When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms

Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one thing at a time, and narrow down our choices to the correct answer! To begin, let's do a quick scan over the options and highlight any major differences in orange:

When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

(A) When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.
(B) When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equal importance to the global manager as grasping the pivotal business issues.
(C) For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues.
(D) For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp the pivotal business issues.
(E) Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important as grasping the pivotal business issues.

Whenever we see the entire sentence underlined, it's a good idea to focus on large issues first. In this case, we do have a few large grammar issues we can focus on:

1. Modifiers (how options A-D begin)
2. Idioms & Meaning (at least as important as / at least of equal importance to / to be equally important)
3. Parallelism (when talking about cultural norms & pivotal business issues)

One of the most common grammar issues for GMAT SC questions with the entire sentence underlined is MODIFIERS. Let's take a quick look at the original sentence for clues as to what the modifier is and what it's referring to:

When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

We can clearly see the modifier is "When working with overseas clients." Now we need to figure out who/what that's modifying. We must then ask the question, "WHO is working with overseas clients?" The global manager!

In English, modifiers and their antecedents (the person/thing they're referring to) need to be located next to each other. Let's eliminate any options that separate the modifier from the antecedent, and keep those that put them directly next to each other:

(A) When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.
(B) When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equal importance to the global manager as grasping the pivotal business issues.
(C) For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues.
(D) For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp the pivotal business issues.
(E) Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important as grasping the pivotal business issues.

We can eliminate options A & B because the modifier isn't directly before or after what it's referring to.

Now that we have it narrowed down to 3 options, let's move on to another item on our list. PARALLELISM is another common problem we run across in these types of sentences, so let's focus on that for now. We need to make sure the 2 items global managers find important are worded using parallel structure and wording:

(C) For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues.
(D) For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp the pivotal business issues.
(E) Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important as grasping the pivotal business issues.

There you have it - the correct option is C! It's the only one that uses modifiers correctly and uses parallel structure throughout! By focusing on the clear differences between the options, we can narrow down our choices to find the correct one quickly!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that in the case of global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Comparisons + Pronouns + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• A comparison must always be made between similar things.

A: This answer choice incorrectly uses "When working with overseas clients" to modify "an understanding of cultural norms", illogically implying that an understanding of cultural norms is working with overseas clients; the intended meaning is that certain global managers are working with overseas clients; please remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option A incorrectly compares the noun "an understanding of cultural norms" to the action "grasping the pivotal business issues"; please remember, a comparison can only be made between similar things.

B: This answer choice incorrectly uses the plural pronoun "they" to refer to the singular noun "the global manager". Further, Option B uses the needlessly wordy phrase "at least of equal importance", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "For global managers working with overseas clients", conveying the intended meaning - that certain global managers are working with overseas clients. Further, Option C avoids the pronoun error seen in Option B, as it uses no pronouns. Additionally, Option C correctly compares the actions of "understanding cultural norms" and "grasping the pivotal business issues". Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

D: This answer choice incorrectly compares "an understanding of cultural norms" to "that they grasp the pivotal business issues"; remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.

E: This answer choice incorrectly compares the noun "an understanding of cultural norms" to the action "grasping the pivotal business issues"; please remember, a comparison can only be made between similar things. Further, Option E uses the redundant phrase "equally important as", leading to awkwardness.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1minute):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

C. For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues.

what is the source???????

C here. B has a modifier error. E uses incorrect idiom find...to be .. equally important 'to' NOT 'as'.

A. Modifier error. Also, 'for grasping ...for the global managers'. Is someone grasping the issues for the global managers? Or the global managers themselves need to grasp the issue?
B. Modifier error. Also, they has no antecedent. Global manager is singular; therefore 'they' can refer to global manager.
C. Correct. Short and sweet.
D. Awkward construction. Working verbs are preferred over action nouns (an understanding). 'As X as Y' is the correct idiom. Here it is As to X As that.
E. 'Equally important as' seems redundant. It should be 'to be as important as grasping'. Also, 'at least' and 'equal' are different in meaning.

"an understanding" or "understanding" -- which is correct?

Can anyone please confirm?

