The Coast guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be

Question

The Coast Guard is conducting tests  to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find  survivors of wrecks at sea.

(A) to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find
(B) to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find
(C) to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find
(D) that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find
(E) that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding

egmat · Accepted Answer

Hi All,

The Coast guard is conducting tests  to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find  survivors of wrecks at sea.

https://e-gmat.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Grammar.png

Error Analysis

1. When there is a condition, use of “whether” is preferred over “if”. Hence, use of “whether” in this sentence is correct.
2. Placing two verbs “help find” together is acceptable in English language. This expression is actually a variant of “help to find”. However, removal of two does not make this expression incorrect. It is not uncommon to find sentences with this phrase.
3. To verb “to see” perfectly presents the reason why the teats are being conducted.
4. There are no errors in this choice. This sentence is correct as is.

POE:

Choice A: to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find:  Correct  for the reasons stated above.

Choice B:  to see whether pigeons can be trained as help to find:  Incorrect.  The use of idiom “trained as” is not correct here. Note that the idiom is not incorrect by itself. Consider these examples from New York Times and analyze the use of “trained as”:
1. Nikos Gavalas and Alexandra Tricha, both 31 and trained as agriculturalists, were frustrated working on poorly paying, short-term contracts in Athens, where jobs are scarce and the cost of living is high.
2. Some 125 older adults have been trained as navigators or community health workers who help individuals and families master the intricacies of the health care system.
3. I am trained as a cognitive-behavior therapist, and my master’s was on depression.
In this sentence, when we say that pigeons are being “trained as” help, it means that they are being trained as domestic help or a servant. This is certainly not the intended meaning of the sentence.

Choice C:  to see if pigeons can be trained for helping to find:  Incorrect.  1. Since the sentence has a condition, use of “if” is not considered to be correct. 2. It is better to use to verb when we need to express the purpose of an action. “to help” is certainly better than “for helping”.

Choice D:  that see if pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find:  Incorrect.  1. Relative pronoun “that” stands for “tests”. Now tests cannot perform the action of seeing. The subject does not make sense with verb here. 2. Use of “if” is not correct here. 3. This choice is way too wordy and awkward.

Choice E:  that see whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding:  Incorrect.  1 Same SV do not make sense error as in Choice D. 2. Wordy and awkward again.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha

BKimball · Answer

hirendhanak-

This is just one of those fun things about language, I suppose. Anytime you have the word "to help", the word that comes after it should be in the subjunctive tense (i.e. the infinitive with the word "to" removed).

For example:

"Can you please help me cook?"
"Can you help me answer this question?"

"Can you help me to cook" would be right when translated into certain languages, but not in English.

Other verbs that typically require this construction include can, must, and will:

"I can tell you the answer."
"I will run five miles later."
"You must try this cake!"

daagh · Answer

In A -  can be trained to help find  - is a literary form of elliptical writing where the infinitive to is dropped to obtain some cogency. Imagine the expression -  can be trained to help to find  – not very elegant, I feel. Here are some examples

For many aspirants, MGMAT SC is the Bible  to help solve  many SC questions

750 in GMAT will be the best ladder  to help reach  the corridors of the Whartons and the Harvards

Structurally –  help  – in B is used as a noun following the preposition -  as  -, the meaning of which is – assistant or associate or aide etc. 
Its problem is that it is not very idiomatic to say -  trained as help  -

blueseas · Answer

hi nikhil,

In GMAT use   IF  ...only when you have construction like:  IF X, THEN Y ===>Without this it will always be incorrect in GMAT.
TAKE SOME EXAMPLE.
if you exercise daily,then you stay healthy.

that is the problem in the above question.....hence use of IF is INCORRECT.
MOREOVER THERE ARE OTHER ERRORS TOO...but you can eliminate the option on the basis of "IF "

HOPE IT HELPS

Zarrolou · Answer

" If " is used to present hypothetical situations.
" Weather " is used to present a choice.
 I'll decide   Weather   (...) 
@shaileshmishra, you are not correct:

Official question #40 OG:

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had long been expected to announce a reduction in output to bolster sagging oil prices, but officials of the organization just recently announced that the group will pare daily production by 1.5 million barrels by the beginningof next  year, but only if non- OPEC nations, including Norway. Mexico, and Russia, were to trim output  by a total of 500,000 barrels a day.

CORRECT ANSWER: E)year only if non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, trim output

Official question #82 =G:

Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients' misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested,  but in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy,  the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.

CORRECT ANSWER: B)if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food,

blueseas · Answer

sorry ZARR0LOU,

see IF -THEN construction are use to express condition.
there are types of construction possible with IF-THEN

1) IF clause 1,THEN clause 2
2) IF clause 1 ,clause 2========>(THEN can be omitted but you can make out that THEN can be placed there)
3) clause 2,IF clause 1=========>(THEN can be ommited and THEN part is ahead of IF clause)

now in your given example:
Official question #40 OG:

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had long been expected to announce a reduction in output to bolster sagging oil prices, but officials of the organization just recently announced that the group will pare daily production by 1.5 million barrels by the beginningof next  year, but only if non- OPEC nations, including Norway. Mexico, and Russia, were to trim output  by a total of 500,000 barrels a day.

