SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes E.

CORRECT: The inability of the labor union and the company management to communicate pragmatically In this phrase, the troublesome pronoun has been omitted while maintaining the original meaning of the sentence.

1. The labor union and the company management were not able to communicate pragmatically and it was a major reason for the labour strike in Noida in 2006.

In the underlined portion, the pronoun it has no definite antecedent i.e. the pronoun it may refer to the labour union or to the company management.
A. INCORRECT: The labor union and the company management were not able to communicate pragmatically and it The pronoun it has no clear antecedent.

2. All companies manufacturing medicines containing the drug Marcaine in quantities greater than .25 mg must stop production temporarily so that government agencies can decide whether they should be banned.

B. INCORRECT: The labor union and the company management were unable to communicate openly and that The option is grammatically correct because the relative pronoun that can be used to refer to the clause The labour union and the company management were not able to communicate pragmatically. However, this option alters the meaning of the original sentence because openly has been used in place of pragmatically.

In the underlined phrase, the pronoun they can have two possible antecedents viz. companies and medicines. This pronoun error must be rectified. A. INCORRECT: so that government agencies can decide whether they should be banned The pronoun error is not rectified. B. INCORRECT: so that the government agencies can ascertain if they should be banned The pronoun error is not rectified. Also, the word ascertain has been used in place of decide. The two words are not synonymous and thus, the meaning of the original sentence will be altered. C. CORRECT: so that the government agencies can decide whether the medicines should be banned The pronoun error is rectified and no other errors are introduced. D. INCORRECT: so that then the government agencies will be able to decide if they should be banned The pronoun error is not rectified.

C. INCORRECT: The inability to communicate pragmatically of the labor union with the company management The phrase inability to communicate pragmatically of the labour union is incorrect. The correct phrase is inability of the labour union to communicate pragmatically.

D. INCORRECT: Since the labor union and the company management were not able to communicate pragmatically, it The pronoun it has no clear antecedent.

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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes E. INCORRECT: so that the government agencies can then be decided as to whether the medicines should be banned or not The sentence is wordy and the construction is awkward. therefore, the pronoun must also be singular. Thus, options with the word they are incorrect; namely Option A and C. Option B corrects both the errors mentioned above without introducing any new errors and, therefore, is the correct answer choice. A. INCORRECT: Neither Tom nor John believes they passed the B. CORRECT: Neither Tom nor John believes he passed the C. INCORRECT: Neither Tom nor John believed they passed the D. INCORRECT: Neither Tom or John believes he passed a E. INCORRECT: Neither Tom nor John believe they passed the

3.

When computers were first installed in the late 1970's, bank officials insisted that they would be faster, more efficient and less susceptible to errors. In the underlined phrase the pronoun they can refer to either the bank officials or the computers. Thus, there is a pronoun error. A. INCORRECT: insisted that they would be faster The pronoun error remains uncorrected. B. INCORRECT: insisted that there were faster machines The pronoun error is resolved; but, the meaning of the sentence is altered because it seems like the officials are saying that there were machines faster than computers. C. INCORRECT: promised that they would be faster The pronoun error remains uncorrected. Also, promised and insisted are not synonyms. D. CORRECT: insisted that the machines would be faster The pronoun error is resolved and no other errors are introduced. E. INCORRECT: persisted that they were faster machines The pronoun error remains uncorrected.

5. The State Government of Nevada been experiencing problems when controlling not only night time bank robberies but also kidnappings and homicide. Whenever a sentence starts with Not only, it must follow the structure below: Not only X but also Y [verb] Thus, all options that dont follow this structure are incorrect; namely Option B, C, D and E. A. CORRECT: bank robberies but also kidnappings and B. INCORRECT: bank robberies and also kidnappings and C. INCORRECT: bank robberies while also kidnappings and D. INCORRECT: bank robberies along with kidnappings and

