SC- Modifiers/Parallelism/Preposition

Question 1

What are four types of modifiers?

Answer 1

Relative Pronouns (that, which, when, who, whose, whom)
Participial Phrases: ing/ed
Appositive
Prepositional Phrases/Adverbial Phrase

Question 2

T or F: Relative Pronoun and Appositive can only modify the noun right next to the modifers

Answer 2

F: They can modify the closest noun or noun phrase (in regards to LP)
i.g: The bench by the pond, which was recently painted, is my favorite place to read a book

Question 3

What is the type of modifier in this sentence?
Last year, engineers at a local software firm developed a new approach for dealing with increasingly troublesome cyber attacks, an advancement that has already reduced successful attacks by over 50%.

Answer 3

Appositive
an advancement -> a new approach

Question 4

T or F:
Last year, engineers at a local software firm developed a new approach for dealing with increasingly troublesome cyber attacks, which has already reduced successful attacks by over 50%.

Answer 4

T: On GMAT, relative pronoun can modify closest noun or noun phrase
“Which” = “new approach”

Question 5

T or F: Comma + Which, when, who, whose, whom is an essential modifier

Answer 5

F: non-essential modifiers

Question 6

T or F. A good haircut is when you leave the salon feeling great

Answer 6

F: A good haircut is that you leave the salon feeling great

Question 7

T or F. ‘whose’ can be only used for people

Answer 7

F: It can also be used with objects
i.g: When I have money, I will replace the table, whose legs have been broken for months

Question 8

T or F. Gusty westerly winds will continue to usher a seasonably cool air mass into the region while a broad area of high pressure builds, which will bring fair and dry weather for several days.

Is ‘which’ properly used in this case?

Answer 8

T: Relative pronoun can modify closest noun or noun phrase

Question 9

T or F: Just beyond the entry to the Royal Museum of Art, visitors are greeted by several swords, each of which bearing the insignia of the tribe that wore it.

Answer 9

F.
each of which = which -> full clause follow: “each of which” bears the insignia ….

Question 10

What is the rule for modifiers in Parallelism/Comparison?

Answer 10

Modifiers are only parallel to other modifiers of the same type

Question 11

Is this sentence correct in this Appositive structure?
Unlike cigarette tobacco, which yields an acid smoke, pipe tobacco yields an alkaline smoke

Answer 11

Yes: you can ignore non-essential “which” clause and appositive structure still fits

Question 12

What follow after the relative nouns?

Answer 12

a full clause

Question 13

What is the type of modifier in this sentence?
The Mockingbird doesn’t read like an apprentice work

Answer 13

Adverbial Phrase

Question 14

What does “that” imply?
Zapata proposed a return to a communal ownership of land that had been a pre-Columbian form of ownership respected by the Spaniards

Answer 14

There were multiple types of communal land ownership, of which one was a pre-Columbian form of ownership respected by the Spaniards (#21 p.16 - GMAT booklet)

Question 15

What is the type of modifier in this sentence?
Astronomers at the Palomar Observatory have discovered a distant supernova explosion, one they believe to be of a type previously unknown to science.

Answer 15

Appositive Modifier
“One” = “supernova explosion”

Question 16

What is strange but acceptable for this parallelism structure?
Officials have ordered that the lvls of bacteria be measured and the results published

Answer 16

the results [be] published - “be” omitted in the 2nd clause but doesn’t make the sentence grammatically incorrect

Question 17

Point out the modifier and to which it modifies:
Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous 40 states where there is still a sizable population

Answer 17

“where” modifies “the only one” since the full clause after: there is

Question 18

T or F: This sentence is not ambiguous
Problems of managing water and resources will be at the head of the legislature’s list of concerns for the coming session

Answer 18

F: The subject can have 2 meanings:
- problems of managing water and problem of resources
- (problems of managing water) and (resources)

Question 19

Why is this sentence ambiguous on GMAT?
“The magicians like to create magic tricks and perform on stage”

Answer 19

T.
It can imply two different meanings:
1) magicians like and perform
2) magicians like to create and like to perform

Question 20

Find the error:
Whatever the proposal’s merits are, taxing away all capital would, if enacted, have a disastrous effect

Answer 20

1) not Logically sound: “proposal” & “taxing away”
2) “if enacted” doesn’t illogically modify “taxing away all capital”
Fix: Whatever its merits, the proposal to tax away….,if enacted,…

Question 21

Why is this sentence incorrect even modifier (-ed) is next to noun that it intends to modify?

