Sentence Correction - 1

Question 1

Subordinate Conjunctions

Answer 1

after, although, as, as if, as long as, because, before, despite, even if, even though, if, in order that, rather than, since, so that, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, whether, and while

Question 2

Coordinating Conjunctions

Answer 2

FANBOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Question 3

Relative Pronouns

Answer 3

that, which, who, whom, whose, where, when

Question 4

Compound sentence structure

Answer 4

[IC]+[,]+[coordinating conj.]+[IC]

I went to the gym, and I lifted weights

Coordinating conj: FANBOYS
For And Nor But Or Yet So

Question 5

When use Semicolon?

Answer 5

1- in a compound sentence instead of [,]+[coordinating conj.]
2- A semicolon can be used to separate items in a list when using commas would make the list confusing.

The GMAT is the game of determination; the highest score are often earned by those willing to prepare the most throughly.

Question 6

Comma and complex sentences

Answer 6

[Subordinating clause] + [,] + [IC]

• Mandatory comma

[IC]+[,]+[subordinating clause]

• Optional comma

• I justled you while you were sleeping.
• While you were sleeping, I justled you.
• I, while you were sleeping, justled you.

Question 7

Colon usage

Answer 7

[IC] : [IC] / [example or series of examples]

• What proceeds the colon must be IC.

Question 8

Compound-Complex structure

Answer 8

• with more than one one IC and at least one subordinating clause
• two ICs link either with [,] + [coordinating conj.] or [;]

Tip: Whenever a subordinating conj. immedietly follows by a coordination conj., there must be at least three clause in the sentence.
e.g: I wanted to go scuba diving, but because I was tired from our long run, I read a book instead.

Question 9

Connecting two clauses

Answer 9

Only One Conjunction is needed

Question 10

Say relative pronouns

Answer 10

1- that
2- which
3- who
4- whom
5- whose
6- where
7- when

Question 11

What do you do in face of relative pronouns?

Answer 11

1- If relative pronoun is the Sub. of the relative clause, it may not ommited from the clause.
2- If relative pronoun isn’t the Sub. of the relative clause it can ommited from the sentence.

"That" is the subject of the relative clause

Keyhan is at the coffe shop that he mentioned yesterday = Keyhan is at the coffe shop he mentioned yesterday

Question 12

In face of relative clause

Answer 12

Cross off

Question 13

Name the words which noun clauses begin with:

Answer 13

1- that
2- which
3- how
4- who
5- whom
6- where
7- whether
8- what
9- why

Question 14

SC

Answer 14

A. no main verb (the subordinating clause “when you decide …” can not contain the main verb)
B. no main verb
C. Second “is” has no sub.
D. No IC
E. Correct

Question 15

When we can drop “that”?

Answer 15

In a noun clause that serve as direct object, “that” is often dropped.

Question 16

Adj. vs. Adv.

Answer 16

an Adj. modifies noun and pronoun
an Adv. modifies verb and adjective and other adverb

Question 17

SC

The reporters noticed that the prime minister’s attendance at the briefings had become less regularly.

Answer 17

Regularly داره become رو مادیفای میکنه که غلطه دیگه معنی نمی‌ده
باید regular attendance باشه

Question 18

SC

New parents often find that they have significant less time for social activities than they had previously.

Answer 18

Significant داره adj. مادیفای می‌کنه پس باید با فرم Adv. بیاد
Significantly

Question 19

SC

After a producer remixed the musician’s cluttered original song, it become a hit, and the musician is now earning an ample pop star’s income.

Answer 19

cluttered original song درسته
ولی
ample pop strar’s اشتباهه
ample income درسته

Question 20

SC

The study found that a senior citizen was more likely to adhere to an exercise regimen consisting of an intence hour of cardiovascular activity, such as push-up.

Answer 20

به گوش آشناس ولی دقت کن intence داره hour رو modify می‌کنه
در صورتی که باید cardiovascular activity رو modify کنه

Question 21

Limiting words

Name them and what is the rule

Answer 21

• Only
• Just
• Even
• Almost
• Merely
• Simply
• Exactly
• Nearly
• Hardly

فقط - به سادگی - به ندرت - تقریبا - دقیقا - حتی

Generally, the best placement is immedietaly befor the word or phrase that it is meant to modify.

Question 22

SC

Answer 22

Question 23

SC

Answer 23

Question 24

SC

The house is quite large that is adjacent to mine.

Answer 24

The house that is adjacent to mine is quite large.

A noun modifier must be placed as closely as possible to what it modifies.

Question 25

Prepositions

Name some

Answer 25

• In
• Under
• By
• For

a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in “the man on the platform,” “she arrived after dinner,” “what did you do it for ?”.

Question 26

SC

Answer 26

A: is correct
B: no main verb
C: Genes at a university ?!
D: At a university, genes … demonstrated something?!
E: A study of genes could be conducted. There is no way a study conducted of genes

Question 27

SC

Answer 27

A: هم معنیش برعکسه که قبلا امن‌تر بوده هم انگار طوفان‌های آب و هوایی توسط پیش‌بینی کننده‌ها ایجاد می‌شن
B: Due to باید شروع یک فریز بیاد که یک اسم رو modify کنه. Accurately هم اشتباه استفاده شده برای making. Makie نمی‌تونه accurate باشه.By weather forcaster هم مثل قبلی اشتباه استفاده شده
C: معنی رو برعکس کرده که انگار قبلا امن‌تر بوده. Accurately هم misplaced هست.
D: به همون دلایل بالا غلطه
E: is correct

Question 28

Due to

Correct use

Answer 28

In formal sentences the expression “due to” is correctly used to begin a phrase that modifies a noun, not verb.

