Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 16:16 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 16:16
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
hemanthp
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Last visit: 19 Jul 2016
Posts: 150
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 104
Status:Keep fighting!
Affiliations: IIT Madras
WE 1: 2+ years - Programming
WE 2: 3+ years - Product developement,
WE 3: 2+ years - Program management
Posts: 150
Kudos: 1,381
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
siyer
Joined: 15 Apr 2010
Last visit: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 112
Kudos: 196
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
tingle15
Joined: 15 Apr 2010
Last visit: 02 Oct 2011
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 82
Kudos: 352
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
hemanthp
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Last visit: 19 Jul 2016
Posts: 150
Own Kudos:
1,381
 [1]
Given Kudos: 104
Status:Keep fighting!
Affiliations: IIT Madras
WE 1: 2+ years - Programming
WE 2: 3+ years - Product developement,
WE 3: 2+ years - Program management
Posts: 150
Kudos: 1,381
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Actual Answer : D

Explanation
There is a stark difference between the phrases 'a little' and 'the little,' as used in the context of this sentence.
Since the sentence talks of a specific nature of hope (that there was of revivingthe patient), the definite article 'the' must precede 'little hope.'
'A little hope' would be used in a more general sense, as for example, 'the advice of the doctor gave us a little hope.'
[Note : If you omit the 'a' in this sentence, it takes on a completely different meaning. 'Little hope,' without the 'a', implies 'almost negligible' hope, next to none. 'A little hope,' however, has a slightly more positive connotation.]
Knowing this, the first two options are ruled out.
Option C uses the unnecessary phrase 'that there was' while option e unnecessarily uses the passive voice, 'being revived'.
Be wary of the word 'being' in GMAT sentence, the evaluators seem to dislike it!

Hence (D) is the correct answer.
User avatar
siyer
Joined: 15 Apr 2010
Last visit: 18 Oct 2017
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 112
Kudos: 196
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
Actual Answer : B

Explanation
Certain adjectives like fundamental, perfect, favorite, unique, ideal etc. do not have a comparative (more) or a superlative (most) degree.
Because of this, options A and D are ruled out.

Then comes the question of parallelism in the structure of the sentence.
'Surviving' in the continuous form, has to be followed by 'drinking', also in the continuous form.
Option B makes this essential correction.

Hence (B) is the correct answer.

Hi Hemanthp. The answer you gave above is for a different question. Could you re-post the correct OA.
User avatar
u0422811
Joined: 16 Sep 2010
Last visit: 13 Jun 2013
Posts: 146
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Real Estate
GMAT 1: 740 Q48 V42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thought this was pretty easy. D is the most efficient and least wordy. The prior replies do a good job explaining why.
User avatar
hemanthp
Joined: 31 Jul 2010
Last visit: 19 Jul 2016
Posts: 150
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 104
Status:Keep fighting!
Affiliations: IIT Madras
WE 1: 2+ years - Programming
WE 2: 3+ years - Product developement,
WE 3: 2+ years - Program management
Posts: 150
Kudos: 1,381
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
siyer, thanks for pointing that out.

Here is the real OE (I have also replaced the incorrect explanation above):
Actual Answer : D

Explanation
There is a stark difference between the phrases 'a little' and 'the little,' as used in the context of this sentence.
Since the sentence talks of a specific nature of hope (that there was of revivingthe patient), the definite article 'the' must precede 'little hope.'
'A little hope' would be used in a more general sense, as for example, 'the advice of the doctor gave us a little hope.'
[Note : If you omit the 'a' in this sentence, it takes on a completely different meaning. 'Little hope,' without the 'a', implies 'almost negligible' hope, next to none. 'A little hope,' however, has a slightly more positive connotation.]
Knowing this, the first two options are ruled out.
Option C uses the unnecessary phrase 'that there was' while option e unnecessarily uses the passive voice, 'being revived'.
Be wary of the word 'being' in GMAT sentence, the evaluators seem to dislike it!

Hence (D) is the correct answer.
User avatar
dokiyoki
Joined: 17 Aug 2009
Last visit: 11 Mar 2013
Posts: 184
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 184
Kudos: 22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
D seems to be the best option.
Wasnt clear about the use of A and The. Thanks hemanthp and Tingle 15 for clearing it out.
User avatar
kidchaos
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Last visit: 08 Nov 2017
Posts: 311
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 24
Affiliations: Volunteer Operation Smile India, Creative Head of College IEEE branch (2009-10), Chief Editor College Magazine (2009), Finance Head College Magazine (2008)
Location: India
WE2: Entrepreneur (E-commerce - The Laptop Skin Vault)
Concentration: Marketing, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
WE:Marketing (Other)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO D..."A Little hope" is wrong construction and "falling drastically" is the right construction



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
501 posts
358 posts