Were empty space nothing real, then any two atoms located in this not

Question

Were empty space  nothing real, then any two atoms located in this “nothingness” would contact each other since nothing would be between them.

(A) Were empty space
(B) In the event that empty space is
(C) If empty space is
(D) That empty space were
(E) If empty space was

This is a  SC Butler Question

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0Lucky0 · Answer

Were empty space nothing real, then any two atoms located in this “nothingness” would contact each other since nothing would be between them.

(A) Were empty space
(B) In the event that empty space is
(C) If empty space is
(D) That empty space were
(E) If empty space was

IMO A. Just a guess.

yogesh122 · Answer

GMATNinja  
Please guide us on the above question, why A is correct and others incorrect.

PoppyM · Answer

Were empty space nothing real, then any two atoms located in this “nothingness” would contact each other since nothing would be between them.

The sentence suggested unreal conditional situation; always use "were". (If the empty space "were" nothing real, the any two atoms .."would")

(A) Were empty space >> correct
(B) In the event that empty space  is  
(C) If empty space  is 
(D) That empty space were >> lack "if"
(E) If empty space  was

ivy4000 · Answer

took me 45 seconds and bolt it down to two options a and d

0Lucky0 · Answer

ivy4000 , PoppyM , yogesh122 , Why is everyone obsessed with this question all of a sudden? Did someone post this question somewhere and asked people to answer this or something? I am confused.

lol

yogesh122 · Answer

This question was part of Butler questions. So anyone who will attempt recent butler question will find this.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The correct answer is (A).

The subjunctive mood is appropriate for this sentence since it ostensibly involves a contrary-to-fact situation. Either of two phrases— If empty space were  or  Were empty space —would be perfectly acceptable here. Choice (A) employs the latter phrase. Choices (B) and (C) incorrectly use the present tense  is , which is inappropriate for expressing the subjunctive mood. Choice (B) is also wordy. Choice (D) is not idiomatic. ( That  should be replaced with  If .) Choice (E) incorrectly uses the past tense  was .

Were empty space nothing real, then any two atoms located in this not

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Were empty space nothing real, then any two atoms located in this not

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