Question 29

SC

Answer 29

A: غلطه اولا چون معلوم نیست ۱۹۴۷ اروپا ترکید در نتیجه جنگ جهانی یا اون برنامه پروپوز شد. Destruction of WWII هم غلطه. WWII که خراب نمی‌شه. در نتیجه WWII خرابی به بار میاد
B: Destroction comming from? هدیه فرستاده؟. meaning to هم غلطه. meant to باید باشه چون پلن خودش کاری نمی‌کنه اجرای پلن منجر به چیزی میشه.
C: Destruction of WWII یعنی جنگ خراب شده. جای In 1947 هم اشتباهه انگار در ۱۹۴۷ سال بعدش تصویب شد.
D: به همون دلایل بالا درسته
E: Is correct

Question 30

SC

Answer 30

A: misplaced introductory modifier - nonsensical meaning
B: is correct
C: misplaced introductory modifier - nonsensical meaning
D: nonsensical meaning. “To pose as” means “To pretend to be”
E: misplaced introductory modifier - nonsensical meaning

Question 31

Introductory modifier

when is a noun modifier

Answer 31

1- The noun that it modifies must appear right after introductory.
2- When an introductory noun modifier followed by a clause that has “it” as its subject, it maybe that the modifier does not logically modify “it.”

Question 32

Correct/Incorrect

By the time the actress and her entourage arrived at the award event, it already half over.

Answer 32

Correct

The introductory is not a noun modifier.

Question 33

SC

Answer 33

A: is correct
B: Who is inspecting?
C: Who are they?
D: Who is inpecting them?
E: “By being inpected” conveys a meaning that goods inspect themselves and cause somehow an entire order to be flawed

Question 34

SC

Answer 34

A: gold’s price having been alarmed?
B: is correct
C: Same as A
D: Gold’s price is not a result of alarm
E: Gold’s price cannot be alarmed - dangling modifier

Correctly answering this question requires noticing that the subject of each version is either “gold’s price” or “the price of gold” and that, therefore, any noun modifier that opens a version has to logically modify one of those subjects.
چون اشتباه B , C , D توی E رفع شده ممکنه تصور کنی آخری درسته ولی آخری غیرمنطقی بود

Question 35

Correct/Incorrect

Having yielded two distinctive terracotta vessels that archaeologists believe were used for ritualistic purposes, the group’s excavation of the Harrapan site near Anupgarh in Rajasthan, India, created a stir among scholars whose research centers on Bronze Age civilizations.

Answer 35

Correct

Having yielded two distinctive terracotta vessels that archaeologists believe were used for ritualistic purposes, the group’s excavation of the Harrapan site near Anupgarh in Rajasthan, India, created a stir among scholars whose research centers on Bronze Age civilizations.

Question 36

Correct/Incorrect

Investors are still holding out hope that a “Santa Claus rally,” a market surge that typically occurs in the final week of the year, will make up for some of the painful losses of the past few months, but having dropped sharply just days before Christmas Eve, the market’s lackluster year shows no sign of ending on a high note, so Wall Street execs may be better off revising their holiday wish lists.

Answer 36

Incorrect

Investors are still holding out hope that a “Santa Claus rally,” a market surge that typically occurs in the final week of the year, will make up for some of the painful losses of the past few months, but having dropped sharply just days before Christmas Eve, the market’s lackluster year shows no sign of ending on a high note, so Wall Street execs may be better off revising their holiday wish lists.

Question 37

Correct/Incorrect

Heavy snow covering the tracks delayed trains all morning.

Answer 37

Correct

Heavy snow covering the tracks delayed trains all morning.

Question 38

Correct/Incorrect

John understood completely the argument made by the speaker.

Answer 38

Correct

John understood completely the argument made by the speaker.

Question 39

Correct/Incorrect

Although the board of directors could not come to agreement on many of the issues upon which it was tasked with deciding, it did agree at its first meeting to finalize the plan for the reduction of interest rate expense, which was presented by shareholders some months ago.

Answer 39

Incorrect

Although the board of directors could not come to agreement on many of the issues upon which it was tasked with deciding, it did agree at its first meeting to finalize the plan for the reduction of interest rate expense, which was presented by shareholders some months ago.

معلوم نیست قرار شده تو جلسه اول فاینال کنن یا تو جلسه اول توافق کردن که بالاخره فاینال کنن در آینده

Question 40

SC

Answer 40

A: “Completely” could modify either “accept” or “unproven”, and “often” could modify either “experience depression” or “do so.”
B: “Completely” clearly modifies “refuses”, but “Often” could modifies either “do so” or “because of chemical imbalances”
C: Same as A
D: Same as above
E: is correct

The original version of this sentence contains two modifiers that are squinting.
“Completely” could modify either “accept” or “unproven.”
“Often” could modify either “experience depression” or “do so.”

Question 41

Relative pronouns

Name most commonly used

Answer 41

• That
• Which
• Who
• Whom
• Whose

Question 42

“That” vs. “Which”

Answer 42

• use “that” for restrictive relative clause
• use “which” for nonrestrictive relative clause

Entities made up of people such as teams, groups, or classes, are considered things when the context treat such an entity as a single unit and, in such caces, are refered to via the use of the relative pronouns “that” or “which.”

Question 43

How to determine whether an underlined clause is restrictive?