4. Neither Tom nor John believes they passed the mid-term science paper this semester.

If the following structure occurs: E. INCORRECT: bank robberies but alongside Neither X nor Y [verb] with kidnappings and then the [verb] must agree in number with Y. In the above sentence, Y is the singular noun John. 6. The professor of English at the New York Thus, the verb must be singular. Therefore, University made it very clear to his students that as options with the word believe are incorrect; namely long as they study hard, he was not concerned by Option D and E. their personal lives. Also, the pronoun they does not match the antecedent in number. The antecedent is singular;
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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes For the verb concerned, only two prepositions can follow it viz. with or about. A. INCORRECT: he was not concerned by their personal lives Concerned by is an incorrect phrase. The correct phrase must be concerned with or concerned about. B. INCORRECT: he was not bothered by their personal life The word Concerned means interested and the word bothered means troubled. The two words are not synonymous. Therefore, the phrase alters the meaning of the original sentence. C. CORRECT: he was not concerned with their personal lives D. INCORRECT: that he was not concerned about their personal life The use of the relative pronoun that in this particular case is improper. E. INCORRECT: he was not concerned with his personal life The pronoun his cannot refer to the plural antecedent students. 7. It is not easy to crack the GMAT as it takes many hours of diligent practice, a thorough understanding of the basic concepts and problem solving techniques and to top it all of, the questions asked on the test conform to a very high standard. The phrase in the test is incorrect. The correct phrase is on the test. However, the phrase in the test paper is correct. After eliminating all options with the phrase in the test (namely Options B and D), we are left with Options A, C and E. The 9. phrases confirm to and conforming to are incorrect. Therefore, the phrase without any errors is Option A. A. CORRECT: the questions asked on the test conform to a very high standard B. INCORRECT: the questions asked in the test are of high standard 8. C. INCORRECT: the questions asked on the test are conforming to a very high standard D. INCORRECT: the questions asked in the test conform of a very high standard E. INCORRECT: the questions asked on the test confirm to a very high standard Despite being plant-like organisms, fungi are different from other plants because they lack chlorophyll and thus cannot manufacture their own food. Fungi is a plural noun and must go with the plural verb are. Thus, we can eliminate option B and E. Among the remaining options, we can eliminate Option B because the phrase different to is incorrect. The correct phrase is different from. Between Option A and C, C is incorrect because the singular noun organism does not agree with the plural noun fungi. Thus, A is the right answer choice. A. CORRECT: Despite being plant-like organisms, fungi are different from B. INCORRECT: Despite being plant-like organisms, fungi is different to C. INCORRECT: Despite being a plant-like organism, fungi are different from D. INCORRECT: Despite being plant-like organisms, fungi are different to E. INCORRECT: Despite being plant-like organism, fungi is different from

Despite the modern day scientific advancements, the doctors are still perplexed while choosing among chemotherapy and radiation therapy as a cure for cancer. When two things are being compared or contrasted, we must use between. When there are more than two entities being compared or contrasted, we must use among. In the above sentence there are only two choices available. Thus, we must use between and not among. As a result, we can eliminate Option A, B and D. Now we have to decide whether when or while is

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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes the appropriate word to use. When refers to a particular instant in time and while refers to a particular duration in time. Since all choices are made in one particular instant, when is the right word to use in the sentence. Thus, the correct answer choice is Option C. A. INCORRECT: the doctors are still perplexed while choosing among B. INCORRECT: the doctors are continuously perplexed when choosing among C. CORRECT: the doctors are still perplexed when choosing between D. INCORRECT: the doctors are still perplexed when choosing among E. INCORRECT: the doctors are still perplexed while choosing between 10. According to a recent survey, a person who eats a healthy breakfast consumes fewer soup than a person who skips meals. Soup is a non-countable noun. Therefore, we cannot use the quantifier fewer to quantify soup. Thus, options A, C and D are incorrect. Option B is incorrect because the phrase lesser then is not proper. A. INCORRECT: consumes fewer soup than a person who skips meals B. INCORRECT: consumes lesser soup then the people who skip meals C. INCORRECT: consumes much fewer soup than a person who skips meals D. CORRECT: consumes lesser soup than a person who skips meals degree of comparison; all answers with the word better is incorrect i.e. options A and B. The only options in which the superlative degree of comparison is used are options C and E. Option C is incorrect because the superlative noun must be preceded by the definite article the. The right answer choice is option E. A. INCORRECT: devised by Mr. Brooks was the better one B. INCORRECT: devised by Mr. Brooks was a better one C. INCORRECT: devised by Mr. Brooks was best one D. INCORRECT: devised was the superior one among them E. CORRECT: devised by Mr. Brooks was the best one 12. The number of high school drop-outs are increasing at an alarming rate in most of the schools in northern areas of California. When the following construction occurs: The number of X [verb] The [verb] is always singular. In options A, B and D the verbs are plural. Therefore, those options cannot be the correct ones. Out of the remaining two options, option C is incorrect because the phrase increasing in is improper. The correct phrase must be increasing at. A. INCORRECT: The number of high school dropouts are increasing at B. INCORRECT: The amount of high school dropouts are increasing at

