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17 Aug 2021, 22:43
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B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
68% (01:43) correct
32%
(01:42)
wrong
based on 330
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
To assess the impact of an individual on the community is a conundrum, for there is a limit to the number of consequences of any single course of action they can be cognizant of.
A) To assess the impact of an individual on the community is a conundrum, for there is a limit to the number of consequences of any single course of action they can be cognizant of.
B) Assessing the impact of an individual on the community is a conundrum, for one can be cognizant of only a limited number of consequences of any single course of action.
C) It is a conundrum to assess the impact of an individual on a community, for there is only a limited number of consequences of any single course of action which one can be cognizant of.
D) Just as there are only a limited number of consequences of any single course of action that one can be cognizant of, assessing the impact of an individual on the community is a conundrum.
E) A conundrum is to assess the impact of an individual on the community, for the number of consequences of any single course of action is limited of which one can be cognizant.
17 Aug 2021, 22:46
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
Assessing the impact of an individual on the community is difficult because the observer can be cognizant of only a limited number of consequences that result from any single course of action by the individual. (Think of the butterfly effect in chaos theory.)
THE OPTIONS
Who is they? The word has no antecedent; the only plural noun is consequences, and this "they" refers to a singular sentient thinker.
ELIMINATE A
• which should be that
→ which and that are not interchangeable on the GMAT. See Notes, below.
• ambiguity or lack of clarity
→ can be cognizant of should refer to the limited number of consequences but appears to refer simply to any single course of action.
Wrong meaning. An observer cannot know all the consequences that stem from a single course of action.
• style hiccup - the construction in option B (of which one can be cognizant) is better than that in this option (can be cognizant of).
→ Some of you may have been told never to end a sentence with a preposition.
That guideline is much too strong.
True, GMAC writers almost never end sentences (in SC) with a preposition, and most writers instinctively avoid doing so much of the time.
This issue is a subtle matter of style. Sometimes the use of a preposition at the end of a sentence is the most readable construction.
On the GMAT, if you get the question down to two options and one of them ends in a preposition, look again carefully. (It may well be the answer. But the construction is suspect.)
ELIMINATE C
The words just as set up a comparison between limited number of consequences and assessing the impact.
We must compare like to like, and those two items are not similar. Comparison error.
• diction oddity because the idiom is botched
→ the correct idiom is Just as X, so (too) Y.
The second part of this idiom is missing.
→ Just as actually can be used alone, though I have never seen the words used alone in an official SC and I doubt that I will do so.
• style hiccup - often it's best to avoid ending a clause with a preposition, just as is the case in option C.
ELIMINATE D
→ the phrasing a conundrum is to assess XYZ sounds as though the sentence is focused on the definition of a conundrum. Wrong meaning.
• Diction disaster - A conundrum is to assess
We are not Yoda. In fact, Yoda would slide in an "it is," albeit in an inverted sense. What am I talking about?
This phrasing is the epitome of awkward.
This construction consists of appropriate word choice and placement: It is a conundrum to assess the impact of XYZ.
This construction consists of nearly impenetrable phrasing: A conundrum is to assess
• misplaced modifier
→ does of which one can be cognizant modify limited? any single action? the number of consequences?
The end of the sentence is as poorly written as the beginning.
ELIMINATE E
Sidebar:
zhanbo wrote, about option E,
The answer is B.
NOTES
• WHICH/THAT
In British English, which and that are interchangeable.
In U.S. English and on the GMAT, which and that are not interchangeable.
→ which introduces nonessential information and is set off by commas
→ that introduces essential information and is almost never set off by commas
People debate whether GMAT will continue to observe the distinction between which and that.
In at least one official question in the nonunderlined portion, which was used without commas to introduce essential modifiers.
On the other hand, I have never seen a correct answer choice (i.e., the underlined part) in which the word which introduced essential material and was not set off by commas.
SPOILER ALERT: In addition, in 2020, GMAC published a new official question that tests this very distinction.
The question remains in the 2021 Official Guide. You can find that question here.
COMMENTS
What a nice mix of Butler crew members!
In all seriousness, as I read your posts over time, I come to know your thinking and writing styles.
I like the variety I see here. I especially like the improvement I see across the board.
The answers are well-reasoned and clear.
Kudos to all.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• Meaning?
Assessing the impact of an individual on the community is difficult because the observer can be cognizant of only a limited number of consequences that result from any single course of action by the individual. (Think of the butterfly effect in chaos theory.)
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• pronoun error
Who is they? The word has no antecedent; the only plural noun is consequences, and this "they" refers to a singular sentient thinker.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• I do not see any errors
Quote:
• which should be that
→ which and that are not interchangeable on the GMAT. See Notes, below.