Answer 43

Eliminate it from the sentence. If it can be eliminated without the core meaning of the sentence changing, it is nonrestrictive and will use “which”

یه روش باحال این بود که ببینیم توضیحه یک سابستی از گزاره اول هست یا نه. مثلا وقتی می‌گی نیوویورک دیگه بعدش اینکه بگیم که مردمی بداخلاق داره نانریستریکتیو هست

Question 44

Nonrestrictive clause comma

Answer 44

• always be set off from the rest of sentences by comma
• when the word “which” proceded by a preposition or is used to meant “which one,” no comma proceding “which” is necessary.

Question 45

Restrictive clause comma

Answer 45

• Restrictive relative clauses are not set off from the rest of the sentences by comma.
• این معنیش این نیست که اگر کنار ریستریکتیوها کاما دیدیم غلط هستن. اون کاما ممکنه به دلیل دیگه‌ای اونجا باشه

Question 46

SC

Answer 46

عبارت بعدیش nonrestrictive هست پس D,E غلط هست
A: The use of “for which” does not make sense, as Truman Capote did not spend six years writing for the book.
He spent six years writing to produce the book but not for the book.
Furthermore, the use of the pronoun “it” is unnecessary and results in a circular meaning.
Does it make sense that Capote spent six years writing the book for the book?
B: is correct
C: Lack of main verb

Question 47

SC

Answer 47

nonrestrictive هست پس گزینه‌های That دار حذف می‌شن
D: the author does not meant the idea that visitors are aggressive
B: is correct

Question 48

SC

Answer 48

A: این یعنی Wheather conditions … are actually quite common. بی معنیه دیگه
B: برای این twin reflections … are actually quite common. تناقض داره با اول عبارت
C: is correct
D: Same as A
E: تناقض

Notice that, in order to make sense, the sentence must make clear that the weather conditions mentioned are particular weather conditions: those that result in a double rainbow. In order for the sentence to specify which weather conditions it is about, the sentence has to use a restrictive, rather than a nonrestrictive, modifier.

Question 49

SC

Answer 49

Question 50

Relative clauses, including those that begins with “that”, “which”, “who”, “whom”, or “whose,” must come immedietaly after the nouns that they modify. Except:

Answer 50

Remote:
1- A relative clause may be separated from the noun that it modifies by another modifier, such as a prepositional phrase or an appositive.
2- Certain types of main verbs that indicate arrival, positioning, and comming into being can exist between a relative clause and the noun that it modifies in which there is unlikely to be any confusion and the author would like to avoid putting the main verb after a long interventing relative clause.

دکتر جان این فاصله‌هه تا ابد نیستا. همون اندازه فعله

Question 51

Correct/Incorrect

Investors are reluctant to take positions even at current price levels, 52-week lows for stocks in key sectors, which, analysts caution, may not represent the bottom of the downward trend that has gripped the market for the past two months.

Answer 51

Correct

Since the relative clause “which, analysts caution, may not represent …” is separated from the noun it modifies, “price levels,” only by an appositive describing the price levels, “52-weeks lows for stocks in key sectors,” the sentence is grammatically correct and effectively conveys a logical meaning.

Question 52

SC

Answer 52

B: S-V agreement. Results دوم داره به هورمونها یا لول‌ها اشاره می‌کنه نباید سینگل باشه
C: S-V agreement. elevating level هم انگار لول‌ها خودشون دارن می‌رن بالا
D: That elevate بی معنیه دیگه
E: S-V agreement و خود هورمون ها هم باعث نمیشن چاقی. کلا چون nonrestrictive بود that ها رو میشد حذف کرد.

Question 53

SC

Answer 53

Question 54

Name subject and object pronouns

Answer 54

Subject pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They, Who
Object pronouns: Me, You, Him, Her, It, Us, Them, Whom

Question 55

SC

Answer 55

A: is correct
B: author is a human so, which incorrectly refered to author
C: whom is a object pronoun
D: first part before “, and” has not a main verb
E: author is a person so we can not use “that.”

Question 56

SC

Answer 56

A: that incorrectly refered to people
B: “who” is incorrectly used as object of preposition “by”
C: this version incorrecly uses “whom,” an object pronoun, as the subject of clause “whom can not digest lactose.”
D: which incorrectly refers to “people.”
E: is correct

Question 57

SC

Answer 57

Question 58

Possessive pronoun

read these examples

Answer 58

The relative pronoun “whose” can refer to things or people. “whose” in English language is only possessive relative pronoun.

Question 59

How to identify an appositive?

Answer 59

Replace the noun being modified with its modifier.

An amazing example of Renaissnce art, the statue dominated the exhibit.

Question 60

Correct/Incorrect

The best GMAT tutor in New York City, blog posts by Jeff Miller have helped many students to earn high GMAT score.

Answer 60

Incorrect

Question 61

SC

Answer 61

دلیلی که گزینه آخر غلطه اینه که اینکه رادیو یه اینونشن توسعه داده شده توسط تسلا هست یک فکت هست که ادامه داره. تموم نشده. لذا استفاده از had اشتباهه

Question 62

Choose the more effective version:

A. Microorganisms decompose organic matter and release substances into the surrounding soil, a process that occurs rapidly under ideal conditions.

B. Microorganisms decompose organic matter and release substances into the surrounding soil, and it is a process that occurs rapidly under ideal conditions.