E. INCORRECT: consumes fewer soup as compared C. INCORRECT: The number of high school dropto a person who skips meals outs is increasing in 11. Among all the alternatives for petroleum discussed D. INCORRECT: The number of high school dropat the convention, the contrivance for solar and outs are increasing with hydraulic energy as devised by Mr. Brooks was the better one. E. CORRECT: The number of high school drop-outs is increasing at The sentence starts with the word among. Thus we know that there are more than two entities involved. Therefore, we must use the superlative
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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes 13. Even in the modern day world, despite all the scientific accomplishments, everyone are awestruck by nature's tricks that baffle the human mind and leave everybody gaping at its grandeur. Indefinite pronouns such as everyone or everybody always go with a singular verb. In options A and B the verbs are plural; and therefore, these options are incorrect. A. INCORRECT: everyone are awe-struck by nature's tricks that baffle the human mind B. INCORRECT: everyone are awe-struck by the tricks of nature that perplex the human mind C. CORRECT: everyone is awe-struck by nature's tricks that baffle the human mind The phrase baffle the human mind is an essential piece of information. Without the information, the sentence will lose its true meaning. Essential information must be introduced with the relative pronoun that. Thus this is the correct answer choice. D. C. INCORRECT: Other than influenza, measles is considered to be responsible The verb is is in the simple present tense. Since we are talking about an event in the past, we cannot use the simple present tense. Thus this answer choice is incorrect. D. INCORRECT: Apart from influenza, measles were held to be responsible E. CORRECT: Other than influenza, measles was considered to be responsible In this option, the subject and the verb are in agreement. The tense of the verb is also correct. Thus, this is the right answer choice. 15. The plays written by William Shakespeare are often considered by many ardent play lovers to be better than H.G. Wells.

E.

14.

A.

A. INCORRECT: ardent play lovers to be better than H.G. Wells Here, the plays of Shakespeare is being compared with HG Wells. When two entities are being INCORRECT: everybody is awe-struck by nature's compared, the entities must belong to the same category. A play cannot be compared with a tricks which baffle the human mind person. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect. The phrase baffle the human mind is an essential piece of information. Without the information, the sentence will lose its true meaning. Essential B. INCORRECT: ardent play lovers to be superior information must be introduced with the relative than H.G. Wells pronoun that. Thus this answer choice is incorrect. The phrase superior than is incorrect. The correct phrase is superior to. INCORRECT: everyone is awe-struck and baffled by the nature's tricks C. CORRECT: ardent play lovers to be better than The option is grammatically correct; however, the the plays of H.G. Wells meaning is changed. This is the correct answer choice because the comparison is correctly made between the plays of Other than influenza, measles were considered to Shakespeare and the plays of HG Wells. be responsible for the maximum number of deaths in the Unites States in 1957 and 1958. D. INCORRECT: ardent play lovers to be comparatively better than H.G. Wells In the above sentence the subject is measles. The comparison is made between the plays of Since the subject is singular, the verb associated Shakespeare and HG Wells. This is not with it must also be singular. appropriate. Thus, the answer is incorrect. In options A, B and D, the verbs are plural. Therefore, these options are all incorrect. E. INCORRECT: ardent play lovers to be superior than the plays written by H.G. Wells INCORRECT: Other than influenza, measles were The phrase superior than is incorrect. The correct considered to be responsible phrase is superior to. 16. Many people have trouble differentiating between identical twins as the physical features of one are strikingly similar to the other one.

