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milind1979
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 29 Mar 2009, 18:14
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17. The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification



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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 30 Mar 2009, 13:08
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imo b
s-v AGREEMENT is the issue here
S is singular
hence IS

also IT has clear antecedent(pattern)
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 01 Apr 2009, 18:34
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milind1979
17. The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification
Show more

IMO B).

1) first like required just after "face of a male lion" (so D and E cancelled).
2) "are" - pattern is singular (so A is cancelled).
3) "is a means of identification for life" - it changes meaning, "being" - being in GMAT almost always wrong except it is used
as gerund. (so C is wrong).

So we left with B).
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 10 Apr 2009, 00:57
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its B but not sure of 'since' is used for time. please post OA.
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 12 Apr 2009, 12:11
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Hi mates,

IMO B

First, "the pattern" is singular, therefore, "is" needed. A, D and E out.

C contains "being": out

OA and Source?

Cheers
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 17 Apr 2009, 22:08
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IMO C

The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging --> are here is incorrect because subject the pattern of ... is single noun
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging --> is is correct but it is incorrectly used because they, meaning the pattern ... and finger prints, is better
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging --> correct is, and being both unique and unchanging is a correct participle phrase modifying for the whole prior clause
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life --> same error as (A)
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification --> awkward sentence structure
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 18 Apr 2009, 21:24
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Minheequang
IMO C

The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging --> are here is incorrect because subject the pattern of ... is single noun
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging --> is is correct but it is incorrectly used because they, meaning the pattern ... and finger prints, is better
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging --> correct is, and being both unique and unchanging is a correct participle phrase modifying for the whole prior clause
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life --> same error as (A)
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification --> awkward sentence structure
Show more


have to disagree with the pattern emerging...hoho...ahem...

I think it's A.

there is no mistake there as ARE is referring to both pattern and human fingerprints...the original statement wants to conclude with "both being unique and changing" again referring to both types of identification.

B is actually a fair bet...and a bit tricky ...but it does change the original meaning of the statement....from concluding with a reference to both types to just "it" is unique and unchanging.

all the other change the original statment....

Everybody together now....

OA please...
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 18 Apr 2009, 21:52
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It's between B and C since the rest contain 'are' - and the pattern is singular. I would go for B since C has "being".

What is the OA?
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 19 Apr 2009, 00:35
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Minheequang
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IMO C

The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging --> are here is incorrect because subject the pattern of ... is single noun
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging --> is is correct but it is incorrectly used because they, meaning the pattern ... and finger prints, is better
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging --> correct is, and being both unique and unchanging is a correct participle phrase modifying for the whole prior clause
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life --> same error as (A)
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification --> awkward sentence structure


have to disagree with the pattern emerging...hoho...ahem... --> not clearly understand what you want to talk about

I think it's A

there is no mistake there as ARE is referring to both pattern and human fingerprints...the original statement wants to conclude with "both being unique and changing" again referring to both types of identification. --> like human fingerprints is a additional phrase, like as well as ..., so human fingerprints can't be the co-subject of the verb are with The pattern of. Want to know for more certain, check Manhattan GMAT Subject verb agreement section

Another error is are a lifelong ...--> do you think it's ok ???.

B is actually a fair bet...and a bit tricky ...but it does change the original meaning of the statement....from concluding with a reference to both types to just "it" is unique and unchanging.

all the other change the original statment....

Everybody together now....

OA please...
Show more


MQ spot on ... im wrong ... c has to be it...
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The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, 14 Nov 2009, 21:00
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milind1979
17. The pattern of whisker spots on the face of a male lion, like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging.

(A) like human fingerprints, are a lifelong means of identification, since they are both unique and unchanging
(B) like human fingerprints, is a lifelong means of identification, since it is both unique and unchanging
(C) like human fingerprints, is a means of identification for life, being both unique and unchanging
(D) since they are both unique and unchanging, like human fingerprints, are a means of identification for life
(E) both unique and unchanging, are, like human fingerprints, a lifelong means of identification
Show more

B for me
A D and E : "they" incorrectly refer to the pattern
C : a means of identification for life distort the meaning. And being ... is awkward

OA is B (sc-whisker-spots-on-male-lion-11621.html)



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Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
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