Regards,
Brindha

The source of this question is GMAT Prep.

A. When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

"When working with overseas clients,….." is a descriptive phrase that describes "global managers." According to the modification rules, "global managers" should come next (right after that comma). Eliminate A.

B. When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equal importance to the global manager as grasping the pivotal business issues.

Answer B has the same error as A - an incorrect phrase after the comma. Eliminate B.

D. For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp the pivotal business issues.

The sentence in D is ambiguous. It describes two things that matter to global managers (an understanding of cultural norms, and grasping business issues). These two things have to be written in "parallel format" and use a two-part phrase. Clearly, "an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp" is not parallel. Eliminate D.

E. Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important as grasping the pivotal business issues

Answer E is not a proper two-part phrase. Eliminate E.

C. For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues

This answer has proper modification, is parallel, and is expressed as a two-part phrase. Answer C is correct!

When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

A. When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager. - Parallelism issue -
if the first part is "an understanding", the second part should be "a grasp". if the second part is "grasping", the first part should be "understanding".
OPENING MODIFIER—"When working with overseas clients" - it MUST be followed by "the global manager" or "global managers".
B. When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equal importance to the global manager as grasping the pivotal business issues. - They is incorrect as global manager is singular
C. For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues. - Correct
D. For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as that they grasp the pivotal business issues. - Parallelism issue
E. Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important as grasping the pivotal business issues. - Parallelism issue - understanding and grasping

Answer C

Cannot understand why option E is wrong, Understanding and Grasping seem to be parallel..Plz expain..

HI GMATNinja

Can I say that an understanding is complex gerrund and grasping is simple gerrund. Both of then can't be parallel. If we want to make then parallel, change grasping to grasp (action noun) OR An understanding to just understanding ( ie without the article an).

( PS: I understand that using jargons is not the best way to study. We should know how the construction work but as a non- native speaker, this split does not come out intuitively to me. May be pattern recognizing by remembering them as complex and simple gerrund will help me to spot the difference in some other construction)


Thank you = Kudos

Sure - the second option is precisely what the OA does!

As for your question about using jargon, while I don't think it's necessary to internalize these terms, there's no harm in doing so. Just know that 1) this particular issue is rare on the GMAT and 2) you need to understand the function of the words before you can properly assign the labels, so if you're using the labels correctly, you've probably already done some version of the above analysis, making the labels themselves kind of unnecessary, anyway.

I have just attempted the GMAT on 3rd September, 2018. I got 650 (Q-48 & V-33). However, I am not happy with the score and plan to take another shot in a month. I am targeting 720+. Kindly advise what my study plan should be for the next one month.

When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

Quote:

A. When working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important as grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

Modifier error. "An understanding" can't be "working with....clients."

Quote:

B. When they work with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least of equivalent importance to grasping the pivotal business issues for the global manager.

Same modifier issue as A.

Quote:

C. For global managers working with overseas clients, understanding cultural norms is at least as important as ]grasping the pivotal business issues.

Corrected modifier issue. "Understanding....as....grasping" are parallel elements.

Quote:

D. For global managers working with overseas clients, an understanding of cultural norms is at least as important to them as grasping the pivotal business issues.

"An understanding of" is a noun, which shouldn't be parallel to "grasping".

Quote:

E. Global managers working with overseas clients find an understanding of cultural norms to be equally important to grasping the pivotal business issues.

Should be "equally important" or "important as".

doing as gerund refer to a general action, not action done by any noun/agent in the sentence. gerund can come with "when" or preposition.

when working with the customer, understanding X is as important as understanding Y.

above sentence is correct.

if we add "global manager " to the above sentence, "when working" must refer to "global manager" logically and, so, grammatically "when working..." must be close to "global manager".

Dear all,

I believe that when modifies the action of the main phrase, and it need not modify the subject.

When she died, the entire family wept like a baby. Here when is not modifying the family.

Kindly confirm.
EMPOWERgmatVerbal GMATNinja

Posted from my mobile device

Hi darshak1, when she died is an adverbial clause, and so, will modify the verb (wept).

When did the entire family weep?

When she died.