When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes

Question

When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of several different experimental designs.

A When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of

B
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), positing that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could not be ever measured, while in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using

C
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, but many scientists doubted that, even if this theory is true, the number could never be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin has measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of

D
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using

E
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, although many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could be ever measured, then in the early 20th century, Perrin, measuring the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of

Here is another similar but easier question, https://gmatclub.com/forum/when-chemist ... 51916.html

Show Answer

Official Answer

D

DmitryFarberMPrep · Accepted Answer

One way to save time on a big mess like this is to make sure that the underlying structure is sound. Only C and D are sentences at all, so we don't want to waste much time analyzing the other choices. How can we tell?

A) This one never gets off the ground. It starts with a dependent clause: "When Avogadro posited that X," and then we never have a main subject-verb pair to follow up on this.

B) This one makes Avogadro the subject, but he never gets a verb! "Positing" doesn't count because it's a modifier. Just like "The police, suspecting a trap," this option can't be a sentence until it gets a main verb.

E) Here we finally have a main subject and verb: Avogadro posited. It's wrong to put a comma between the subject and the verb, but what if we forgive that? The sentence still falls apart. "Avogadro posited that X, although many scientists doubted that Y, then Perrin, measuring the value . . . " We have three subjects--Avogadro, scientists, and Perrin--but our last subject (Perrin) never gets a verb. This option gives us a modifier and just wraps up!

That leaves us with C and D. C is a confusion of tenses. Why are we using "is" and "has been" to describe the events of over a century ago? It also says that scientists " doubted  that the number could  never  be measured." This double negative implies that they thought the number  could  be measured, which doesn't make sense here.

devikeerthansr · Answer

I could not choose between C and D

syedazeem3 · Answer

Is it just me, or is it normal for this question to take 2 mins?

Posted from my mobile device

syedazeem3 · Answer

From my understanding, the phrase “by use of” is too wordy. Choice D corrects it.

Posted from my mobile device

jaston · Answer

C
 The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, but many scientists doubted that, even if this theory is true, the number could never be measured,  but in the early 20th century, Perrin  has measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of    The tense of the verb in the second portion of this sentence incorrectly refers to a past event by using "has measured" instead of the simple past : "measured"

D
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured,  but in the early 20th century, Perrin  measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using 
  The tense of the verb in the second portion of this sentence refer correctly to a past event by using the past tense: measured

Chef · Answer

A - incorrect because of the structure of the sentence.
B - incorrect. Positing is incorrect here. 
C - incorrect. The number could "never" be measured and "by the use of" is incorrect here. 
D - correct. 
E - incorrect. Although, then, by the use of is incorrect here.

Sent from my Redmi Note 3 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

sandysilva · Answer

When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of several different experimental designs.

A When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of-  The subject Equal volumes has no verb. Thus this option is a fragment

B
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), positing that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could not be ever measured, while in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using-  This choice is again a fragment because subject Amedeo has no verb. 
 
C
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, but many scientists doubted that, even if this theory is true, the number could never be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin has measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of-  This choice has tense error. Perrin has measured is wrong no need of present perfect. The correct tense is simple past.

D
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using-  Correcto !

E
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, although many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could be ever measured, then in the early 20th century, Perrin, measuring the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of-  This choice again has subject-verb agreement error. In Last sentence" Perrin measuring the value" there is no verb for subject Perrin

chesstitans · Answer

devikeerthansr , problem with C is the tense in if...then... and the present perfect
 syedazeem3 , the question is quite long, and quite hard, it is fine to spend 2 min on this question as long as you get the right answer.

Kezia9 · Answer

I took < 3 mins and got it wrong. Dont be discouraged.

ankurtayal · Answer

In choice C the use of present perfect is wrong because time frame when the action happened is mentioned

ucb2k7 · Answer

When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of  several different experimental designs.

A When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, containing equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of----  'doubting that' is not parallel to 'measured'

B 
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), positing that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could not be ever measured, while in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using---  'could not ever be measured...not really makes sense!'

C
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, but many scientists doubted that,  even if this theory is true --
 'If' should have 'were' with it as 'theory' is used. Reject all options that doesn't have "if--were''.
, the number could never be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin has measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of
 
D
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using-- Correct answer Key Takeaways:  1. 'would contain' should be there. 2. 'Doubted' to be used. 3. 'Could ever be measured'-correct usage 4. 'But' should be present as a contrast is given. 4.'using' is better.

E
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, although many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could be ever measured, then in the early 20th century, Perrin, measuring the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of---
 'Could be ever measured--wrongly used'.

Rickyrocks · Answer

A When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure,  containing equal numbers of  molecules, and many scientists, doubting that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of - error highlighted, present continuous form is use here which is wrong.

B 
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856),  positing  that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could not be ever measured, while in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using --- posited is correct since event is happening in past.

C
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, but many scientists doubted that, even if this theory is true, the number could never be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin has measured the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of -- but is used two times here maKING IT REDUNDANT also by use of is incorrect.

D
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, and many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could ever be measured, but in the early 20th century, Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number" using -- correct

E
The chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856), posited that equal volumes of different gases, at the same temperature and pressure, would contain equal numbers of molecules, although many scientists doubted that, even if this theory were true, the number could be ever measured, then in the early 20th century, Perrin, measuring the value of "Avogadro's number" by use of -- although is not a great fit here also by use of is incorrect.

Hero8888 · Answer

Hi  DmitryFarber

Although I came to the right answer, I have a doubt about the -ing modifier in this question:

C) .... Perrin measured the value of "Avogadro's number"  using  several different experimental designs.

As you can see "using" here is not precided by comma as if it modified "the value of Avogadro's number".
Am I missing something?

Mona10031990 · Answer

how can "if this theory " be followed by "were"
Isn't it singular

daagh · Answer

The expression 'if this theory were' is a case of past subjunctive mood used for something hypothetical and hence is in order.

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

Hero8888  Like most "rules" in language, the idea that we need a comma before adverbial -ing modifiers is more of a guideline. We can certainly say something like "He lost $500 playing the lottery."

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

Mona10031990 , daagh is right. In simple past tense, "were" is plural: 
 
It was raining. 
Raindrops were falling.

But we also use "were" for hypotheticals:

If it were raining, we'd be having less fun out here.

gvij2017 · Answer

Though I answered this question wrong, later, I came to know where I did wrong. 
I narrowed down to C and D.

One flaw in C is use of present perfect tense that I did. Another one is construction of sentence. 
X, but Y, but Z.
It seems wrong to me.

In D sentence construction is as below.
X, and Y, but Z.

Please give feedback if my explanation is correct here.

Mpuneet · Answer

A, B, and E are all incomplete sentences. All of them have at least one subject that is not paired with a verb. This can be hard to notice, as they do have modifiers. Out of the remaining two, C is obviously wrong as it has double negative. D is the right answer.

When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

When chemist Amedeo Avogadro (1776 – 1856) posited that equal volumes

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards