Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Repr

Question

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1) 
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Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Representatives, they do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised.

A) Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Representatives, they do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised.

B) Although the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, they do not expect it to pass without significant revision.

C) Although the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, it is not expected to pass without significant revision.

D) If it is to be passed, the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation.

E) Consideration and significant revision is expected if Medicare legislation is to be passed by the House of Representatives.

generis · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)

• Split #1: Pronoun/Noun Disagreement

The pronoun  they,  plural, cannot refer to the House of Representatives, singular.
 
Not only is the House of Representatives a collective singular noun, but it is also an inanimate object—so the proper pronoun choice is  it.

A government or government body, unless indicated otherwise, is singular.
 The House of Representatives  is singular, as is the Supreme Court, the Senate, the Executive branch, Parliament, and so on.
 aarkay87  , you asked 
 
In most cases, it is not incorrect to consider whether the antecedent of the pronoun  they  in option B might be "Representatives."
You are correct: the object of a preposition absolutely can be the antecedent of a pronoun.

In this case, no, we cannot consider the possibility that  they  refers to  Representatives  for one reason only: government bodies are collective, singular nouns in U.S. English.

In fact, this question tests that very fact, i.e., whether aspirants understand that a government or branch of government is both a collective noun and singular.
Good question.

Options A and B incorrectly pair the plural pronoun  they  and the singular pronoun  House of Representatives .
(Option A also employs the grammatical but slightly verbose phrase  without being significantly revised.  Do not eliminate option A because you see the word "being." Wrong move. If you did need to eliminate on the basis of style, you would wait until you were down to your last two options.)
ELIMINATE A AND B

• Split #2: Misplaced Modifier

When a noun modifier starts a sentence, pronoun antecedent rules get a little more strict.
Right after a noun modifier that introduces a sentence, the very next thing that we should be reading about is the target noun (the noun that the modifier is trying to define).
Otherwise, we have a misplaced modifier.

Well, in option D, the word  it  in the introductory statement logically must refer to the Medicare legislation, but right after the comma, we see House of Representatives.
One of two things is wrong; we need only one:

→ The pronoun  it  incorrectly refers to the  House of Representatives  rather than to  Medicare legislation .
→ The pronoun  it  correctly refers to the  Medicare legislation  but the noun modifier is too far from its noun. ← ← This scenario is the more likely one.

Either way, option D is wrong.
Eliminate D

• Split #3: Option E

Option E contains subject/verb agreement error.
In E, the subject  Consideration and significant revision,  is a compound subject and therefore should be coupled with a plural verb.
Option E uses  is  incorrectly. The sentence should say  are .
ELIMINATE E

The correct answer is C.

• Notes

Collective nouns are usually singular.
Not always.
Here are four collective nouns that GMAT might throw at you that are plural:  people, police, vermin , and  cattle .

COMMENTS

These answers are thoughtful and often well-reasoned.
Better still, everyone reasoned themselves to the correct answer.

I will remind everyone that all GMAT aspirants have a standing invitation to post.

In general? Very good work.
Kudos to all.

Anuragsharma93 · Answer

IMO C

Note that collective Nouns are always singular and "House of Representatives" is a collective and hence plural they is wrongly referring to singular noun.. Hence A and B are out.

A) Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Representatives, they do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised. - as explained above.

B) Although the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, they do not expect it to pass without significant revision. - as explained above.

C) Although the House of Representatives is considering  Medicare legislation ,  it  is not expected to pass without significant revision. -  It refers to singular medicare legislation and this is the correct answer.

D) If it is to be passed, the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation. --  The modifier "if it is to be passed should be followed by Medicare legislation and not the house of representatives. Misplaced Modifier error , hence eliminate.

E) Consideration and significant revision is expected if Medicare legislation  is to be passed by  the House of Representatives. -   First the clause Consideration and Significant revision is expected doesn't have a subject and seems incomplete, Secondly the sentence is in Passive Voice and C is so much more clearer.  ]

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, but the legislation is not expected to pass without significant revision.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Pronouns + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• Collective nouns are always singular
• Two singular nouns joined by “and” function as one plural noun.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "House of Representatives" with the plural pronoun "they"; please remember, collective nouns are always singular. Further, Option A uses the passive voice constructions "being considered" and "being significantly revised", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B:  This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "House of Representatives" with the plural pronoun "they"; please remember, collective nouns are always singular.

C:   Correct.  This answer choice correctly refers to the singular noun "House of Representatives" and the singular pronoun "it" with the singular verb "is". Further, Option C correctly refers to the singular noun "Medicare legislation" with the singular pronoun "it". Additionally, Option C uses the clauses "the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation" and "it is not expected to pass without significant revision", conveying the intended meaning - that the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, but the legislation is not expected to pass without significant revision. Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D:  This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation"; the construction of this clause and the omission of the verb "considering" imply that for the Medicare legislation to be passed, the House of Representatives needs to revise it significantly; the intended meaning is that the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, but the legislation is not expected to pass unless it is revised significantly.

E:  This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "Consideration and significant revision" with the singular verb "is"; please remember, two singular nouns joined by “and” function as one plural noun. Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "Consideration and significant revision is expected"; the construction of this clause implies that for the Medicare legislation to be passed by the House of Representatives, consideration and revision are needed by some unnamed entity; the intended meaning is that the House of Representatives   is considering   Medicare legislation, but the legislation is not expected to pass unless it is revised significantly.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Collective, Countable, and Uncountable Nouns" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~x2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F3RVeQ6axY

To understand the concept of "And" vs Other Conjunctions on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLAjw4aR0rM

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Sumi1010 · Answer

Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Representatives,  they  do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised.

