If continued population growth is unmatched by increases in food supp

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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If continued population growth  is unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe would  face widespread hunger and famine.

A) is unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe would

B) is not matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe will

C) will not be matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe would

D) should be unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe can

E) were to be unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe

generis · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) THE PROMPT • Meaning? If food supply does not keep pace with continued population growth, large parts of the world will grapple with widespread hunger and famine. (Or, welcome to Malthusian theory.) • CONDITIONALS: If X, Y Conditionals contain an IF clause and a MAIN (then) clause. (You will rarely see the word "then" used in conditional statements on the GMAT. Your cue is the word if .) Different types of conditional statements require different verb tenses in the if and the main clause. See the footnote** for a very condensed overview of the major types of conditionals. In this case, we deal with a Type 1 conditional, which is a statement in the present made about the future and about real things. A Type 1 conditional is often a prediction, as is the case here; the sentence describes a possible condition and its probable result in the future. The verb tenses used in a Type 1 conditional are these: → IF simple present, THEN simple future If THIS thing happens, THAT thing will happen. Some incorrect options use the wrong conditional type. • DICTION - not matched vs unmatched Diction essentially refers to the use of correct words in the right ways. Unmatched typically means unequaled, peerless, inimitable, excellent . Can "unmatched" mean "not matched"? In a strict sense, yes—but in this context, not matched is the better choice of words because not matched conveys neutral, not positive, meaning. Both matched and unmatched are past participles (verbED words) that are coupled with the helping verb is . The two word choices might be facially similar, but in context they convey different things. We learn diction by reading. I know of no other way. Use diction to break ties but never to eliminate an option on the first pass. THE OPTIONS • verb tense error → the main (result) clause should use will , not would → This sentence is a Type 1 conditional: If X happens (simple present), Y will happen (simple future) • DICTION → unmatched is dicey but not strictly wrong. In this context, not matched is superior to unmatched because the former means what it says whereas the latter connotes peerless, unequaled, rare and special —in short, a positive state of affairs This issue is not a decision point in this option. The verb error above is fatal. I am flagging the diction issue to give you a sense of what might or ought to catch your eye. ELIMINATE A B) is not matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe will • I do not see any errors • Verbs are correct: IF X happens, Y will happen • not matched is a better word choice than unmatched . See comments below the prompt and below option A. KEEP • verb tense error - no conditional type uses this verb tense pair Wrong : If simple future, then present conditional. Wrong : If this thing will happen, then that thing would happen.

ELIMINATE C • verb tense error → never use should or would in the IF clause (using those two words is often okay in the result/main clause) → we need future tense. Can signals ability or possibility, not prediction. ELIMINATE D • verb tense error / missing verb The If . . . were . . . construction signals the use of a Type 2 conditional, which consists of a hypothetical condition and its probable result. If simple past (used in the subjunctive sense), then present conditional (would). Correct: If the leader were genuinely concerned about his constituents' health, especially that of children ineligible for vaccines, he would not ban mask mandates. A Type 2 conditional often uses the construction IF WERE . . . THEN WOULD. Not always. See the footnote. ELIMINATE The answer is B. COMMENTS Bhu750 , welcome to SC Butler. These answers are superb. Very well done! **VERY condensed summary of conditionals Zero conditional : If THIS thing happens, THAT thing happens. -- general truths -- IF simple present, THEN simple present -- situation is real and possible. True now and always. Type 1 : If THIS thing happens, THAT thing will happen -- statements in the present made about the future and about real things -- IF simple present, THEN simple future -- condition is real, outcome ("truth") is very probable Type 2 : If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would happen -- If you left the house earlier, then you would be on time for the bus. (But you did not leave the house earlier.) Type 2 : If THIS thing happened, then THAT thing would be happening. -- If I understood the joke, I would be laughing. (But I don't understand the joke, so I am not laughing.) Type 2 : If THIS thing were to happen, then THAT thing would happen. -- If antitrust laws were enforced properly, then oligopolies would not control entire sectors of the economy. -- hypothetical (theoretical) statements NOT based on what is actual. Counterfactual, unreal, imaginary (hypothetical) -- IF simple past, THEN present conditional (or present continuous conditional) -- condition is not real. Time is always (now or at any time). Type 3 : If THIS thing had happened, then THAT thing would have happened. (But neither thing happened.) -- IF past perfect, THEN perfect conditional (would + have + verbED) -- If they had cooperated better, then they would have finished their project on time. (But they didn't cooperate, and they didn't finish on time.) -- statements about the unreal past and probable result (often statements of regret or missed opportunity) -- unreal past condition, probable result in the past that is also unreal (the result did not happen) Mixed conditiona l: If THIS thing had happened, then THAT thing would happen -- IF is in the past, THEN is in the present (present result of a past action) -- If past perfect, THEN present conditional (just as in Type 2) -- time is an event in the past, result is ongoing -- If I had taken the Series 7, I would be a stockbroker. (But I didn't take the tests and I am not a stockbroker.) (Mixed conditionals have many variations. I've just listed what seems to be the most common type.)

sumitkrocks · Answer

(B) is correct IMO

A) Unmatched is not idiomatic 
Use of would is wrong as we are projecting the result of a condition

B) Correct choice

C) Future tense with conditional if is wrong; Also use of would is not appropriate as indicated in A

D) Meaning changed 
Use of should is not appropriate in conditional statement 
Can presents ability not possibility or certainty, so not correct in the context of this question 
 
E) Were gives a touch of unreal situation and in the second part there is no verb

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (B) . It took me 37 seconds.

Subjective mood can be used: If continued population growth   were   not matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe   would   face widespread hunger and famine.
Or we can use regular / Indicative mood: If continued population growth   is   not matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe   will   face widespread hunger and famine. (To talk about the future, the main clause uses simple future tense while the subordinate clause uses simple present tense. This is just the rule.)

Between "is unmatched" and "is not matched", I strongly prefer "is not matched" because "unmatched" is an adjective. There is no such verb as "unmatch". When we use passive voices in a sentence, we should pick "be + verbs + ed".

Only (B) matches the preceding discussions.

Bhu750 · Answer

B is the answer IMO,
POE,

A. According to - First Conditional: if clause = If + present tense, then main clause=- future (will) or present tense + bare infinitive
 is unmatched - is in present tense, hence will should be used instead of would.

Also, when we use "unmatched" the emphasis is more on population growth - "not matched" emphasizes the negation more strongly

B. Correct answer . Both errors in A are rectified

C. The use of future tense in conditional if clause is incorrect. There can be only 3 possibilities for the conditional if clause - present, past, past perfect

D. Should/would can never be used in if clause. The use of can changes the meaning in then clause - it turns a conditional into a possibility.

E. Were to be unmatched - turns a conditional into a hypothetical situation. In case of hypothetical, "would" is required in the then clause.

generis · Answer

The official explanation can be found by clicking  here .

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

.

A) is unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe would
 umatched isn't the right usage and it distorts the meaning hencce out

B) is not matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe will
 The meaning is perfect the usage of words is spot therefore let us hang on to it

C) will not be matched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe would
 will not be isn't the right usage

D) should be unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe can
 should be unmatched is a complete mess and doesn't make any sense

E) were to be unmatched by increases in food supply, large parts of the globe
were to be is a hot mess therefore out

hence IMO B

If continued population growth is unmatched by increases in food supp

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

If continued population growth is unmatched by increases in food supp

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

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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