By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model

Question

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By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms .

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an estimate of the sizes of atoms can be made.

C) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, the sizes of atoms can be estimated.

D) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms.

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the capacity of making an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

generis · Answer

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)

THE PROMPT  
By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.
• Meaning? 
 A person can estimate the sizes of atoms by studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas.

→ By + verbING means  how  or  by what means  the action or event in the main clause happened.

→ This SC question requires more stylistic focus than most questions do. 
  THE OPTIONS  
 
• Although this sentence presents style issues, I see no glaring grammar errors. 
→ By studying ABC and XYZ, a person has the capacity to do PQR.
• This option lacks flow, strong verbs, and brevity. 
• I suspect that this answer is not correct, but I do not have enough information to decide; accordingly, I make a decision in 2-3 seconds.
(I really hope that people did not eliminate this answer until they saw a better one.)
KEEP, but look for a better answer

• passive construction is not automatically wrong, but
• the modifier “By studying . . . “ is weird. It cannot logically refer to  an estimate. 
→ We should be reading about a  person or people  who can estimate.
→ In a strict sense, passive sentences are written  because  the agent is not known or not important (the agent = the doer, the studier). 
-- But the meaning of the intro phrase does not fit with the main clause

• “by studying” indicates means or method (by which an estimate of size can be made). 
→ That intro phrase is an adverbial modifier: it tells us something about how an estimate of atom size can be made. That phrase creates a problem.
→ The problem stems from the meaning of the word  studying : who studies? A person. People study. 
Although passive sentences rarely include agents (the doers of the action), in this case, the absence of a doer, and specifically the absence of a person, creates a strange void.

• This sentence does not lack a subject. It lacks an agent.
→ The subject in a passive construction is not the doer of the action but the recipient of the action.
The subject is  an estimate  and the verb is  can be made .

→ This sentence needs an agent: who is studying? 
ELIMINATE B
 
• ugh – can this sentence get any worse? (Yes.)

• this option is similar to option B. The modifier “studying” is weird; it cannot logically modify  the sizes .
→ furthermore,  studying  is an adjective that describes a  person 
At this point, I’m ready to go back to (A) if the next two options do not improve matters.
ELIMINATE C

• Now the phrase  by studying…  logically modifies  one 
(Yes. “One” is an ugly construction but in formal writing is better than  you . GMAT recently tested  one  by coupling it with  you . Do not put  one  and  you  in the same sentence.)

•  can estimate  is more crisp and concise than  has the capacity to make an estimate of  in option A.
Eliminate A.
KEEP 
 
• Do no more than compare E to D
→ no contest. D wins.
--  the capacity of making an estimate of  is not better than  can estimate 
ELIMINATE E

COMMENTS

I see some very good analysis in these posts. 
Nice work!

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (D) . It took me 54 seconds.

(A) "has the capacity to make an estimate" is wordy. (D) is concise.
(B) "an estimate" cannot "study". Eliminate (B)
(C) "The sizes" cannot "study". Eliminate (C)
(E) Here, "capacity of" should be "capacity to".

Ranasaymon · Answer

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

=> This portion 'one has the capacity to make an estimate' is wordy. We can convey the same meaning concisely by using 'one can estimate'

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an estimate of the sizes of atoms can be made.

=>Modifier error: By studying...an estimate ( Actually, a person studies the differences)

C) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, the sizes of atoms can be estimated.

=>Modifier error: studying...the sizes ( Actually, a person studies the differences)

D) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms. 
 
E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the capacity of making an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

=> Wordy ( gives one the capacity of making an estimate vs one can estimate) 
=> 'One can estimate' is a concise way to convey the meaning.

NiftyNiffler · Answer

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the  capacity  to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms. -- usage of capacity is wrong. It means as though studying gives one the ability/power - not the intended meaning

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an  estimate  of the sizes of atoms can be made. -- modifier error; "by studying" modifies "estimate"

C) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, the  sizes  of atoms can be estimated. -- modifier error; "studying" modifies "sizes"

D)  By studying  the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas,  one  can estimate the sizes of atoms. -- CORRECT, precise, meaningful & modifier error eliminated

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the  capacity of making  an estimate of the sizes of atoms. -- wrong usage of "Capacity"

The answer should be  D

winterschool · Answer

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has t he capacity to make an estimate  of the sizes of atoms.  Incorrect

second portion of sentence has awkward contruction

B)  By studying  the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas,  an estimate of the sizes  of atoms can be made.  Incorrect

'By studying ' modify 'an estimate' , second portion of sentence has awkward meanings

C)  Studying  the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas,  the sizes of atoms  can be estimated.  Incorrect

'Studying' modify 'the sizes of atoms', past form 'estimated' - wrong

D)  By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms.   Correct

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas  gives one the capacity of making an estimate  of the sizes of atoms.  Incorrect

awkward construction

Praveenksinha · Answer

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms. Wrong - has is incorrect here

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an estimate of the sizes of atoms can be made." by Studying the differences .......gas" is modifying an estimate.

C) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, the sizes of atoms can be estimated. Wrong - "Studying the differences .......gas" is modifying size of atom, atom is not studying

D) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms. Correct

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the capacity of making an estimate of the sizes of atoms. wordy

vijk · Answer

My previous post went kaput for some reason

General rule - common sense By doing something, someone did something. So the modifying clause should be followed by the subject. B and C violate this principle without proper subject. A in my openion has tense error more than anything, has - is present perfect. The sentence intends to convey that by studying/doing something one can do something else / or gain something. Has means one already possess it. out D, looks fine. E. capacity of is wrong, capacity to is the correct form. Imo - D

Varunsawhney8 · Answer

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.
Between A and D 
D is shorter, precise and better
Correct

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an estimate of the sizes of atoms can be made.
Modifier error
Studying should refer to someone not an estimate of the sizes
Eliminate

C) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, the sizes of atoms can be estimated.
Modifier error
Studying should refer to someone not the size of atoms
Eliminate

D) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms.
Correct choice

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the capacity of making an estimate of the sizes of atoms. 
gives is awkward 
Eliminate

agar123 · Answer

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one has the capacity to make an estimate of the sizes of atoms.

A) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas,   one has the capacity to make an estimate   of the sizes of atoms. ---->"One has the capacity to make an estimate" is unneccessarily wordy, it can be simply expressed by "one can estimate".

B) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, an estimate of the sizes of atoms can be made.---> The use of passive voice is not preferred and an estimate can't study the difference.

C)   Studying the differences   between real gases and the idealized model of a gas,   the sizes   of atoms can be estimated. ----> It seems to suggest that sizes are studying the differences, which doesn't make any sense.

D) By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas, one can estimate the sizes of atoms. ----> Correct

E) Studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model of a gas gives one the   capacity of making   an estimate of the sizes of atoms. -----> unnecessarily wordy, and "capacity of making" doesn't sound right. It should be "capacity to make".

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

By studying the differences between real gases and the idealized model

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

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