Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every

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Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, but it was found by an educational commission to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years.

A) Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, but it was found by an educational commission to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years.

B) Although standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, an independent educational commission found that reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.

C) Since standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years was found by an educational commission both economical and reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only those two years.

D) Once administered every other year in elementary school, an independent educational commission found that reducing the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.

E) An independent educational commission, having found it to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years, which were once administered every other year in elementary school.

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A) Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, but it was found by an educational commission to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years.
Really a tough call i eleminated this on the sole basis that it modifies the other year due to which themeaning was wrong therefore out

B) Although standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, an independent educational commission found that reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.
The meaning is perfect i couldn't find any obvios faults therefore let us hang on to it

C) Since standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years was found by an educational commission both economical and reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only those two years.
This is wordy akward and doesn't convey the right meaning

D) Once administered every other year in elementary school, an independent educational commission found that reducing the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.
This gives us a meaning as though independent educational commission is administrated twice a year Hence out

E) An independent educational commission, having found it to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years, which were once administered every other year in elementary school.
The which addition is the problem here since it gives the meaning as though school years are administrated twicw a year which is not the case therefore out

Therefore IMO B

sumitkrocks · Answer

(B)  is my answer

A)   Pronoun "It" refers to what ?
Correct idiom is both X and y; not both x plus y

B)  Correct : Issues identified are rectified

C)   "Since" can be replaced by "because" and gives a cause and effect sense or presents a reason and so is not intended; Hence, meaning is flawed + other issues are generated by converting sentence to a passive form.

D)   an independent education commission was not administered : Misplace modifier changes meaning illogically

E)   Issues highlighted in A reappear again 
Which refers to school years or two in any case it does not make much sense

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (B) . It took me 01:01.

(A) "Both A and B" should be used. It is wrong to come up with "Both A plus B". 
Also, passive voice is not as strong as active voice.

(C) "Since" convey illogical relationship between two clauses. 
Also, passive voice is not as strong as active voice. 
Plus, the occurrence of "to reduce the testing schedule to only those two years" at the very end of the sentence should be deleted. This may be the editorial error.

(D) The commission cannot be "administered every other year in elementary school".

(E) "Both A and B" should be used. It is wrong to come up with "Both A plus B". 
Not a sentence. After "An independent educational commission", no verb is provided.

winterschool · Answer

Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, but it was found by an educational commission to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years.

A) Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, but  it was found by an educational commission  to be  both economical plus reliable  to reduce the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years.  Incorrect

........both ...X.... and .....Y...... - correct idioms
also passive form

B)  Although standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, an independent educational commission found that reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable .  Correct

C) Since standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years  was found by an educational commission  both economical and reliable  to reduce the testing schedule to only those two years.   Incorrect

passive form and meaning issuses

D) Once administered every other year in elementary school,  an independent educational commission  found that reducing the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.  Incorrect

educational commission modifies by previous clause that is illogical

E)  An independent educational commission , having found it to be both economical plus reliable to reduce the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years, which were once administered every other year in elementary school.  Incorrect

........both ...X.... and .....Y...... - correct idioms
An independent educational commission is a fragment, no main clause insentence

aarkay87 · Answer

My process of elimination,

Option-A: 
1) Correct idiomatic structure is “both…and…”
2) We can express the same in a more active AND direct structure as in option (B)

Option-B: Correct

Option-C: 
1) Phrase “reducing the testing schedule” AND “to reduce the testing schedule” are redundant

Option-D: 
1) Opening modifier issue – It illogically suggests that an independent educational commission was administered every other year

Option-E: 
1) Fragment – There is no working verb for the main subject “An independent educational commission”
2) Correct idiomatic structure is “both…and…”
3) Logical antecedent of WHICH is “standardized tests,” and it is missing
4) Placement of WHICH modifiers seems to modify the noun YEARS
5) I am also not sure about the antecedent of pronoun IT in “having found it to…”

swim2109 · Answer

B is the answer.

Pre-thinking error: both economical and reliable is correct; economical plus reliable is not correct. Eliminate A & E.

B) Although standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, an independent educational commission found that reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.-----> Correct. meaning preserved with contrast and both x and y idiom is also correct

C) Since standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary years was found by an educational commission both economical and reliable to reduce the testing schedule to only those two years.-----> meaning changed. Every year admisnistering is not the reason. There is a contrast!

D) Once administered every other year in elementary school, an independent educational commission found that reducing the standardized testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.-----> Wrongly modifying education commision

Gaurav2896 · Answer

The correct option seems B , but the use of although seems somewhat wrong to me . It is used to show contrast when there is some logical connection between both two clauses , but i don't see any logical connection here . generis  any comment?

hbkharsh · Answer

IMO B- Although standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every other year, an independent educational commission found that reducing the testing schedule to only two of the six elementary school years was both economical and reliable.

Reasoning :- 
1. C is showing a cause and effect relation due to the presence of since, but it is not required.
2. In D we have a runoff sentence.
3. E- which were once administered.....incorrectly modifies six elementary school years.
Between A and B- use of both A and B is preferred over Both A plus B
So the answer is B.

jyotirmayeenaik24 · Answer

I am ok with all the explanations against C D &E but the use of 'independent' adjective seems unnecessary in B. Also use of "Both A plus B" instead of "Both A and B" cannot be outrightly rejected. Please explain why B then.

VIGHNESHKAMATH · Answer

Idiom cannot be the sole deciding factor to eliminate options. Whether ''Both A plus B'' is wrong, I cannot state with surety. Thus it is better to look for other issues. Option A is wrong because of usage of ''six elementary years'', elementary modifying ''years'', that is illogical. It should be ''elementary school years''. Thus, Option B is correct. Another thing which comes to my mind, with regard to Option A, is that what did education commission found , their findings should be followed immediately, as far as possible. To keep it far away, I feel it is bit odd, not sure , if there is any definite error though.

Option C is clearly wrong because of usage of ''since'' -unnecessary causal relationship established.

Option D is wrong because of introductory ED modifier wrongly modifying ''education commission''

Option E is wrong because it has no main verb, just a modifier, modifier.....

Thank You
Vighnesh

Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Standardized tests in elementary school were once administered every

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