Answer 62

A

تو دومی it لنگش رو هواس

Question 63

Choose the more effective version:

A. The CEO pondered the situation, a decision that he was intending to make by the end of the day.

B. The CEO pondered the situation, intending to make a decision by the end of the day.

Answer 63

B

در مورد اولی نه Situation نه CEO هیچکدوم Decision نیستن

Question 64

Analyse this sentence:

The completed work of art was admired by the smiling patrons.

Answer 64

The completed work of art (reciever of action) was admired by the smiling patrons(doer of action).

Question 65

We can put most present participle phrases into three categories:

Answer 65

1- Present participle phrases that are used restrictively modify specific nouns.
2- Present participle phrases that appear at the beginning or the middle of clauses, are nonrestrictive, and can be treated as noun modifiers for the purpose of placement. (set off by comma)
3- Present participle phrases that appear at the end of clauses and usually, but not always, modify the preceding clauses. (modify an entire preceding clause, in which case the phrase is set off from the preceding clause by a comma and normally has as its agent the subject of the clause that it modifies. except these two situation:
A) One type of exception occurs when a closing participle clause begins with “including.” often “including” does not take the subject of the clause as its agent.
B) A second type of exception occurs when the closing participle phrase modifies an actor-action pair that appear between the subject and the closing participle phrase.)

• Present participle phrases that modify entire clauses often describe the results of the actions mentioned in the preceding clauses, cause of the events described in the preceding clauses, or events that were occurring while the events described in the preceding clause were occurring.
• When a writer utilizes a present participle phrase in discussing events that do not occur at the same time, he or she creates an illogical sentence.
• It is not enough for a present participle phrase to logically modify a noun that appears in a sentence. In order for a sentence to make sense, any participle phrase that appears in that sentence has to work logically with the rest of the sentence.

Question 66

SC

Answer 66

A: There is no comma separating “fruits and other edibles” and “creating a public food forest.” Thus, “creating a public food forest” modifies either “fruits and other edibles” or “trees and smaller plants that bear fruits and other edibles.”
So, this version conveys the illogical meaning that either trees and plants or fruits and other edibles were creating the food forest.
B: is correct
C: There is no comma separating “fruits and other edibles” and “planting a large area.” Thus, “planting a large area” modifies “fruits and other edibles.” So, this version conveys the illogical meaning that the fruits and other edibles were planting a large area.
D: The placement of the phrase “planting a large area …” just before “public food forest” indicates that the phrase modifies “forest.” Thus, this version conveys the illogical meaning that the forest planted a large area.
E: Because the present participial phrase “planting a large area …” is placed directly after “forest” and is not separated from “forest” by a comma, the phrase must modify “forest.” Thus, this version conveys the nonsensical meaning that the forest was planting a large area.

Question 67

SC

Answer 67

نکته ای که باید یادت باشه وقتی participale داره بدون کاما وصل میشه اسم قبلیش رو داره modify می‌کنه

Question 68

Correct/Incorrect

Outperforming most other mutual funds over a twenty-year period and earning a reputation as one of the greatest funds of its time, investment guru Peter Lynch managed the Magellan Fund, which provided investors with a vehicle for creating wealth during a time characterized by economic uncertainty.

Answer 68

Incorrect

Did investment guru Peter Lynch earn a reputation “as one of the greatest funds of its time?” No, because Peter Lynch is a person, not a mutual fund, right? So, this sentence is illogical.

Correct:
Outperforming most other mutual funds over the preceding twenty-year period and earning a reputation as one of the greatest funds of its time, the Magellan Fund, which was managed by investment guru Peter Lynch, provided investors with a vehicle for creating wealth during a time characterized by economic uncertainty.

Question 69

SC

Answer 69

Question 70

SC

Answer 70

A: The sentence begins with the present participial phrase “Having demonstrated that people can change gene expression by meditating.” The noun or pronoun that follows this opening modifier must be a noun that is capable of “having demonstrated something.” We see that the pronoun “it” directly follows the opening modifier, but the pronoun “it” is not a noun or pronoun that is capable of “having demonstrated something.” Therefore, we have a misplaced introductory modifier, and this sentence is incorrect; the participial phrase is misplaced.
B: This choice is a bit tricky because, unlike many of the other choices, it uses a dependent clause, since the study has demonstrated …,” rather than a participial phrase.
So, if we are focused on modifier placement issues, we might mistakenly perceive this choice as another one similar to (A), in which an introductory modifier illogically modifies “it.” However, if we read the sentence carefully, we see that it is well constructed and conveys a meaning that makes sense.
Notice that the last clause in this version is written to “sound funny,” and therefore seem incorrect, as a result of the last clause’s having as its subject the gerund phrase “its having a significant impact on the field of epigenetics.”
C: The participial phrase “having demonstrated …” is meant to modify the clause that follows it.
However, the clause uses a delayed subject, and so, what appears right after the participial is the expletive “there.” Since “there” certainly would not have demonstrated something, it does not make sense for the “having demonstrated …” to modify “there.” So, it’s clear that the opening participial phrase is misplaced.
Also, “having demonstrated …, there is a likelihood that the study will have a significant impact” is illogical in another way as well. The sentence does not say that it is likely that the study will have a significant impact.Rather it conveys that, since something demonstrated that people can affect gene expression by meditating, a likelihood that the study will have a significant impact exists. Expressing this idea is absurd since, under all conditions, a likelihood that the study will have a significant impact exists. That likelihood may be anything from 0 percent to 100 percent, but it will always exist.
So, expressing that it will exist under certain conditions, “having demonstrated,” does not make sense.