Aircraft Manufactures have tried to build airplanes with frictionless wings, shaped in such a smooth and perfect manner

Answer 21

Due to comma, the (-ed) can illogically modify the action of aircraft manufactures
Fix: Use appositive modifier - wings, wings shaped in such a smooth and perfect manner

Question 22

T or F: for “while” structure
Community service sentences allow criminals to remain unconfined while performing specific jobs

Answer 22

T- only when the subject being modified is clear
“while performing” is a modifier to “criminals to remain unconfined”

Question 23

T or F: Is “that” correct for comparison parallelism?
By the year 2000, A Tale of Two Cities had around 200 million copies in print, more than that of almost any other English book ever written.

Answer 23

T
more than …… is an adverbial modifier/ that = number of copies in print

Question 24

What is the omit rule for the relative pronouns such as that, which, who,…?

Answer 24

You CAN OMIT the relative pronouns if they modify an OBJECT of the sentence.
I.e: The company has become increasingly willing to compete for the mass market sales [that] it would in the past have conceded to rivals

You CANNOT OMIT the relative pronouns if they modify SUBJECT of the sentence.
i.e: The professor who taught me math in high school is really smart

Question 25

Point out the adverbial modifier:
In the last few years, the number of convicted criminals given community service sentences allowing the criminals to remain unconfined while performing specific jobs that benefit the public, has risen dramatically.

Answer 25

“while perfoming specific jobs” is the adverbial modifier for “remain unconfined”
i.e: John saw the dog while picking up his trash on the side walk

Question 26

A giant fungus that is an interwoven filigree of mushrooms and rootlike tentacles spawned by a single fertilized spore some 10,000 years ago and extending for more than 30 acres in the soil of a Michigan forest.

How to make this sentence parallel if “extending…” refer to a giant fungus

Answer 26

1) a giant fungus that is an interwoven …. and [that] is extending for more than….
2) a giant fungus that is an interwoven …., and that is extending for more than…

Question 27

Is “by” preferred to “with” in this sentence?

If one arm is lost it is quickly replaced, with the animal sometimes overcompensating and growing an extra one or two.

Answer 27

1) No. “By” is not correct due to LP
2) “with” clause is a correct adverbial modifier
How can one arm quickly replaced? - With the animal compensating and growing

Question 28

Is “spending less time with each” a correct V-ing modifier in this sentence?

Union members are less likely than non union members to be enrolled in lower-end insurance plans that impose stricter limits on medical services and require doctors to see more patients, spending less time with each.

Answer 28

Yes - “spending less time with each” is a participle modifier for “doctors to see more patients”
-> Because doctors see more patients, they spend less time with each

Practice cause-effect mentality for participle modifiers in difficult question:

Question 29

Point out the modifier:

Declining values for farm equipment and land, the collateral against which farmers borrow to get through the harvest season, are going to force many lenders to tighten or deny credit this spring.

Answer 29

appositive modifier: “the collateral”
relative modifier : “against which”

Question 30

Point out the modifiers:
While studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in the late 1800s, Charles Hart and Charles Par founded the Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company of Madison, investing all their assets in this first factory in the United States dedicated to the production of gas traction engines.

Answer 30

1) While studying mechanical engieering..-> Charles Hart & Par
2) investing all their assets … -> Charles Hart & Par
3) dedicated to the production… -> this first factory

Question 31

One of the plural nouns + that/who + __

Answer 31

Plural Verb
i.e: She is one of the those people who love singing.

Question 32

T or F:
Analysts predicts that, this year, the company’s revenue will grow 12 percent, a number much greater than it was in any of the previous five years.

