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May 0312:30 AM EDT
-01:30 AM EDT
Learn how Kamakshi achieved a GMAT 675 with an impressive 96th %ile in Data Insights. Discover the unique methods and exam strategies that helped her excel in DI along with other sections for a balanced and high score.
08 Apr 2021, 22:01
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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:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
72% (01:36) correct
28%
(01:48)
wrong
based on 314
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Contrary to what is generally believed, the brain being a malleable organ makes it capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, known as neuroplasticity.
A) the brain being a malleable organ makes it capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, known as neuroplasticity
B) the brain is a malleable organ and is capable of restructuring itself—within limits—and adapting to new sensory inputs, which is known as neuroplasticity
C) since the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity
D) the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity
E) the brain is capable of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs within limits since it is a malleable organ, known as neuroplasticity
08 Apr 2021, 22:04
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
• Meaning?
The sentence indicates that the brain is capable of both restructuring and adapting itself within limits.
This capability is known as neuroplasticity.
• Main issue? Modifiers
This question tests The Missing Noun (an idea, a phenomenon).
That is, the main clause describes an event or phenomenon but does not use a noun to do so.
In this instance, the main clause explains that the brain is malleable [adjective] and can do [verbs] two things.
Known as neuroplasticity describes what happens in that main clause.
A something is "known as neuroplasticity"; the latter phrase is an adjective that needs a noun to modify.
We cannot simply "tack on" the noun description known as neuroplasticity because the main clause does not contain the noun we need.
So we create the noun.
We summarize the idea in the main clause.
To do so, we make up a word or a few words to describe the noun-thing that happened in the main clause.
The noun phrase a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity is called a summative (summarizing) modifier.
(Don't worry about the jargon.)
The noun phrase summarizes or encapsulates the idea expressed in the main clause.
Summative modifiers are a special kind of apposition.
THE OPTIONS
→ the inputs are not known as neuroplasticity
→ the the brain is not known as neuroplasticity
• being?
→ in this case, as is often the case, the use of being makes the sentence awkward
→ although the word being is suspect, do not dismiss an "awkward" option on the first pass.
Correct official sentences often seem awkward. Style decisions come last.
We eliminate this option because of the modifier error.
ELIMINATE A
→ the antecedent of which is either ambiguous or nonexistent
Does which refer to the noun phrase adapting to new sensory inputs?
Or does which refer to the noun phrase restructuring itself?
Alternatively, from context we can surmise that the which clause should refer to the whole idea expressed in the previous clause—but no noun exists for which to modify.
• do not worry about the changed placement of "within limits."
Do not get distracted by this change. This option contains a major modifier error. We can eliminate on that basis alone and not waste time wondering about the placement of "within limits."
ELIMINATE B
→ this since means because, and we should be dealing with a Because X, Y construction
→ If we ignore the first part of the sentence and simplify, we get this fragment:
Because the brain is a malleable organ, capable and adaptable, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.
ELIMINATE C
• a phenomenon properly captures the idea expressed in the previous clause
→ the words a phenomenon create a summative modifier, which I discussed in the introduction.
→ now, known as neuroplasticity correctly modifies a phenomenon (noun)
KEEP
• the inverted order of the phrases and clauses creates a sentence that is not as effective or clear as that in option D.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is D.
COMMENTS
Jitu20 , welcome to SC Butler.
CEdward , good to "see" you again.
These are trying times that will not last forever.
I am impressed by the consistency of aspirants on GMAT Club.
Keep up the good work.
And stay safe.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• Meaning?
The sentence indicates that the brain is capable of both restructuring and adapting itself within limits.
This capability is known as neuroplasticity.
• Main issue? Modifiers
This question tests The Missing Noun (an idea, a phenomenon).
That is, the main clause describes an event or phenomenon but does not use a noun to do so.
In this instance, the main clause explains that the brain is malleable [adjective] and can do [verbs] two things.
Known as neuroplasticity describes what happens in that main clause.
A something is "known as neuroplasticity"; the latter phrase is an adjective that needs a noun to modify.
We cannot simply "tack on" the noun description known as neuroplasticity because the main clause does not contain the noun we need.
So we create the noun.
We summarize the idea in the main clause.
To do so, we make up a word or a few words to describe the noun-thing that happened in the main clause.
The noun phrase a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity is called a summative (summarizing) modifier.
(Don't worry about the jargon.)
The noun phrase summarizes or encapsulates the idea expressed in the main clause.
Summative modifiers are a special kind of apposition.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• modifier error
→ the inputs are not known as neuroplasticity
→ the the brain is not known as neuroplasticity
• being?
→ in this case, as is often the case, the use of being makes the sentence awkward
→ although the word being is suspect, do not dismiss an "awkward" option on the first pass.
Correct official sentences often seem awkward. Style decisions come last.
We eliminate this option because of the modifier error.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• which must refer to a noun and cannot modify an entire clause.
→ the antecedent of which is either ambiguous or nonexistent
Does which refer to the noun phrase adapting to new sensory inputs?
Or does which refer to the noun phrase restructuring itself?
Alternatively, from context we can surmise that the which clause should refer to the whole idea expressed in the previous clause—but no noun exists for which to modify.
• do not worry about the changed placement of "within limits."
Do not get distracted by this change. This option contains a major modifier error. We can eliminate on that basis alone and not waste time wondering about the placement of "within limits."
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• fragment: the main clause lacks a verb
→ this since means because, and we should be dealing with a Because X, Y construction
→ If we ignore the first part of the sentence and simplify, we get this fragment:
Because the brain is a malleable organ, capable and adaptable, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• I do not see any errors
• a phenomenon properly captures the idea expressed in the previous clause
→ the words a phenomenon create a summative modifier, which I discussed in the introduction.
→ now, known as neuroplasticity correctly modifies a phenomenon (noun)
KEEP
Quote:
• known as neuroplasticity seems to modify, incorrectly, malleable organ
• the inverted order of the phrases and clauses creates a sentence that is not as effective or clear as that in option D.
ELIMINATE E
The answer is D.
COMMENTS
Jitu20 , welcome to SC Butler.
CEdward , good to "see" you again.
These are trying times that will not last forever.
I am impressed by the consistency of aspirants on GMAT Club.
Keep up the good work.
And stay safe.
08 Apr 2021, 22:16
Kudos
Bookmarks
Contrary to what is generally believed, the brain being a malleable organ makes it capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, known as neuroplasticity.
A) the brain being a malleable organ makes it capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, known as neuroplasticity
B) the brain is a malleable organ and is capable of restructuring itself—within limits—and adapting to new sensory inputs, which is known as neuroplasticity
C) since the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity
D) the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity (CORRECT)
E) the brain is capable of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs within limits since it is a malleable organ, known as neuroplasticity
D contains something called an absolute phrase. All other choices are erroneous because they involve an illegal modification of 'sensory inputs'
A) the brain being a malleable organ makes it capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, known as neuroplasticity
B) the brain is a malleable organ and is capable of restructuring itself—within limits—and adapting to new sensory inputs, which is known as neuroplasticity
C) since the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity
D) the brain is a malleable organ, capable—within limits—of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs, a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity (CORRECT)
E) the brain is capable of restructuring itself and adapting to new sensory inputs within limits since it is a malleable organ, known as neuroplasticity
D contains something called an absolute phrase. All other choices are erroneous because they involve an illegal modification of 'sensory inputs'