Finally, because the prepositional phrase “in the head researcher’s opinion” appears directly after “the field of epigenetics,” the prepositional phrase seems to modify “the field of epigenetics.” As a result, this version suggests the nonsensical idea that the field of epigenetics is located in the head researcher’s opinion.
D: Because “having demonstrated that people can change gene expression by meditating” directly follows “the head researcher’s opinion,” this version conveys the nonsensical meaning that the head researcher’s opinion has demonstrated that people can change gene expression by meditating.
The head researcher’s opinion might be that the study has demonstrated that people can change gene expression by meditating, but the opinion itself would have not demonstrated that.
E: In this version, the participial phrase “having demonstrated …” is placed so as to logically modify “the study.” However, even though that modifier placement is logical, we have to be careful not to choose this version, because what this version expresses does not make sense.

This version does not say that the study is likely to have a significant impact. Instead, it conveys the nonsensical meaning that the study “has a likelihood that will have a significant impact.” Of course, “a likelihood” would not “have a significant impact on the field of epigenetics.”

Furthermore, because the prepositional phrase “in the opinion of the head researcher” appears directly after “the field of epigenetics,” the prepositional phrase seems to modify “the field of epigenetics.” As a result, this version suggests the nonsensical idea that the field of epigenetics is located in the opinion of the head researcher.

اون گزینه دو درست بود ولی مساله مادیفایر نبود. اگر فقط قفلی رو مادیفایر باشی به فنا می ری

Question 71

SC

Answer 71

A: با توجه به اینکه قبل sitting کاما داریم پس داره کل clause رو مادیفای می‌کنه. یعنی recessed instrument … sitting in the … که غلطه
B: while —> when the action occure
عملا کارکرد adv. داره یعنی اون قطعه وقتی راننده نشسته نقشش بادگیره فقط. غلطه
C: کاما بین driver و sitting نیست پس داره راننده رو مادیفای می‌کنه که درسته
D: driver + panel!
E: as if —> pretend to be
اون تیکه as the driver هم مثل B غلطه

Question 72

SC

Answer 72

A: یعنی Solar energy system با price بودن …
B: Appositive هست و درسته
D: This version conveys the nonsensical meaning that $15,000 is at a price, as opposed to a more logical meaning, such as that $15,000 is a price.
E: Since the present participial phrase “making it an affordable price for many” appears after the clause and is separated from the preceding clause by a comma, we can tell that the phrase modifies the entire preceding clause.

Question 73

Past participale phrase types:

Answer 73

1- Restrictively modify nouns:

• Directly placed before or after the noun that it modifies
• not separated from the noun by comma

2- Nonrestrictively modify a nouns:

• Directly placed before or after the noun that it modifies
• Separated from the noun by comma

Issues:

1- Be on the lookout for an introductory phrase that begins with a past participle; we may have a misplaced modifier question on our hand. The noun that follows an introductory phrase that begins with a past participale must be the noun that phrase is meant to modify.

2- A second way in which Sentence Correction questioon writers can create issues is to use a restrictive or nonrestrictive past participale phrase where using a past participale phrase of other type, nonrestrictive or restrictive, would make more sense.

Question 74

Correct/Incorrect

As part of its push to create new dairy-free, milk type products, the company is experimenting with a flavorful purple liquid derived from walnuts and blueberries.

Answer 74

Correct

The past participial phrase “derived from walnuts and blueberries” directly follows what it logically modifies, “liquid.”

Question 75

SC

Answer 75

A: Notice that the past participial phrase “situated on two and a half acres in the center of Marrakesh” is placed directly after “artist Jacques Majorelle” without a comma between the two and is followed by a comma.
As a result, the phrase seems to illogically modify the artist, who would not be “situated on two and a half acres.”

Also, it does not even quite make sense to say that “sights” are “situated on two and a half acres.” So, that phrase is clearly misplaced.

Meanwhile, since the subject of the main clause is the plural “sights,” not the singular “the Majorelle Garden,” the clause’s verb, the singular “includes,” does not agree with the subject.

B: The first issue we come to as we read this version is that “sights” is modified by the phrase “created by artist Jacques Majorelle and situated on two and a half acres in the center of Marrakesh.” While it would make sense to describe a garden as created by artist Jacques Majorelle and situated on two and a half acres, it does not really make sense to describe sights in that way. This issue is not a clear, strong decision point, but it does make this version less than ideal.

The issue that makes this choice clearly incorrect is that the use of “it” is problematic.
Since sights would include many cacti and a cubist villa, the singular “it”’ seems to incorrectly refer to the plural “sights.”

On the other hand, we could decide that “it” must refer to the singular “the Majorelle Garden.” However, in that case, we have a meaning issue, because in that case, the sentence conveys the nonsensical meaning that the garden includes cacti and a villa only “when visitors to the Majorelle Garden see sights,” as if the cacti and villa cease to exist when the visitors don’t see sights.

C: Since what follows the opening past participial phrase “created by artist Jacques Majorelle” is “visitors,” the opening phrase is misplaced, since visitors to the garden would not have been created by Jacques Majorelle.

Also, “sights to include many cacti and a cubist villa” expresses that the sights will include those things in the future but do not currently include them.

D: This version is a little tricky, because it is an inverted sentence in which the main verb, “are … seen,” precedes the subject, “sights.”

All the same, this version is well constructed, with the past participial phrase “created by artist Jacques Majorelle and situated on two and a half acres …” correctly placed to logically modify “the Majorelle Garden.”