Answer 32

F- the appositive modifer need “that” + full clause structure
Fix: .., a number that will be much greater than it was in any of the previous five years.

Question 33

“that were” is an incorrect form

New high-combustion models of engines show the potential of being able to produce high horsepower and performance without the costly maintenance and consumption of special racing fuel that were required by earlier high horsepower models

Answer 33

F: “that were” is correct modifier for “the costly maintenance” & “consumption of special racing fuel”

Question 34

T or F:
Unsure to whom the teacher was talking, the students stared mutely at the algebra problem on the board.

Answer 34

T - “unsure” is correct modifier for “the students”

Question 35

T or F: This sentence is not ambiguous

Satellite radio transmissions differ from those of AM and FM radio, sent directly from earthbound towers to a car’s stereo

Answer 35

F - It is ambiguous
We dont know sent refer to - AM and FM radio or the pronoun those
Fix: …those of AM and FM radio, which are sent…..

Question 36

the ONLY one of the plural nouns + that/who + __

Answer 36

singular verb

i.e: Cleveland is the only one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses

Question 37

The complex structure of the adhesive foot-pad of the gecko, having hairlike structures called fibrillar adhesives
vs
The complex structure of the adhesive foot-pad of the gecko, with its hairlike structures called fibrillar adhesives,

Answer 37

1) having hairlike structures… makes the sentence sound redundant because it intends to modify The complex structure
2) with its hairlike structures.. intending to modify gecko is a more concise structure

Question 38

Scientists have observed large concentrations of heavy-metal deposits in the upper twenty centimeters of sediments from the Baltic Sea, findings consistent with the growth of industrial activity in the area.

Point out the modifier & its strange structure involved

Answer 38

findings consistent with the growth…: appositive modifier with elliptical structure - findings [that are] consistent

Question 39

Like many self-taught artists, Perle Hessing did not begin to paint until she was well into middle age.

(A) Like
(B) As have
(C) Just as with
(D) Just like
(E) As did

Answer 39

1) Quickly eliminate B, C & D
2) Between A &E - choice E changes the comparision meaning: Many self-taught artist began to paint before they were well into middle age

Choice A) is correct since Like with noun phrase is next to a noun intended to modified

Question 40

Explain why the parallelism is incorrect in the bold part:

The Baldrick Manufacturing Company has for several years followed a policy with the aim to decrease operating costs and to improve the efficiency of its distribution system.

Answer 40

1) If the 2nd clause improve the effciency means to modify aim then we don’t need another to –> with the aim to decrease and improve (parallelism)
2) With the repeated to, the sentence becomes illogical/ambiguous as it indicates that: The Baldrick Manufacturing Company followed a policy with the aim…..and [followed a policy] to improve the efficiency

Fix: 1) he Baldrick Manufacturing Co followed a policy aimed at decreasing.. and improving..
2) The Baldrick Manufacturing Co followed a policy to decrease operating costs and improve the efficiency of its distribution
3) Aiming to decrease and improve…, The Baldrick followed a policy

Question 41

when makes this sentence illogically meaning -T or F:

The plot of The Bostonians centers on the rivalry that develops between Olive Chancellor, active feminist, and Basil Ransom, her charming and cynical cousin, when they find themselves drawn to the same radiant young woman

Answer 41

F - the clause when is okay after the relative pronoun that because it intend to modify how the rivalry happened

Question 42

The repeated with (preposition) is not necessary in this sentence: T or F

Many smaller regional and community banks are finding that the costs associated with upgrading data-processing equipment and with the development and maintenance of new products and technical staff are prohibitive.

Answer 42

F: 1) We need to repeat with because both clauses don’t have same element: upgrading vs the development

2) Also, repeated with prevents unintended meaning: the cost and the development and maintenance are prohibitive.

Question 43

Recently implemented “shift-work equations” based on studies of the human sleep cycle have reduced sickness, sleeping on the job, fatigue among shift workers, and have raised production efficiency in various industries.