CORRECT ANSWER: E)year only if non-OPEC nations, including Norway, Mexico, and Russia, trim output

THIS example comes under the category of  CASE 3 (clause 2,IF clause 1)==>LET ME SHOW YOU:

CLAUSE 2   (the group will pare daily production by 1.5 million barrels by the beginningof next year) only IF    CLAUSE 1  (non- OPEC nations, including Norway. Mexico, and Russia, trim output by a total of 500,000 barels a day)

Official question #82 =G:

Defense attorneys have occasionally argued that their clients' misconduct stemmed from a reaction to something ingested,  but in attributing criminal or delinquent behavior to some food allergy,  the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.

CORRECT ANSWER: B)if criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food,
THIS example comes under the category of  CASE 2 .( IF clause 1 ,clause 2)====>LET ME SHOW YOU AGAIN:

IF    CLAUSE 1   (criminal or delinquent behavior is attributed to an allergy to some food),   CLAUSE 2  (the perpetrators are in effect told that they are not responsible for their actions.)

so i will say i am not wrong ,rather you misunderstood something.

let me know if anything more to clarify.

kumarashok29 · Answer

IMO - A

The Coast guard is conducting tests  to see whether pigeons can be trained to help find  survivors of wrecks at sea.

>> We  don't  require a  IF-Then  construction here. ' whether ' is apt indeed to show highlight the  condition . Also, we require  to see  after  ...tests  to correctly show the reason of the tests. Therefore, C,D,E gone. Between A & B, A is correctly imparting the intended meaning that main work of pigeons is  to help  in finding, not just as  help .

(A)  to see  whether pigeons can be trained to help find >>  CORRECT intended meaning

(B)  to see  whether pigeons can be trained as help to find >>  In original sentence 'find' is the main work pigeons are suppose to help in. using  as help  here is changing the meaning  slightly, help becomes main work pigeons to used in to  find  survivors...

(C)  to see   if  pigeons can be trained  for helping  to find >>  additionally,  to help find  (verb) preferred over  for helping to find  (noun)

(D)  that see   if  pigeons  are able to be trained  in helping to find >>  additionally,  are able to be trained  is wordy

(E)  that see  whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in  finding  >>  additionally,  to find  (verb) preferred over  in finding  (noun)

BillyZ · Answer

GMATNinja  &  GMATNinjaTwo , Does the infinite  to help find  ( to + verb + verb ) is the correct usage in GMAT? It is confusing for the usage. Could you please help to explain?

GMATNinja · Answer

In this case, "help" functions a little bit like a helping verb, and it's completely fine to use "help + verb" under the right circumstances.

These look fine, right?

Charles  must eat  eight meals per day. --> "Must" is the helping verb, so it's no problem to use "must + verb." 
 Mike  can surf  as well as Kelly Slater. --> "Can" is the helping verb, so it's no problem to use "can + verb."

"Help" isn't technically a helping verb, but you can use it in a similar way:

An increase in government jobs programs will  help reduce  unemployment to its lowest levels since the 1990s.

In this case, it probably wouldn't make sense to use "reduce" by itself: the jobs programs won't accomplish this goal on their own, so you'd need to say "help reduce" to convey the correct meaning. Grammatically, this is completely fine. Sometimes, you'll see this written as "help to reduce", and that's technically fine as well, though most grammar experts would argue that the "to" is unnecessary.

gmatman1031 · Answer

Can someone help further explain why "that help" is ungrammatical? Is there a rule to go along with this?

generis · Answer

gmatman1031  , The usage of "that" can be confusing.

D) The Coast guard is conducting  tests that see   if  pigeons are able to be trained in helping to find survivors of wrecks at sea.

E) The Coast guard is conducting  tests that see  whether pigeons are able to be trained for help in finding survivors of wrecks at sea.

The word "that" often modifies the immediately preceding noun.

In this case, "that" modifies "tests."

Tests do not "see" in the sense of determine, judge, or ascertain.
Tests do not have eyes or powers of reasoning.

English speakers commonly say something such as, "Let's see whether we can fix this problem."
In that context, human beings are talking to and about other human beings.

The Coast guard people theoretically could "see" (could determine) whether pigeons could be trained to do X,
but   the tests themselves   do  not see   .

GMATNinja  wrote  a terrific post about uses of THAT on the GMAT,  HERE .