This version is grammatically correct and effectively conveys a meaning that makes sense.

E: The use of the restrictive relative clause “that was created by artist Jacques Majorelle …” to modify “the Majorelle Garden” is questionable because, presumably, there is only one “Majorelle Garden.” So, using a restrictive modifier to define which Majorelle Garden the sentence is about doesn’t seem to make sense.
This issue is not a strong decision point, because it’s possible that there is more than one Majorelle Garden, but it does make this version suspect, especially in the context of the other versions, which tend to indicate that there is only one Majorelle Garden.

Next, we see that “situated on two and a half acres …” directly follows “Jacques Majorelle” and seems to illogically modify “Jacques Majorelle.” While it’s arguable that “situated on two and a half acres …” is meant to modify the entire preceding phrase, “the Majorelle Garden that was created by artist Jacques Majorelle,” the placement of “situated on two and a half acres …” is certainly not ideal.

Finally, what takes this choice out of contention for sure is that, since “including” is not a finite verb,” this version includes no main verb and, thus, is not a complete sentence.

Question 76

Correct/Incorrect

The expert confirmed that the car found in the barn was a classic rooadster.

Answer 76

Correct

Since the past participial phrase “found in the barn” directly follows “car” and is not set off from the rest of the sentence by commas, we can tell that it specifies which car the sentence is about.

Question 77

SC

Answer 77

A: is nonrestrictive
B: is correct
C: “has” is singular but “coffee beans” is plural
D: non restrictive
E: Since the present participial phrase “having been roasted for too long” is set off by commas from the rest of the clause in which the phrase appears, the phrase takes as its agent the subject of the clause, which is “the use of coffee beans.” Thus, this version implies the nonsensical idea that the use of coffee beans can be roasted for too long.

Question 78

SC

Answer 78

B: This choice logically uses a restrictive past participial phrase to specify that a certain category of “publicized scientific studies” is being discussed, those publicized studies that are “retracted because of methodological errors or conflicts of interest” (as opposed to publicized studies in general).

Thus, this version conveys a clear and logical meaning.
Furthermore, this version contains no grammatical errors.

E: In this version, the present participial phrase “resulting from methodological errors or conflicts of interest” modifies “publicized scientific studies that are retracted.” As a result, this version communicates the illogical meaning that “publicized scientific studies” themselves are “resulting from methodological errors or conflicts of interest.”

Logically, retractions are what are “resulting from methodological errors or conflicts.” However, the noun “retractions” does not appear in this version, which instead uses the verb “retracted.”

Question 79

Correct/Incorrect

The introductory remarks finally having been concluded, the featured speaker took the stage.

Answer 79

Correct

We see at the beginning of the sentence an absolute phrase composed of one noun, “remarks,” and some modifiers that modify “remarks,” and the absolute phrase logically modifies the clause that follows it.

Question 80

Correct/Incorrect

Although they already were full from the roasted corn, sweet potatoes, and green beans, the children gobbled up the apple crisp, their enjoyment was obvious.

Answer 80

Incorrect

We cannot join the two independent clauses “the children gobbled up the apple crisp” and “their enjoyment was obvious” with only a comma.

We can correct the sentence by changing the second independent clause to an absolute phrase (by removing the main verb from that clause).

Although they already were full from the roasted corn, sweet potatoes, and green beans, the children gobbled up the apple crisp, their enjoyment obvious.

Question 81

Correct/Incorrect

Floor swept, bunks made, and soldiers standing at attention, the unit ready for the morning inspection by the commanding officer.

Answer 81

Incorrect

The sentence is missing an independent clause. As currently written, what we have is merely two phrases. We cannot have a complete sentence made up of only phrases. A complete sentence is:

Floor swept, bunks made, and soldiers standing at attention, the unit was ready for the morning inspection by the commanding officer.

Notice that the absolute phrase “Floor swept, bunks made, and soldiers standing at attention” adds descriptive information.

Question 82

Correct/Incorrect

Its bustling factories shuttered and its grand old mansions crumbling and condemned, the recession made Josh’s hometown look like a different universe, and the dwindling of the local workforce meant that any economic recovery would be slow.

Answer 82

Incorrect

“Its bustling factories shuttered…” is an absolute phrase that would logically describe “Josh’s hometown.” However, since the subject of the sentence is “the recession,” the opening modifier, while modifying the entire clause, focuses on “the recession.” Thus, the sentence conveys that the factories and mansions belong to the recession. Rephrasing the sentence will fix this modification issue. A more effective sentence is:

Its bustling factories shuttered and its grand old mansions crumbling and condemned, Josh’s hometown looked like a different universe after the recession, and the dwindling of the local workforce meant that any economic recovery would be slow.

Question 83

SC

Answer 83

Question 84

What do you know about

, So

Answer 84

باید دوتا clause رو به هم متصل کنه

Question 85

Subordinate clause

Answer 85

• Whenever a subordinate clause, comes before an independent clause, there must be a comma between the subordinate clause and independent clause.

Proponents of trophy hunting claim that it encourages wildlife conservation, but since populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically (,) critics strongly disagree.

Question 86

Certain preciding elements

Every, Each, Many a, Many an

Singular or Plural?

Answer 86

Every, Each, Many a, Many an

Always singular

Question 87

Singular or Plural?

Anybody

Answer 87

Always singular

Question 88

Singular or Plural?

Anyone

Answer 88

Always singular

Question 89

Plural or Singular?

Anything

Answer 89

Always singular

Question 90

Plural or Singular?