(A) fatigue among shift workers, and have raised
(B) fatigue among shift workers, and raised
(C) and fatigue among shift workers while raising
(D) lowered fatigue among shift workers, and raised
(E) and fatigue among shift workers was lowered while raising

Answer 43

1) Quickly eliminate A, B & D due to lack of and: X, Y and Z (idiom)
2) Prefer C to E due to rhetorical structure (passive voice) and wrong place of modifer clause while raising (illogical meaning- what raising!?)

Question 44

The lumber company in the summer of 1994 responded to hundreds of angry residents requiring it to pay restitution for selling faulty boards.
vs
….who required it to pay restitution

Answer 44

The latter follows the correctly intended meaning of emphasizing specific type of residents and their direct problems with the lumber company

Question 45

Newly-released data published by City Hall reveals that in 2012 the rate of knife crime was estimated at 9.7 per 200,000 inhabitants, 2.7% fewer as the 2011 rate.

A. 2.7% fewer as the 2011 rate.
B. 2.7% less than 2011.
C. a 2.7% decrease when compared with the rate in 2011.
D. 2.7% what it was in 2011.
E. 2.7% the rate in 2011.

Answer 45

1) Quickly eliminate A: fewer..than (not as)
2) 2.7% of something -> Eliminate D & E
3) B has incorrect comparison of 2.7% to the year -2011
4) C is a correct choice with appositive modifier: a 2.7% decrease (followed by another modifier) when compared with the rate in 2011
–> In other word, sentence read like this:
When compared with the rate in 2011, in 2012 the rate of knife crimee…, a 2.7% decrease

Question 46

Find the omit modifier:
In 2000, Joseph found that sodium salt emitted penetrating radiations similar to those that Iron had produced only a year earlier with a new technology.

Answer 46

Omit modifier: [that are] similar to those…

Question 47

The Oxford English Dictionary was completed in the early nineteenth century, before which Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English language was the most comprehensive British lexicon.

A) century, before which Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language was the most comprehensive British lexicon

C) century, before that time Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language was the most comprehensive British lexicon

Answer 47

1) Which can be use to modify 19th century (in addition to when as in before when)
2) the 2nd clause of before that time… makes the structure a run-on sentence
3) A is correct answer

Question 48

After they had done their damage, we saw the remaining cheetah cubs laying low in the savannah grass, still frightened from the attack.

A) laying low in the savannah grass
C) that lied low in the savannah grass
D) lying low in the savannah grass

Answer 48

1) Eliminate A since lie down is a correct verb to describe the cheetahs be in a flat position on a surface
2) Between C & D, the modifier that is uneccessarily disconnect the sentence meaning - we saw the remaining cheetah cubs that …… (and then what!?)
–> present participle lying down is a better choice to modify the action of cheetah cubs

Question 49

Avoiding experiencing the health issues attributable to consuming meat and animal products, the diets of vegan athletes allow them to excel in sports from bodybuilding to sprinting.
.
(C) In sports from bodybuilding to sprinting, vegan athletes excel while avoiding experiencing the health issues attributable to consuming meat and animal products.

(E) Vegan athletes excel in sports from bodybuilding to sprinting, who avoid experiencing the health issues attributable to consuming meat and animal products.

Answer 49

1) Although relative pronoun who can be correct to modify vegan athletes the sentence means to indicate the temporal relationship between the benefits of sport excellence and the avoidance of health issues
2) who modifier makes the 2nd clause become non-essential while generalizing the merit of vegan diet to a broader context. However, the author intends to emphasize its advantage in the context of sports

Question 50

T or F:
Communication is a two way process, and hence it is vital that you create adequate feedback mechanisms to capture the voice of your employees and to understand their point of view.

Answer 50

F - the 2nd to is redundant while creating ambiguous meaning: you create to understand
Fix: …..to capture the voice and understand their point of view - same degree of element (parallelism)

Question 51

The city decided to offer free compost pickup services at every residence within the city limits, with the goal of reducing the number of bags of trash which Waste Management picks up each year by 15%.

