etruscans are improperly compared to an assumption of longevity.
In other words, in Unlike X, Y
X = the roads of the Etruscans
Y = an assumption of longevity
The elements X and Y are not remotely similar kinds of things (and hence cannot be sensibly contrasted).
• What follows a colon almost never begins with a prepositional phrase, such as "with XYZ built to ...."
If you look in any official guide, you will find that such phrases are set off by commas, not colons.
→ Meaning issues
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
Colon usage is tested, albeit rarely.
The usage here is dicey. I don't like it. Such usage is not enough to eliminate an option, but that usage is enough to eye the option very suspiciously.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• Improper comparison (contrast), just as is the case in option A
→ The roads of the Etruscans are improperly compared to an assumption of longevity.
• Colon usage is strange.
The second part of this sentence is almost an independent clause (S/V = cobblestones were built), in which case, what follows the colon would be fine.
But in order for the second part to be an independent clause, we need the word AND to precede the last phrase, this way:
. . . Cobblestone surfaces were built to connect cities indefinitely, internally and externally, AND without reliance on regular usage.
As the part after colon stands now, the usage is atypical and jarring.
• Construction/meaning issues
What comes after the colon does not quite fit with
an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome.
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• Comparison (contrast) error
X = the repeated use of roads
Y = ancient Rome
That contrast makes no sense.
• Meaning error/ Nonsensical
How could ancient Rome itself, rather than its roads (which are not mentioned), demonstrate an assumption of longevity by way of cobblestone surfaces?
That meaning is strained at best.
That is, cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome itself.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• Contrast is correct. Unlike X, Y.
X = Etruscan roads
Y = the roads throughout ancient Rome
(It is okay that the Y element is longer. The writer is trying to make a point about almost all Roman roads)
• the colon is used properly
A colon can be used to present an explanation, emphasize or draw attention to something, present a list, or join ideas together.
What comes after the colon clearly and colorfully describes what the author means by roads that demonstrated "an assumption of longevity."
KEEP
Quote:
• Comparison (contrast) error
X = Etruscan roads
Y = an assumption of longevity
We cannot logically compare Etruscan roads with an assumption of longevity.
• Construction/meaning issues
What comes after the colon does not quite fit with
an assumption of longevity was demonstrated throughout ancient Rome.
Cobblestone surfaces should describe roads that were built with an assumption of longevity.
Cobblestone surfaces should not describe or explain an assumption of longevity in ancient Rome.
ELIMINATE E
The correct answer is D.
COMMENTS
These answers range from very good to excellent.
I like most of the explanations.
Keep up the good work.
17 Oct 2021, 00:54
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My answer is (D). It took me 53 seconds.
The key to this question, as it turns out, is to make sure there is Apple Vs. Apple comparison.
(A) "an assumption" cannot be compared with "the roads of the Etruscans"
(B) See above.
(C) "ancient Rome" cannot be compared with "the repeated use"
(D) No issue in comparison between "the roads throughout ancient Rome" and "Etruscan roads". Now, instead of reading the rest of option (D), let's glance at (E) first.
(E) Eliminated because "an assumption" cannot be compared with "the roads of the Etruscans". No need to spend additional time on (D). Choose (D) and move on.
In an actual GMAT question, there are typically at least two issues being tested though.
The key to this question, as it turns out, is to make sure there is Apple Vs. Apple comparison.
(A) "an assumption" cannot be compared with "the roads of the Etruscans"
(B) See above.
(C) "ancient Rome" cannot be compared with "the repeated use"
(D) No issue in comparison between "the roads throughout ancient Rome" and "Etruscan roads". Now, instead of reading the rest of option (D), let's glance at (E) first.
(E) Eliminated because "an assumption" cannot be compared with "the roads of the Etruscans". No need to spend additional time on (D). Choose (D) and move on.
In an actual GMAT question, there are typically at least two issues being tested though.
