Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it i

Question

Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

(A) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

(B) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, which was expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

(C) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and they are expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

(D) The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

(E) The outposts have a lack of fresh water, a problem expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

Revised/edited Version of this question is  HERE (V08-01) .

TOPIC IS LOCKED AND ARCHIVED.

aditya8062 · Answer

i think the best option here is D:  The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

E, on the other hand though not wrong but is more wordy : The outposts  have a lack of fresh water , a problem expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. ---->why would one use  "have a lack"  when one can easily convey the meaning in more succinct way:  The outposts lack fresh water

Aksh19 · Answer

OA should be D.
The problem refers to  the lack of fresh water in the outposts . The structuring of option E is very awkward.

hdwnkr · Answer

Something I learnt recently and it might help. Have a look at this difference between Appositive and Absolute phrases. Best explained in this post by Kevin from Magoosh https://magoosh.com/gmat/2015/gmat-tuesd ... e-phrases/ Applying that here Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. (A) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. E is more concise (B) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, which was expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. which is incorrectly modifying 'outposts' (C) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and they are expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. they is an incorrect pronoun used here (D) The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. Modifiers modify the immediate preceding noun. Here it is fresh water. And hence an incorrect modifier reference (E) The outposts have a lack of fresh water, a problem expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. An Absolute phrase here. Modifying the entire statement before it. Hope this helps. Please correct me in case I'm wrong.

kanigmat011 · Answer

Dear All,

Even I went for D but found it strange that E was OA
this is the explanation provided
"(A) The pronoun it has an unclear antecedent 
(B) The pronoun which has an unclear antecedent 
(C) The plural pronoun they could only refer to outposts, which implies that the outposts are expected to continue rather than the problem
 (D) A problem incorrectly refers to fresh water ; it is the lack of fresh water that is the problem 
(E) Correct. A problem correct refers to a lack of fresh water; the sentence is concise and correct. It is not necessary to use that, as in choice D. The correct answer is E"

Experts please help us as explanation given doesn't make it clear why E is better choice than D

This question is of Gmat Club Test V08-01

Guilio · Answer

The answer is clearly either D or E. I can hardly see the difference between the two.

aditya8062 · Answer

the EXPLANATION is NOT CORRECT !! 
in a construction such as CLAUSE+ COMMA + ABSTRACT NOUN + MODIFIER------> The "ABSTRACT NOUN" refers to the previous clause and NOT TO SOME SPECIFIC NOUN !!

hdwnkr · Answer

Not an expert but I am confident of my explanation

D)  The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

Modifiers modify the immediate preceding noun.  The outposts  (noun phrase)  lack  (verb)  fresh water  (noun) , a problem (modifier that refers to what is immediately before it) .....  Fresh water is not a problem Lack of it is. Hence, D is incorrect

(E) The outposts have a lack of fresh water, a problem expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

An Absolute phrase here. Modifying the entire statement before it. Hence, E is correct

In my reply above, I have put a link explaining appositive and absolute phrases. That might help!

Hope this helps! Please let me know whether I'm wrong.

aditya8062 · Answer

This is not correct!! in fact you need to check the DISTINCTION between "CLAUSE+COMMA+ ABSTRACT NOUN +MODIFIER" construction AND "CLAUSE+COMMA+ CONCRETE NOUN +MODIFIER" construction.

ALSO note that in both D and E "a problem" is an ABSTRACTION so there is no distinction as drawn by you.

hdwnkr · Answer

Can you please explain the distinction between the CLAUSE+COMMA+ABSTRACT NOUN+MODIFIER" construction AND "CLAUSE+COMMA+CONCRETE NOUN+MODIFIER" construction. Couldn't find a promising explanation?

And, I hope you know what CAPS LOCK in written language means! With all due respect Mr Director, you might want to tone down a bit buddy..

aditya8062 · Answer

CLAUSE+COMMA+ABSTRACT NOUN+MODIFIER------>in this construction the "ABSTRACTION" can refer to complete clause that comes before the COMMA
 
CLAUSE+COMMA+CONCRETE NOUN+MODIFIER------>in this construction "CONCRETE" noun refers to the NOUN that comes BEFORE COMMA

you got me wrong again. i have put those CONSTRUCTIONS in caps just to HIGHLIGHT else those construction will get mixed up in text. it was not to offend you 
hope this clears up.

hdwnkr · Answer

Yes this clears up. And apologies for misunderstanding the intent. Peace!

What you have explained - Is it in the following case too?

Abstract
Fractal art was very popular at the museum, never-ending infinitely complex patterns self similar across different scales.

Concrete
Fractal art, never-ending infinitely complex patterns that are self similar across different scales, was the most popular exhibit at the museum.

Source: Magoosh Video

aditya8062 · Answer

i am glad it helped.

no

sytabish · Answer

GMAT Club verbal questions are pretty shady at times. And lack of proper explanations make it worse.
I wouldn't encourage spending too much time on it. 
Thanks!

vishalsaxena · Answer

D is incorrect as -

The problem is "Lack of Fresh Water" and not "Fresh Water" or "Outposts lack Fresh Water"

"A problem" should refer to "Lack of Fresh Water".

While in D the preceding clause is "The outposts lack fresh water", making "a problem" refer to "Outposts lack Fresh Water" which is not the case.

Thus my answer is E.

iamdp · Answer

Although abstract noun modifies the entire previous clause. I can not think of a better explanation.  
 
 Confusing question - "D" or "E". Even I am confused. I thought as below. Present your views.

Q:>  Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.  
(A) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.  antecedent for it ? 
(B) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts,  which  was expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.  illogical.  
(C) Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and they are expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.  they refers to outposts

(D) The outposts  lack    fresh water  ,  a problem  that is expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

--------------------- Verb     object  ,  modifier (additional info) .  Incorrect reference for "a problem "

(E) The outposts  have    a lack of fresh water, a problem   expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.

---------------- ---- Verb    object  ,  modifier (additional info)   correct reference for "a problem "

thanhphong01 · Answer

i have seen this sentence in a book that seems to be manhattan. I chose E because i thought that "a problem" should rể to a lack but the correct answer is D, the book explained that "have a lack" is awkward.

iamdp · Answer

Can you plz post the exact explanation given in that book.

iamdp · Answer

Greetings

Confusion b/w choices "D" & "E" 
 a problem" in option "D" as mentioned is modifying "fresh water" but in "E" it's modifying "a lack of fresh water.    How come?  
  Is my explanation in my previous post correct   ?

Why in option "D" "a problem" can not refer to the previous clause as "a problem" is an abstract phrase ?

Anyone who can elaborate? 
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KyleWiddison · Answer

I'm replying to a PM on this one. This is certainly tricky and really comes down to recognizing the difference between the appositive and absolute phrase. They are super similar and hard to differentiate. These constructions require an absolute phrase (modifying the preceding clause) and not an appositive (modifying the preceding noun) because "the problem" needs to refer back to the preceding clause and not fresh water (fresh water is not a problem). An absolute phrase is typically formed with a noun + participle and contains no tensed verbs. You can see that option E does have an absolute phrase (noun + participle) but D is not (contains a tensed verb).

(D) The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that IS expected to continue until reinforcements arrive.
(E) The outposts have a lack of fresh water, a problem EXPECTED to continue until reinforcements arrive.

KW

(D) The outposts lack fresh water, a problem that IS expected to continue until reinforcements arrive. 
(E) The outposts have a lack of fresh water, a problem EXPECTED to continue until reinforcements arrive.

KW

Lack of fresh water is an ongoing problem in the outposts, and it i

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