B. INCORRECT: Besides influenza, measles were considered responsible

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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes A. INCORRECT: physical features of one are strikingly similar to the other The physical features of one twin is incorrectly compared with the other twin instead of comparing it with the physical features of the other twin. B. CORRECT: physical features of one are strikingly similar to those of the other The comparison is made correctly. This is the correct answer choice. C. INCORRECT: physical features of one resemble the other Again, the physical features of one is said to resemble the other instead of saying that the physical features of one resembles the physical features of the other. D. INCORRECT: physical features of one are quite often same as the other The statement is incorrect because the comparison made is improper. E. INCORRECT: physical features of one and those of the other are quite similar Here the comparison made is proper. However, the last word similar doesnt go with the last word in the parent sentence. 17. Among other things, John declared himself to be hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dance. The rule of parallelism says that ideas connected at the same logical level must follow the same structure. In the above sentence, John is addicted to three things viz. swimming, running and dance. These three are connected at the same logical level. Therefore, they must follow the same structure. Thus, instead of dance we must use dancing. Thus options A, B and D are incorrect. Between the two remaining options, option E is correct because in option C the phrase among other things is misplaced. A. INCORRECT: Among other things, John declared himself to be hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dance B. INCORRECT: Among other things, John declared that he was hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dance C. INCORRECT: John declared himself to be among other things, hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dancing one can declare oneself to be a king or a rock star or a fool; but, one cannot declare oneself to be among other things. D. INCORRECT: Apart from other things, John declared himself to be hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dance E. CORRECT: Among other things, John declared himself to be hopelessly addicted to swimming, running and dancing 18. According to a recent world-wide survey, the level of pollution in Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is equal to America. The pollution level in one country must be compared with the pollution level in another country. A. INCORRECT: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is equal to America Here the comparison is between pollution level in some countries and another country. Such comparisons are improper. Therefore, the answer choice is incorrect. B. CORRECT: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is equal to the level of pollution in America Here the comparison is made correctly. Thus, this is the correct answer choice. C. INCORRECT: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is similar to America Here the comparison is between pollution level in the countries with another country. Such comparisons are improper. Therefore, the answer choice is incorrect. D. INCORRECT: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is equal to that of America's The phrase would leave the sentence incomplete: Americas what? E. INCORRECT: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh is equal to those of America The phrase those of America is incorrect. The correct phrase should have been that of America.

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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes 19. This novel, written by Sidney Sheldon has been laying on the table since last Wednesday. The verb lay requires an object e.g. a hen lays eggs. Since the novel cannot lay anything, options A, B and E are incorrect. A. INCORRECT: written by Sidney Sheldon has been laying on the table since last Wednesday B. CORRECT: written by Sidney Sheldon has been lying on the table since last Wednesday C. INCORRECT: composed by Sidney Sheldon has been laying on the table since previous Wednesday D. INCORRECT: written by Sidney Sheldon has been lying since the last Wednesday on the table The phrase since last Wednesday is misplaced because it comes between the phrases lying and on the table. E. INCORRECT: authored by Sidney Sheldon has been laying over the table since last Wednesday 20. The patient who sees the orthopedist is usually suffering from a fracture, an acute pain episode or chronic pain. Since the subject of the sentence is patient, all the verbs associated with the subject must be singular. There are two verbs in the sentence. Their correct forms are sees and are. The only option where both the verbs are singular is Option A. All the other options are incorrect. A. CORRECT: who sees the orthopaedist is usually suffering from a fracture B. INCORRECT: who sees the orthopaedist are usually suffering from a fracture C. INCORRECT: who see the orthopaedist is usually suffering from a fracture D. INCORRECT: who see the orthopaedist usually suffers from a fracture E. INCORRECT: who are seeing the orthopaedist are usually suffering from a fracture

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SENTENCE CORRECTION Answer Key with Explanatory Notes

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