Each

Answer 90

Always singular

Question 91

Singular or Plural?

Either

Answer 91

Always singular

Question 92

Plural or Singular?

Evrybody

Answer 92

Always singular

Question 93

Plural or Singular?

Everyone

Answer 93

Always singular

Question 94

Plural or Singular?

Everything

Answer 94

Always singular

Question 95

Plural or Singular?

Neither

Answer 95

Always singular

Question 96

Plural or Singular?

Nobody

Answer 96

Always singular

Question 97

Plural or Singular?

No one

Answer 97

Always singular

Question 98

Plural or Singular?

Nothings

Answer 98

Always singular

Question 99

Plural or Singular?

One

Answer 99

Always Singular

Question 100

Plural or Singular?

Somebody

Answer 100

Always singular

Question 101

Plural or Singular?

Someone

Answer 101

Always singular

Question 102

Plural or Singular?

Something

Answer 102

Always singular

Question 103

Plural or Singular?

Whatever

Answer 103

Always singular

Question 104

Plural or Singular?

Whoever

Answer 104

Singular except when prededs a plural noun

When preceds phrases need plural

Question 105

Plural or Singular?

Both

Answer 105

Always plural

Question 106

Plural or Singular?

Few

Answer 106

Always plural

Question 107

Plural or Singular?

Many

Answer 107

Always plural

Question 108

Plural or Singular?

Several

Answer 108

Always plural

Question 109

Plural or Singular?

Name SANAMM

Answer 109

• Some
• Any
• None
• All
• More
• Most

Can be singular or plural depending on their referants

We can’t ignore the prepositional phrase

Question 110

Plural or Singular?

The number of

Answer 110

Singular

Question 111

Plural or Singular?

The percentage of

Answer 111

Singular

Question 112

Plural or Singular?

A percentage of

Answer 112

takes a verb that agrees in number with what percentage is a percentage of

Question 113

Plural or Singular?

Fraction

Answer 113

can takes a singular or plural verb depending on what the fraction is a fraction of

Question 114

A portion described via the use of the word “percent”

Answer 114

Singular

Whereas the sub. is singular or plural

Question 115

Plural or Singular?

Alumni

What is opposit?

Answer 115

Plural

Singular: Alumnus

Question 116

Plural or Singular?

Criteria

What is opposit?

Answer 116

Plural

Singular: Criterion

Question 117

Plural or Singular?

Data

What is opposit?

Answer 117

Plural and singular

Singular: Datum

Question 118

Plural or Singular?

Fungus

What is opposit?

Answer 118

Singular

Plural: Fungi

a simple type of plant that has no leaves or flowers and that grows on plants or other surfaces. mushrooms and mould are both fungi.

Question 119

Singular or Plural?

Media

What is opposit?

Answer 119

Plural and singular

Singular: Medium

Question 120

Singular or Plural?

Phenomena

What is opposit?

Answer 120

Plural

Singular: Phenomenon

Question 121

Singular or Plural?

Nuclei

What is opposit?

Answer 121

Plural

Singular: Nucleus

the central part of an atom

Question 122

the central part of an atom

Syllabus

What is opposit?

Answer 122

Plural

Singular: Syllabi

Question 123

Singular or Plural?

Mathematics

Answer 123

as a field of study is singular

Question 124

Singular or Plural?

News

Answer 124

Singular

Question 125

Singular or Plural?

Diabetes

Answer 125

Singular

Question 126

Singular or Plural?

Mumps

Answer 126

Singular

اوریون

Question 127

Singular or Plural?

Politics

Answer 127

As a field of study singular

Question 128

Singular or Plural?

Politics

Answer 128

As a field of study singular

Question 129

Singular or Plural?

Economics

Answer 129

As a field of study is singular

Question 130

Singular or Plural?

Ethics

Answer 130

Ethics and morals can take both singular and plural

Question 131

Singular or Plural?

Subjects in the form of infinitives, gerunds and noun phrase/clauses

Answer 131

Always singular

• To know you is to love you.
• Whether the Holy Grail actually exists has yet to be determined.
• Meditatinc can relieve stress for some but takes time and practice that many people feel they can’t devote.

Question 132

Singular or Plural?

Saving and loan

Answer 132

Singular

Question 133

Singular or Plural?

Peanut butter and butter

Answer 133

Singular

Question 134

Singular or Plural?

bed and breakfast

Answer 134

Singular

Question 135

Singular or Plural?

bed and breakfast

Answer 135

Singular

Question 136

Name all pronoun issues

Answer 136

1. Multiple possible antecedents
2. A pronoun’s antecedent is missing
3. A pronoun has an adjective as its antecedent
4. A pronoun doesn’t agree in number with its antecedent
5. A sentence contains an unneeded pronoun
6. The sentence contains illogical antecedents
7. A pronoun is referring to a clause
8. The sentence uses an incorrect pronoun case

Question 137

How to determine whether to use “who/whoever” or “whom/whomever”

Answer 137

Replace with “he” or “him”

Question 138

What can you do to confirm that the pronoun “it” without a referant is not being used correctly

Answer 138

Check for the presence of a delayed subject.

Question 139

What is the proper use of

However

Answer 139

However is used to show contrast between two ideas or sentences and highlight this contrast.

adverb
used when you are adding a fact or piece of information that seems surprising, or seems very different from what you have just said => SYN: Nevertheless:

• This is a cheap and simple process. However, there are dangers.
• an extremely unpleasant disease that is, however, easy to treat

used to say that it does not matter how big, good, serious etc something is because it will not change a situation in any way => SYN: No matter how:

• You should report any incident, however minor it is.
• We have to finish, however long it takes.

however much/ many:
* I really want the car, however much it costs.

