Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled mo

Question

Over the course of many years,  the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after they observed  that computerized timers work better, but the city government did not take the disabled buttons away, beckoning countless fingers to futile pressing.

A. the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after they observed
B. the authorities in New York had disabled most of the control buttons that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after observing
C. most of the control buttons that once operated lights at pedestrian-crossing in the city were disabled after the authorities in New York had observed
D. the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after observing
E. most of the control buttons operating pedestrian-crossing lights in the city are being disabled since the New York authorities observed

GmatPrime · Answer

Split 1: 'the authorities' vs 'most of the control buttons'- subject after the modifier
If we go with 'the authorities', we end up with a sentence that is active over sentences in option C & E- which are passive.

Split 2: 'Had once operated' vs 'once operated'
We don't need the past perfect tense here since the government did not disable buttons that were already out of use. Simple past is the right tense because the events were happening simultaneously. Option A and B are out.

Option D is the best one.

surendrasaini1 · Answer

Over the course of many years,  the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after they observed  that computerized timers work better, but the city government did not take the disabled buttons away, beckoning countless fingers to futile pressing.

A. the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after they observed( couldn't find any reason)
B. the authorities in New York had disabled most of the control buttons that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after observing( the use of past perfect makes the construction incorrect)
C. most of the control buttons that once operated lights at pedestrian-crossing in the city were disabled after the authorities in New York had observed( passive construction)
D. the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after observing( what is the role of observing here)
E. most of the control buttons operating pedestrian-crossing lights in the city are being disabled since the New York authorities observed ( passive construction)

Dear  AjiteshArun ,

why option A is incorrect.Please help me to understand the reason.

Thanks

Abhishek009 · Answer

Part of the reason has already been provided by  GmatMinion

Further " they" in option (A) has no clear antecedent, hence we may reject option (A)

Chethan92 · Answer

Abhishek009 , Isn't they referring to authorities? Only logical antecedent.

harsh8686 · Answer

A. the authorities  in New York  disabled most of the control buttons  that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city  after they observed
 Will come back to this choice later.

B. the authorities  in New York   had  disabled most of the control buttons  that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city  after observing
 had is wrong
 
C. most of the control buttons  that once operated lights at pedestrian-crossing in the city  were disabled  after  the authorities  in New York   had  observed
 after-had doesn't make sense. 
a) After observing -- okay 
b) after had observed -- wrong.
 
D. the authorities  in New York  disabled most of the control buttons  that once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city  after observing
 Will come back to this choice later.

E. most of the control buttons  operating pedestrian-crossing lights in the city  are  being  disabled since the New York authorities observed
 wrong usage of being

Between A and D
A is wrong becuase meaning wise its wrong. It states that authorities disabled most of the controls that had once operated. If the buttons already stopped working, what was the need to disable them? Lol

Answer D

rohitchayal · Answer

harsh8686

In option A why doesn’t past perfect makes sense? Because two things are happening 
1. The government disabling 
2. The button operating the crossing

Since the government disabling the button is in past and the button operating the crossing was before that which is past of past shouldn’t past perfect make sense?

Or does “had once operated” means something else too? that I am missing here

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CuriosStud · Answer

It already gives a timeline  Over the course of many years  so past particle isn't needed. Also disabled something that had once operated isn't right. How can you disable something that once operated without knowing if it still operates at the time of disabling? 
Also after they observed is a wrong timeline. 
The city officials disabled the buttons after they had observed, and not 
they had disabled after they observed.

rohitchayal · Answer

CuriosStud  I am still confused about this please clear by doubt
 Over the course of many years can also translate to the way in which the city officials disabled those buttons i.e. disabling wasn’t done in an abrupt fashion.

And why only the past perfect creates the confusion about the working of the buttons at the time of disabling and not the simple past? Is it due to the presence of “once”?

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CuriosStud · Answer

rohitchayal  
Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated
Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that once operated

Here had is unnecessary. Ex:

Anil bought a car he once dream't off 
Anil had bought a car he once dream't off

Coz he dream't of something in the past and that act is over.

which of the following is correct here? you use had to mean the effect of the action has a continued effect or to show something that occurred before other.

He had watched the movie by the time I reached his place.
He watched the movie before I reached his place
 
In the second part you don't necessarily need had to show timeline because 'before' does that job

Similarly in the two above sentences
Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated
Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that once operated

how do you disable something that had operated? You disable something that is operating. Here the buttons once had operated is not the correct way to say. There are two simultaneous actions happening , The buttons operated and they disabled it  after (which also gives a timeline) observing .

Basim2016 · Answer

V informative discussion ,especially wrt past Participle and logical MEANING. 
Regards and thanks to all the participants. 
Regards, 
Basim

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harsh8686 · Answer

Hi Rohit, Apologies for replying late

What is the intended meaning of the sentence? After observing that computerized timers work better, the government disabled most of the control buttons. However, option A states that government disabled controls buttons that were already not functional. A) the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after they observed

deveshj21 · Answer

DEAR EXPERT,
ISN'T THE OPTION D SAYING THE SAME THING AS OPTION A, THEY BOTH ARE SAYING THAT "THE AUTHORITIES DISABLED BUTTONS, THAT ONCE (HENCE NO LONGER) OPERATED.
PLEASE CLEAR MY UNDERSTANDING.

harsh8686 · Answer

Option A also has a pronoun error.  
A) the authorities in New York disabled most of the control buttons that had once operated pedestrian-crossing lights in the city after  they  observed

deveshj21 · Answer

Can u explain a little more? According to my understanding "AUTHORITIES" is a plural noun...and plus the preposition "it" cannot replace the noun"authorities"

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Priyanka2018 · Answer

Can someone explain why C is incorrect

Authorities observed first then disabled , according to me had observed is correct
Not able to find any valid reason to eliminate C.

deveshj21 · Answer

The openening phrase is a modifier phrase and therefore should modify/explain authorities/ their action. In option C the modifier is modifying"most of buttons" rather than "authorities".

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axezcole · Answer

daagh 
 generis

Could you please tell us why past perfect is not required here?
Doesnt over the course of years function like "BY"?
This maybe a silly doubt.

Any help would be appreciated.

daagh · Answer

axe, 
Is past perfect required for disabling or for observing?

axezcole · Answer

Correct ,use of had doesn't seem right in both condition because there isn't any previous action.

Over the course of many years, the authorities in New York disabled mo

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