Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention

Question

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Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention as a potential cure based on the assumption that stem cells  are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells .

A) are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells

B) were able to be programmed to behave as pancreatic cells

C) can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells

D) could be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do

E) are capable of being programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do

generis · Answer

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ElninoEffect · Answer

A)  are able to  be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
 Meaning suggests we are talking about the capability of stem cells so, use of  can be  is better than  are able to .

B)  were  able to be programmed to behave as pancreatic cells
 We are talking about a fact use of past tense is wrong.

C) can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
 Correct. Capability is rightly portrayed also noun is compared with noun, right tense.

D)  could  be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells  do 
 like is used for comparing nouns not actions so use of do is wrong here.

E) are capable of  being  programmed to behave like pancreatic cells  do 
 Use of being is wrong here + same as D

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (C) . It took me 52 seconds.

(AB) "Be able to" strongly suggests the agency to take on the action by themselves. 
(DE) Used in comparison, like is a preposition and cannot be followed by a clause such as "pancreatic cells do". Use "as pancreatic cells do" instead.

karnavora1 · Answer

Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention as a potential cure based on the assumption that stem cells are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells.

A) are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
   Incorrect - "are able to be" is grammatically incorrect

B) were able to be programmed to behave as pancreatic cells
   Incorrect - "were able to be" is the wrong tense for a general statement

C) can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
   Correct - This has proper grammatical construction

D) could be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do
   Incorrect - "can" is used for a general statement like this, not "could"

E) are capable of being programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do
   Incorrect - The use of "being" is incorrect

DarkKnight800 · Answer

In my opinion the answer is C

are able to vs can be – “are able to” implies that stem cell have the ability to perform the task itself. While “Can be” implies that stem cell can be programmed (but it will not program itself)

A) are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
Reason to eliminate: are able to is not the correct usage as per the logical meaning and reason discussed above

B) were able to be programmed to behave as pancreatic cells
Reason to eliminate: “were” is not the right tense to describe a general statement

C) can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
Correct choice: Can be is the right usage

D) could be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do
Reason to eliminate: We can argue that can be is better fit than could be, but for me the biggest reason to eliminate this choice is “do”. If we replace do with the verb it’s referring to the sentence becomes – Stem Cells could be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells could be programmed.
Now this is an incorrect comparison/meaning, the original meaning that needs to be communicated is that the stem cell can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells

E) are capable of being programmed to behave like pancreatic cells do 
Reason to eliminate – We have issues with usage of “being” here, but I would eliminate this choice for the same reason as option D – Usage of “D”

winterschool · Answer

Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention as a potential cure based on the assumption that stem cells are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells.

A)  are able to  be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells  Incorrect

B)  were  able to be programmed to behave as pancreatic cells  Incorrect

C)  can be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells   Correct

D) could be programmed to behave  like pancreatic cells do   Incorrect

E) are capable of being programmed to behave  like pancreatic cells do   Incorrect

Eliminate B, D & E - past form in B is wrong; like use to compare noun, not action; so eliminate D & E
between A & C -

in A meaning is wrong- "stem cells are able to..." that means stem cells has the ability, so eliminate

Answer C

100mitra · Answer

Correct option C

Original Sentence 
Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention 
 - as a potential cure based on the assumption that 
 - stem cells  are able to be programmed to behave like pancreatic cells .

Sentence exam on: 
1. Verb tense 
2. Usage of "like" {Stem cells = Pancreatic cells}

A) stem cells  are  able  to be  programmed to behave like pancreatic cells
wrong: tense error "are" present tense, "to be" future tense indicator

B) stem cells  were  able  to be  programmed to behave as pancreatic cells
wrong: tense error "were" past tense, "to be" future tense indicator

C) stem cells  can be  programmed to behave like pancreatic cells -  Correct

Eliminate D, and E becasue,   
1. Noun " Stem cells " are compared to verb/action of " pancreatic cells "
2. Option E, usage of "being" creates ambiguity, 
either it is " noun " - which is programmed or 
" verb " -present particle of 'to be'
3. both stem behaves "present tense", where we need, verb indicate future 
D) stem cells  could be  programmed to behave like pancreatic cells  do 
E) stem cells  are  capable  of being  programmed to behave like pancreatic cells  do

VerbalBot · Answer

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Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Stem cell therapy for diabetes has been garnering a lot of attention

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