At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm can verify that

Question

using special identification and location software, among other tools.

(A) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, using special identification and location software, among other tools.

(B) can, with the use of special identification and location software, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools.

(C) can, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country.

(D) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools.

(E) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools, using special identification and location software.

daagh · Accepted Answer

‘Among other tools’ as part of the various methods of identification modifies ‘special identification and location software’ and is therefore required to be next or close to what it modifies. Only A, C and D do that; Reject B and E.

C and D have a meaning problem. Calling the users as a legal gambling state is untenable. It should be individuals in a legal gambling state.

Therefore is A is correct.

iikarthik · Answer

Can someone explain how "among other tools" phrase goes well with the correct answer or how do I use / treat the phrase to find the correct answer?

musunna · Answer

iikarthik  and  VeritasPrepKarishma

Nice question indeed. Added to PDF.

However, can you please provide the official explanation ?

following the topic...

iikarthik · Answer

The OA is:
Solution: A

Explanation: While unusual sounding, the original sentence is correct. This is more easily seen after using the slash and burn strategy. The original says: “…at issue is whether the firm can verify two things, using these tools.” – a perfectly acceptable structure The “among several other tools” at the end is classic “garbage” that should be removed (after you make sure it is correctly used) . In (B), the easiest error is the placement of “among other tools” away from what it needs to modify. This is a classic example of a dangling modifier. (C) and (D) both leave out the important “in”: you cannot say “verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal state”. For (E), the “among other tools” is again misplaced, suggesting that the “state or country” are among other tools. Answer is (A).

aditya8062 · Answer

honestly i did not like this question as the PROCLAIMED answer is WRONG as per me

reasoning :  "using special identification and location software"  is ADVERBIAL in nature and hence it will modifying the PRECEDING clause  "the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country,"  ----->This interpretation does not make sense.

b9n920 · Answer

Hi,
 I too felt 'using' is used little awkwardly. I would like to add one more thing. Recently, I read somewhere:

On the GMAT, a correctly used COMMA + VERBing modifier typically involves the VERBing form of an ABSTRACT VERB. 
Official example:

Animal-hide shields with wooden frames were essential items of military equipment, PROTECTING warriors against enemy arrows and spears.

But, here we have "using special identification and location software", a VERBing form of an PHYSICAL VERB. 
So, I think, had the Q been an official one, we would have seen other correct answer choices apart from A.

Thanks.

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm can verify that 
 the site’s users are 
 over 21 and 
in a legal gambling state or country,   
using special identification and location software, among other tools.

I could not find anything particularly incorrect with given sentence but was skeptical regarding verb+ing phrase using.
it can modify the whole sentence thereby explaining how gaming firm can verify or imply an effect of sth.

B--can, with the use of special identification and location software, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools.
 among the other tools is misplaced and refers to country instead of software.

C--can, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools, verify that the site’s users are 
 over 21 and 
a legal gambling state or country. 
 This indicates that users are over 21 and they are a state.
users cannot be a country or state.
 
 D--can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools.
 same error repeats as in C.

E--can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools, using special identification and location software.
 modifier misplaced error as in B repeats here.

adashis · Answer

Hi guys,

I was unable to comprehend the meaning of the sentence. As per the sentence, the gaming firm verifies 2 things:-
1)the site’s users are over 21
2) in a legal gambling state or country - This is where I am having problem.

How can one say gaming firm verifies in a legal gambling state or country. Shouldn't it be the gaming firm verifies the site’s users are over 21 in a legal gambling state or country.
The use of and makes the meaning weird.

Please tell me where I have mistaken.

sayantanc2k · Answer

The gaming verifies two things:
1. whether the users  ARE  over 21.
2. whether the users  ARE  in a legal gambling state.

The verb "are"  covers  both the items joined by "and", i.e. " over 21" and "in a legal gambling state or country". (The verb "verifies" does not  cover  "in a legal gambling state or country".)

adashis · Answer

Yes that explains the sentence, thanks a lot Sayantan.

Silver65x · Answer

Out of curiosity, if Option C included the missing 'in' before 'a legal gambling state...' would it be considered better than option A?

sandysilva · Answer

Hi experts can you please explain how the usage of verb-ing ( Using) is correct in the original sentence.
It should modify the preceding clause ,hence the usage is incorrect.

pikolo2510 · Answer

Hello  egmat   VeritasPrepKarishma ,

In Option A, I think the usage of verb-ing modifier is incorrect

When we use a verb-ing modifier preceded by a comma, it can perform any one of the following 2 functions mentioned below
1. Telling us about the result of the preceding clause
2. Describing something (non-essential) w.r.t the preceding clause
Needless to say the verb-ing modifier should make sense with the "Subject" of the preceding clause

Now coming back to Option A in this question

using special identification and location software, among other tools

My initial feeling says that this modifier is giving some description, but it doesn't make sense with the subject of the preceding clause i.e.   The site's users

So According to me Option A is incorrect.

Please correct if my understanding is wrong over here. Thanks

AkshdeepS · Answer

A--can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, using special identification and location software, among other tools.

B--can, with the use of special identification and location software, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or  country, among other tools.

C--can, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools, verify that the site’s users are  over 21 and a legal gambling  state or country.

D--can verify that the site’s users  are over 21 and a legal gambling  state or country, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools.

E--can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or  country, among other tools, using special  identification and location software.

Every answer choice has modification issues. A seems the best but "using" after comma seems somewhat incorrect.

Here "relative clause" starting with "that" succeeds the comma + Verb-ing, and this nonsensically implies that site's users are using

special identification and location software. But the actual meaning of the sentence is that "gaming firms" are using these

technologies.

But still A is best among availables.

Aadhitthyaa · Answer

Nice question. Took me a couple of minutes to figure out the answer though. B,D,E can be eliminated. Between A and C, A is slightly better because C tends to change the meaning.

Aadhitthyaa · Answer

Nice question. Took me a couple of minutes to figure out the answer though. B,D,E can be eliminated. Between A and C, A is slightly better because C tends to change the meaning.

hiranmay · Answer

At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm can verify that

using special identification and location software, among other tools.

A--can verify that the site’s users are  over 21  and  in a legal  gambling state or country, using special identification and location  software, among  other tools. -->  correct 
B--can, with the use of special identification and location  software , verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country,  among  other tools. -->  "software, among" should be together 
C--can, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools, verify that the site’s users are  over 21  and  a legal gambling  state or country. -->  not parallel 
D--can verify that the site’s users are  over 21  and  a legal gambling  state or country, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools. -->  not parallel 
E--can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools, using special identification and location software. -->  "software, among" should be together &  among  after  software

itisSheldon · Answer

Veritas Prep    OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

While unusual sounding, the original sentence is correct. This is more easily seen after using the slash and burn strategy. The original says: “…at issue is whether the firm can verify two things, using these tools.” – a perfectly acceptable structure The “among several other tools” at the end is classic “garbage” that should be removed (after you make sure it is correctly used) . In (B), the easiest error is the placement of “among other tools” away from what it needs to modify. This is a classic example of a dangling modifier. (C) and (D) both leave out the important “in”: you cannot say “verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal state”. For (E), the “among other tools” is again misplaced, suggesting that the “state or country” are among other tools.

Answer is (A).

NinetyFour · Answer

POE:
A) Correct
B) "among other tools" needs to be closer to the clause its modifying.
C) Users cannot be a state....
D) same as C
E) "among other tools" also seems misplaced here. Although I'm not 100% on this, I think it would be more clear that it is modifying software if it was palced at the end of the sentence. I think B is just a better version of E

At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm can verify that

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm can verify that

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