I hope that answer helps.

gmatman1031 · Answer

generis , thanks for passing along that article. That was super helpful

I'm still confused though as to why tests can't see. I know this sounds stupid, but here a few headlines from the Economist:
 As Western lenders retreat, African banks see an opportunity 
 The computer will see you now

I even found this headline in a local paper (BlueRidge Now):
 Essay tests see fall from grace

generis · Answer

gmatman1031 , I admire your tenacity and diligence. What you say does not sound stupid at all. You are trying to understand what appears to be a disparity. Try these things, please: (1) try to absorb the fact that see and determine are synonyms but that they are not identical. A test can determine something (e.g. whether you have flu antibodies in your blood). But to "see" almost always implies human agency. (2) Do not use headlines as grammar guides (see below) (3) If this explanation fails, tell me why, specifically, you think that tests CAN "see," using a definition. The rule you are looking for is not a guarantee, but . . . If human beings and tests are involved, the human beings do the thinking. The people determine whether the pigeons can assist with survivors of wrecks. The people devise the test, deploy the test, gather the information from the test, and assess the information. The test is not seeing anything. The test may determine (MEASURE) how long a pigeon takes to find a human being floating in the water. The test does not determine (DECIDE, ASCERTAIN) whether the number of successes is statistically significant. THIS definition of "see" from Oxford online states that "see" means "discern or deduce after reflection or from information; understand." Tests cannot understand. If a test is set up in a certain way, the test can determine, for example, whether a person has high cholesterol. But a test does not observe, gather information, and draw conclusions. The test measures. A test can generate information, but a test cannot determine what to do with or how to interpret that information. With respect to the print journalism you found, those headlines traditionally do not have to be grammatical sentences. (1) Headlines are not grammatical. They're catchy. See below. (2) You will find odd headlines in all types of journalism. You will even find occasional errors in the text of the story because . . . Journalists work on brutal deadlines. Copy editors miss items. If you read the New York Times and the Economist , I would bet that 98+ percent of the time, the text written by the journalist (i.e., text that is not quoted material and not the headline), will be correct. So headlines in newspapers are not very reliable sources for grammar. Print journalism must grab our attention quickly. Dramatic, offbeat, and clever headlines often do not follow grammar rules. The New York Times is among the most well-written and -edited of newspapers. Here are three headlines from the Times that will never be part of a GMAT sentence.

• For Pantyhose, It’s Back to Work (personification - pantyhose do not have paying jobs) • Asked to Get Slim, Cheese Resists (personification - cheese does not have ears and cheese cannot resist) • When Is a Gym More Than a Gym? When It’s a Brand (incomplete sentence) As for The Economist headlines? All journalists and editors have to "sell" stories. Punchy headlines help. The Computer Will See You Now, for example, is a really shrewd way to grab a reader's attention. Here's another reason to eliminate (E): the end of the sentence is atrocious. (E) are able to be trained for help in finding (A) can be trained to help find Option A is better than E stylistically. (A) conveys identical information in fewer words that are more active and more direct. I hope that analysis helps. If it does not, try asking a very specific question that has to do with meaning and logic, as well as why you believe that tests can "see."

gmatman1031 · Answer

generis that is a great explanation. Thank you for that! I wish I could give you way more kudos than just one

I feel much better about the answer "to see" instead of "that see". Also, your last point is a good one. Luckily, it seems that for most Sentence Completion options, there are usually more than 1 reason for eliminating an option.

generis · Answer

You're very welcome. I'm glad I could help. As I mentioned, I like your tenacity.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

The first thing to get out of the way here is the difference between ‘whether’ and ‘if’.

We know that  ‘whether’ presents a choice  usually and  ‘if’ presents a condition .

In this case, we want ‘ whether ’ because the intent is to see whether pigeons can be trained or not.

Now, let’s scan the options:

(A)  to see whether  pigeons can be trained  to help  find

(B) to see whether pigeons can be trained  as help  to find

(C) to see  if  pigeons can be trained  for helping  to find

(D)  that  see  if  pigeons are able to be trained  in helping to find
 
(E)  that  see whether pigeons are able to be trained  for help in finding

Eliminate Options B, C, D and E.

Option A  is the best choice.

Hope this helps!

mba757 · Answer

Experts, hello!

Within answer choice B, is the "as help to..." have a meaning error? Is it modifying "pigeons" in a way that says pigeons can be trained literally as "help," which wouldn't make any sense.

GMATNinja · Answer

I think you're on to something here. When someone is trained AS a lawyer, that means that he/she trained to become a lawyer. So if you train a pigeon AS help, does that mean that the pigeons are meant to become help?? Note that this is a fairly old question and, thankfully, such minor idiomatic differences are rarely the only decision point on more recent SC questions.

I hope that helps a bit!

ChiranjeevSingh · Answer

Here's the   official explanation   provided by the GMAC for this question:

This correct sentence clearly states the purpose of the test,  to see whether pigeons can be trained , and the purpose of the training,  to help find survivors.  The sentence is concise and idiomatically correct.

Option A:  Correct. This sentence concisely states both the purpose of the test and the purpose of the training.

Option B:   As help to find  is not the correct idiom

Option C:   For helping to find  is not the correct idiom;  whether  is preferred to  if  when there are only two alternatives

Option D:   That see  is ungrammatical;  whether  is preferred to  if  when there are only two alternatives;  are able to be  should be replaced by the concise  can ;  in helping to find  should be  to help find

Option E:   For helping in finding  is not the correct idiom;  are able to be  should be replaced by the concise  can

Please note that I'm not the author of this explanation. I'm just posting it here since I believe it can help the community.

The Coast guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The Coast guard is conducting tests to see whether pigeons can be

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