Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they a

Question

Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

(A) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.
(B) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, using a seismic survey.
(C) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey.
(D) Buried far beneath Earth’s surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey.
(E) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

AnishG · Answer

Here's the thing -

I don't understand why the OA, (E) is correct. I picked (D) as the modifier phrase "Buried far beneath..." correctly modifies the noun 'hydrocarbons', and didn't find any other errors in the option (D) whatsoever.

The source (Kaplan Premier '15) says this: (D) uses a passive verb and never explains who is using the seismic survey.

That is true, but why does that matter? In the original sentence, it doesn't mention who's using the seismic survey either, and I know the norm in passive forms is to mention the doer but if I recall correctly from my 8th grade Wren & Martin books, it isn't grammatically incorrect if you don't.

I realise that (E) is grammatically correct as well but I picked (D) because it does accurately rephrase the original sentence without any grammatical errors and with more concision, which (E) lacks.

So, thoughts?? Is it necessary to mention the doer in passive verb in the GMAT?

Rushilkhera · Answer

It is E because someone is required to do that seismic survey. It can't be done on its own.

LXVE · Answer

Hey everyone, I've been using GMAT Club for ages now and decided to finally start posting and helping others out.

I was stuck for a bit on D and E as well, but there is a clear reason to eliminate D that has not been mentioned.

D says, "hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey," and if you read into it the phrase is a bit ambiguous and illogical.

Hydrocarbons can't use a seismic survey...

Consider this
My friend can often be found eating a donut.

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AnishG · Answer

You're right, it does sound a tad bit ambiguous and less logical than (E) on looking at it from that perspective. Thanks for the clarification!
Another thing I later noticed is, (E) captures the essence of the original sentence more effectively than (D) - since the original sentence attempts to convey a bit of a contrast / 'surprise factor' with the "even though" phrase.

But yeah certainly, the significance of your point about logic is even more important.

alpham · Answer

(A) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface. - modifier issue, 'who is using a seismic survey?' cant be hydrocarbons
(B) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, using a seismic survey. - again doesn't specific who is using a seismic survey, incomplete modifier 
(C) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey. - this has some meaning issue
(D) Buried far beneath Earth’s surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey. - this also loses some of the meaning in compared to the answer choice E, there is no mention of who can detect a seismic survey to make it more accurate.
 (E) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.  - correct modifier, logically makes sense.

Please let me know if I incorrect in my thinking.

HSGMAT16 · Answer

Eliminating A and B is not an issue, like you have mentioned...Important thing, like someone else posted above, to notice here is the contrast marker - "even though". Only E gets both the modifier and the contrast correct.

chaudhurysr · Answer

Friends,

I would like to discuss about a question that I came across. Its an SC question, using modifiers.

Q1.  Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface .

a) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface
b) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface, using a seismic survey
c) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth's surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey
d) Buried far beneath Earth's surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey
e) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface

Ans: Clearly the statement is missing the subject that the modifier "Using a seismic survey" is modifying. So a) is incorrect. e) is the best option here. 
However, in passive forms of sentences, the subject is optional. So the below two forms, if given, would also have been correct:

1. Hydrocarbons can be located using a seismic survey even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface (re-shuffled option b)
2. Hydrocarbons, buried far beneath Earth's surface, can be detected using a seismic survey (re-shuffled option d)

Do you agree?

Thanks, 
Saurabh

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

Hello chaudhurysr Welcome to the gmatclub.

Please go through follow links before posting on gmatclub. https://gmatclub.com/forum/new-to-the-v ... 19866.html https://gmatclub.com/forum/rules-to-pos ... 08733.html https://gmatclub.com/forum/rules-for-po ... 33935.html Please post the question in respective department with all the information regarding source, difficulty and others. Also do not follow letter format like friends......I would discuss...........thanks etc Please modify all your posts accordingly.

chaudhurysr · Answer

Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface.

a) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface
b) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface, using a seismic survey
c) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth's surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey
d) Buried far beneath Earth's surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey
e) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface

Ans: Clearly the statement is missing the subject that the modifier "Using a seismic survey" is modifying. So a) is incorrect. e) is the best option here. 
However, in passive forms of sentences, the subject is optional. So the below two forms, if given, would also have been correct:

1. Hydrocarbons can be located using a seismic survey even though they are buried far beneath Earth's surface (re-shuffled option b)
2. Hydrocarbons, buried far beneath Earth's surface, can be detected using a seismic survey (re-shuffled option d)

Do you agree?

mikemcgarry · Answer

Dear chaudhurysr , I'm happy to respond. :-)

I saw your report. Rather than delete that thread, I merged it into this one. This is a spectacularly bad practice question. The question writer seems to have been entirely unfamiliar with everything about the GMAT's standards except the basic directions of the the SC section. There are a number of major violations of the norms of Sentence Correction in this particular problem. First of all, the introduction of the words " a geophysicist ." Yes, the SC sometimes does introduce a new word in the answer choices, a word that is structural and derives from context. I have never seen something as specific the name of a scientific profession to appear only in the answer choices, let alone the OA. How is any reader supposed to know, without outside knowledge, that geophysicists are the ones to do this work (as opposed, say a seismologist)? How are we supposed to know whether the introduction of the this word changes the meaning or not? In this question, (A) is clearly wrong. (B) and (C) are passable, not ideal, but not entirely wrong. (D) is fine. (E) is fine, except for the bizarre introduction of a new word. investing energy into low quality verbal questions does not prepare one for the GMAT. Here's a high quality GMAT Verbal practice question: What the eye sees Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

AjiteshArun · Answer

Saurabh, the subject is  not  optional. You might be referring to the  agent . Even then, the issue is debatable: optional from a structural perspective or from a meaning perspective?

Mike, bringing  a geophysicist  in is not a problem. Test takers are expected to take such meaning calls, and past GMAT questions have done exactly this.

nks2611 · Answer

the answer must be E, present participle must be followed by a subject.
although D is tempting but E is more concise and clear

nandetapuri · Answer

Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

(A) Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.
(B) Hydrocarbons can be located even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, using a seismic survey.
(C) Locating hydrocarbons that are buried far beneath Earth’s surface, a geophysicist can use a seismic survey.
(D) Buried far beneath Earth’s surface, hydrocarbons can be detected using a seismic survey.
(E) Using a seismic survey, a geophysicist can locate hydrocarbons even though they are buried far beneath Earth’s surface.

This is a question of dangling modifiers where you have to introduce the subject itself. Who is using the seismic survey? It's ambiguous!

VerbalBot · Answer

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Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they a

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Using a seismic survey, hydrocarbons can be located even though they a

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615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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