A. with the goal of reducing the number of bags of trash which Waste Management picks up each year by 15%.

B. with the goal to reduce the number of bags of trash that Waste Management pick up each year by 15%.

C. with the goal of reducing the number of bags of trash that Waste Management pick up each year by 15%.

D. with the goal of reducing the number of bags of trash that Waste Management picks up each year by 15%.

E. with the goal to reduce Waste Management and the number of bags of trash, which are picked up each year, by 15%.

Answer 51

Understand the meaning is crucial
1) Quickly eliminate B & C due to unmatch- single subject with plural verb form
2) Quickly eliminate E due to LP
3) A could be correct if there is comma before which
4) D is corect answer

Question 52

Entering professional tennis as a talented but shy and awkward teenager, for the past eight years Steffi Graf was the dominant force in the woman’s circuit, a powerful and consistent player.

A. Entering professional tennis as a talented but shy and awkward teenager, for the past eight years Steffi Graf was

B. As talented yet shy and awkward teenager when she entered professional tennis, for the last eight years Steffi Graf has been

C. Steffi Graf entered professional tennis as a talented yet shy and awkward teenager, and was

D. For the past eight years, having entered professional tennis as a talented yet shy and awkward teenager, Steffi Graf has been

E. Having entered professional tennis as a teenager who was talented yet shy and awkward, for the past eight years Steffi Graf has been

Answer 52

1) Quickly eliminate A & C due to incorrect temporal relationship: for the past eight years = past perfect tense
2) Eliminate B due to redundancy as = when
3) Eliminate E due to RS who was…. = non-essential when the sentence tries to emphasize Steffi Graf as a talent yet shy and awkward teenager
3) D is the correct answer - having entered is a correct past perfect infinitive for action happned in the past!

Question 53

It is not surprising that in a country in which a substantial section of the people accounting for one-fifth of the population and segregated for centuries remain poor, ill-treated humiliated and discriminating against state intervention is the only antidote even after six decades of democratic governance under a republican Constitution.

A. accounting for one-fifth of the population and segregated for centuries, remain poor, ill-treated humiliated and discriminating against

B. accounting for one-fifth of the population and segregated since centuries, remain poor, ill-treated, humiliated and discriminated,

C. accounting for one-fifths of the population and segregated from centuries, remain poor, ill-treated, humiliated and discriminated against,

D. accounting for one-fifth of the population and segregated for centuries, remain poor, ill-treated, humiliated and discriminated against,

E. account for one-fifth of the population and segregated for centuries remained poor, ill-treated humiliated and discriminating.

Answer 53

Understand the intended meaning of sentence is key to solve this question
1) Eliminate B & C for illogical temporal relationship: since/from centuries
2) Eliminate A & E as they change meaning: discriminating against = sounds as if the people in the country remain discriminating against
–> The intended meaning is that the people remains/ are being discriminated against
3) D is correct answer

Question 54

Judge Bonham denied a motion to allow members of the jury to go home at the end of each day instead of to confine them to a hotel.

(A) to allow members of the jury to go home at the end of each day instead of to confine them to
(B) that would have allowed members of the jury to go home at the end of each day instead of confined to
(C) under which members of the jury are allowed to go home at the end of each day instead of confining them in
(D) that would allow members of the jury to go home at the end of each day rather than confinement in
(E) to allow members of the jury to go home at the end of each day rather than be confined to

Answer 54

E) has the correct parallelism with an omit structure
to allow members of the jury to go home rather than [to allow members of the jury] be confined to

Question 55

What is the function of the bold in this sentence?

Proceeding without a definite plan for upcoming labor negotiations would surely have proven to be a disaster

Answer 55

a gerund phrase, which acts as a noun

Question 56

Why is the verb form in the appositive phrase incorrect?

The computer company has announced that it will purchase the color-printing division of a rival company for $950 million, a part of a deal that makes it the largest manufacturer in the office color-printing market.

Answer 56

Because the antecedent is geared to the future with will, the apposive/noun phrase should have verbs in the future as well