What is the antecedent for they?  
There is no plural subject. 
We can eliminate choices  A and B.

D) If  it  is to be passed, the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation

"It" may refer to the House. 
However, the House is NOT to be passed!

E) Consideration and significant revision  is  expected if Medicare legislation is to be passed by the House of Representatives.

Even if we ignore the meaning aspect of the sentence (as we don't know the original meaning stated by the problem for a fully-underlined sentence), we can clearly see S-V agreement issue.

Choice C fixes the issues and is correct.

IMO  C

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A) Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Representatives, they do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised.
Being is always a huge red flag and mostly never the right answer therefore out , in addition medical care legislation by itself cannot bbring in a change meaning error therefore out

B) Although the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, they do not expect it to pass without significant revision. 
they don't have a right reference due to which the meaning is distorted therefore out

C) Although the House of Representatives is considering Medicare legislation, it is not expected to pass without significant revision.
The meaning and all the reference is perfect therefore let us hang on to it

D) If it is to be passed, the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation. 
it doesn't have a perfect reference and house representives by themselves are not revising it they are part of the approval of revision therefore out

E) Consideration and significant revision is expected if Medicare legislation is to be passed by the House of Representatives.
a change in medicare legislation is hinted in the passage and not the implementation of a new medicare in itself , murky meaning therefore out

Therefore IMO C

generis · Answer

ExpertsGlobal5  , please check your messages (PMs and email). Thank you.

aarkay87 · Answer

POE:

A: 
1) Ambiguous pronoun – THEY; but don’t strike only on this basis as this pronoun can refer to “representatives”
2) BEING as a modifier is not a preferred usage on the GMAT

B: Contender:

C: Correct – Even though pronoun IT can refer to “the house”, but more logical selection will be “Medicare legislation”

D: Meaning changed

E: SVA error: Plural subject “Consideration and significant revision” and plural verb ARE

generis : Is it incorrect to consider that antecedent of pronoun THEY in option-B might be “representatives”? Logically, antecedent of pronoun can be an object of preposition.

100mitra · Answer

Correct Option C

A) Although (Medicare legislation is being considered) by the House of Representatives, 
 they do not expect it to pass without being significantly revised.
 Wrong:  Legislation (Noun) is being considered – wrong, SV agreement error

B) Although ( the House of Representatives ) is considering  Medicare legislation , 
 ( they ) do not expect ( it ) to pass without significant revision.
 Wrong:  legislation (Noun) is singular, 
Pronoun – “they” create ambiguity to what it is refer, as (The house of representatives) is also singular – SV Agreement error

C) Although ( the House of Representatives ) is considering ( Medicare legislation ),
  it is  not expected to pass without significant revision.
 Correct:  SV agreement no error

D) If it is to be passed, 
the House of Representatives must significantly revise Medicare legislation.
 Wrong:  Pronoun It, is refer to which noun creates confusion, Plus with SV Agreement error, it has meaning error

E) Consideration and significant revision is expected 
if Medicare legislation is to be passed by the House of Representatives.
 Wrong:  usage of If clause and intended meaning of sentence is wrong

generis · Answer

The official explanation can be found  here .

Rasalghul853 · Answer

How does option C not have a pronoun ambiguity? "It" can refer to either Medicare or House of Representatives.

Also, shouldn't "it" always refer to the subject of the preceding clause? In this case that is "House of Representatives". I am so confused. Kindly help

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  Rasalghul853 ,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe that we can help resolve your doubt.

First of all, there is no rule that mandates that pronouns must refer to the subject of a preceding clause: for example - "Ron flew his kite, and it hit a tree." Here, "it" correctly refers to "the kite", the object of the preceding clause. Second, Option C does not suffer from pronoun ambiguity, as it is logically clear which noun "it" refers to; it makes no sense whatsoever to say that "the House of Representatives" is not expected to pass without significant revision; a piece of legislation can be "revised" and "passed", but an organization such as "the House of Representatives" cannot. Please consider this example - "The passengers had to evacuate the buses after their engines overheated."; here, it is clear that "their" must refer to "buses", as "passengers" cannot logically be said to have "engines.

To understand the concept of "Exceptions to Pronoun Ambiguity" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7ywTLSGRC8

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

I don't love pronouns for this reason. They are 'squishy.' So much of SC is about the meaning in the structure, and if a structure is wrong or ambiguous/illogical, the sentence is wrong.

I tell my students to learn to 'read like a robot,' because a robot only has the rules of structure to get meaning. If the meaning from the structure is illogical or ambiguous, err towards a different sentence.

But then... the GMAT makes exceptions for pronouns that a computer would consider 'ambiguous.' (in fact, computers REALLY struggle with sentences like "The trophy could not fit into the suitcase because it was too big." (Or "because it was too small.") As humans we understand which thing is too big/small in the scenario, but a computer struggles with that.

And so sometimes the GMAT allows your human rationality to clear up the structural ambiguity of a pronoun.

Here's my advice: pronoun ambiguity is a secondary split. Pronoun NUMBER agreement is a primary split. If you think a pronoun is ambiguous, don't immediately eliminate the answer. Try to find 'stronger' reasons for that sentence or for other sentences.

And ultimately, 'ambiguity' is not objective, but comparative. Don't get rid of a sentence for being objectively (in your mind) 'ambiguous.' Get rid of a sentence because it is objectively *more ambiguous* than one of the other (grammatically correct and logical) answer choices. Like, it's hard to say when a pile of hay becomes a 'pile.' What objectively is a 'pile?' I don't know, objectively. But I can say one 'pile' is objectively bigger than another 'pile!'

Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Repr

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Although Medicare legislation is being considered by the House of Repr

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