• ambiguity or lack of clarity
→ can be cognizant of should refer to the limited number of consequences but appears to refer simply to any single course of action.
Wrong meaning. An observer cannot know all the consequences that stem from a single course of action.
• style hiccup - the construction in option B (of which one can be cognizant) is better than that in this option (can be cognizant of).
→ Some of you may have been told never to end a sentence with a preposition.
That guideline is much too strong.
True, GMAC writers almost never end sentences (in SC) with a preposition, and most writers instinctively avoid doing so much of the time.
This issue is a subtle matter of style. Sometimes the use of a preposition at the end of a sentence is the most readable construction.
On the GMAT, if you get the question down to two options and one of them ends in a preposition, look again carefully. (It may well be the answer. But the construction is suspect.)
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• illogical comparison
The words just as set up a comparison between limited number of consequences and assessing the impact.
We must compare like to like, and those two items are not similar. Comparison error.
• diction oddity because the idiom is botched
→ the correct idiom is Just as X, so (too) Y.
The second part of this idiom is missing.
→ Just as actually can be used alone, though I have never seen the words used alone in an official SC and I doubt that I will do so.
• style hiccup - often it's best to avoid ending a clause with a preposition, just as is the case in option C.
ELIMINATE D
Quote:
• meaning error
→ the phrasing a conundrum is to assess XYZ sounds as though the sentence is focused on the definition of a conundrum. Wrong meaning.
• Diction disaster - A conundrum is to assess
We are not Yoda. In fact, Yoda would slide in an "it is," albeit in an inverted sense. What am I talking about?
This phrasing is the epitome of awkward.
This construction consists of appropriate word choice and placement: It is a conundrum to assess the impact of XYZ.
This construction consists of nearly impenetrable phrasing: A conundrum is to assess
• misplaced modifier
→ does of which one can be cognizant modify limited? any single action? the number of consequences?
The end of the sentence is as poorly written as the beginning.
ELIMINATE E
Sidebar:
zhanbo wrote, about option E,
Quote:
Funny and spot on.
The answer is B.
NOTES
• WHICH/THAT
In British English, which and that are interchangeable.
In U.S. English and on the GMAT, which and that are not interchangeable.
→ which introduces nonessential information and is set off by commas
→ that introduces essential information and is almost never set off by commas
People debate whether GMAT will continue to observe the distinction between which and that.
In at least one official question in the nonunderlined portion, which was used without commas to introduce essential modifiers.
On the other hand, I have never seen a correct answer choice (i.e., the underlined part) in which the word which introduced essential material and was not set off by commas.
SPOILER ALERT: In addition, in 2020, GMAC published a new official question that tests this very distinction.
The question remains in the 2021 Official Guide. You can find that question here.
COMMENTS
What a nice mix of Butler crew members!
In all seriousness, as I read your posts over time, I come to know your thinking and writing styles.
I like the variety I see here. I especially like the improvement I see across the board.
The answers are well-reasoned and clear.
Kudos to all.
17 Aug 2021, 23:08
Kudos
Bookmarks
My answer is (B). It took me 01:50.
A decent sentence should make its meaning readily clear to attentive readers such as GMAT test takers. I honestly could not fully appreciate what (ADE) try to convey.
(A) "they can be cognizant of" is indeed a riddle. The only plural noun in this sentence is "consequences" but it does not make sense here.
(B) I can understand what it says. Keep for now.
(C) I can also understand its meaning, but it has two issues:
1. "which" should be used in nonrestrictive relative clause. "that" should be used here.
2. "which" ostensibly modifies "any single course of action", but it should actually modify "a limited number of consequences"
(D) "just as" clause should be followed by "so (too)" clause, but "so (too)" is missing.
Even if "so (too)" is added, I still do not think the two clauses share an analogy.
(E) Let's just agree this sentence is so poorly written that it does not stand any chance of being the right answer.
A decent sentence should make its meaning readily clear to attentive readers such as GMAT test takers. I honestly could not fully appreciate what (ADE) try to convey.
(A) "they can be cognizant of" is indeed a riddle. The only plural noun in this sentence is "consequences" but it does not make sense here.
(B) I can understand what it says. Keep for now.
(C) I can also understand its meaning, but it has two issues:
1. "which" should be used in nonrestrictive relative clause. "that" should be used here.
2. "which" ostensibly modifies "any single course of action", but it should actually modify "a limited number of consequences"
(D) "just as" clause should be followed by "so (too)" clause, but "so (too)" is missing.
Even if "so (too)" is added, I still do not think the two clauses share an analogy.
(E) Let's just agree this sentence is so poorly written that it does not stand any chance of being the right answer.