Cunjunction
in whatever way:

• You can do it however you like.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 140

What is the proper use of

Although

Answer 140

Although is used to show contrast within a sentence but does not highlight the contrast.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 141

What is the proper use of

While

Answer 141

While is used in a similar way to although

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 142

What is the proper use of

Furthermore

Answer 142

Furthermore is used to add new information that is even more important than the previous information.

Question 143

What is the proper use of

Also

Answer 143

Also is used within a sentence to add a new information that is similar to the previously mentioned informention.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 144

What is the proper use of

First

Answer 144

First is used to introduce the first step in a process.

More suitable for process tasks

Question 145

What is the proper use of

Initially

Answer 145

Initially is used to show you are talking about what happened at the start of something and later changed.

More suitable for process tasks

Question 146

What is the proper use of

Similarly

Answer 146

Similarly is used to show something followed a similar pattern or trend to somthing else.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 147

What is the proper use of

In contrast

Answer 147

In contrast is used to show you are talking about difference between two things.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 148

What is the proper use of

In comparison

Answer 148

In comparison is used to shou you are comparing two things.

Could be used in any type of task 1

Question 149

What is the proper use of

Meanwhile

Answer 149

Meanwhile is used to show something happened, or happens, at the same time as something else, or to say what happened while waiting for something else to happen.

Question 150

Major errors in Sentence Correction

Answer 150

1. Sub-Verb agreement
2. Pronouns and Antecedents
3. Modifiers
4. Verb tense, Mood and Voice
5. Parallelism
6. Logical comparison
7. Sentence Structure
8. Idioms
9. Logic and Meaning

Question 151

Correct/Incorrect?

I went to the gym and I lifted weights.

Answer 151

Incorrect

Linking two independent clauses with only a coordinating conjunction is always incorrect in a GMAT Sentence Correction question.

I went to the gym ,and I lifted weights.

The absence of a comma before a coordinating conjunction forbids having an independent clause follow because the result would be a run-on sentence.

Question 152

Correct/Incorrect?

Steganography involves the concealment of information, sometimes within computer files, and electronic communications may include steganographic coding inside a transport layer, such as a document file, image file, program, or protocol.

Answer 152

Correct

Despite its length, this is a complete sentence and correct as written.

Notice that two independent clauses are connect by a comma and the coordinating conjunction “and.”

Question 153

Correct/Incorrect?

Improving nutrition and reducing stress prompted changes in the behavior of genes; among them some genes believed to be tumor suppressors.

Answer 153

Incorrect

A semicolon is incorrectly used to connect a clause to a phrase.
While what precedes the semicolon is an independent clause, what follows the semicolon includes no main verb.
The sentence could be fixed through the addition of a main verb to what follows the semicolon.

Improving nutrition and reducing stress prompted changes in the behavior of genes; among them were some genes believed to be tumor suppressors.

Question 154

Correct/Incorrect?

The committee defining their goals for the year: to balance the budget, to support entrepreneurship, and to address environmental issues.

Answer 154

Incorrect

What precedes the colon could not stand on its own as a sentence.
Since “defining” is not a finite verb, what precedes the clause does not include a finite verb and, thus, includes no independent clause.

To correct the sentence, we could change “defining” to the finite verb “defined.”

The committee defined their goals for the year: to balance the budget, to support entrepreneurship, and to address environmental issues.

Question 155

Correct/Incorrect?

Few scientists dismissing Darwin’s theory entirely though many disagreements about the details of evolution remain unresolved.

Answer 155

Incorrect

Since “dismissing” is not a finite verb, and since “though many disagreements about the details of evolution remain unresolved” is a subordinate clause, this string of words does not include an independent clause.
Thus, it is not a complete sentence.

A correct version is:

Few scientists dismiss Darwin’s theory entirely though many disagreements about the details of evolution remain unresolved.

Question 156

Correct/Incorrect

Voter registration has surged in the months leading up to the election, with previously underrepresented demographics such as younger voters achieving record numbers, yet even if this trend translates to increased turnout at the polls.

Answer 156

Incorrect

The sentence is correctly punctuated but incomplete.
What may happen even if the trend translates to increased turnout? The coordinating conjunction/subordinating conjunction pair “yet even if” signals a two-part proposition, but the sentence provides only the first half of that statement.
A possible correction is:

Voter registration has surged in the months leading up to the election, with previously underrepresented demographics such as younger voters achieving record numbers, yet even if this trend translates to increased turnout at the polls , voter participation still may be too low to significantly change the makeup of Congress.

Question 157

Proponents of trophy hunting claim that it encourages wildlife conservation, but since populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically critics strongly disagree.

A) but since populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically
B) since the populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically,
C) but populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically, so
D) but since the populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically, and
E) populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically, so

Answer 157

My choice:
(B) Proponents of trophy hunting claim that it encourages wildlife conservation,since the populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically, critics strongly disagree.

This version includes two independent clauses “proponents of trophy hunting claim …” and “critics strongly disagree,” and one subordinate clause, “since the populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically.”

The issue is that the subordinate clause is properly punctuated to pair with either the opening independent clause or the closing independent clause, but not with both.

In other words, this version incorrectly connects three clauses with only one conjunction, “since.

Correct choice:
(C) Proponents of trophy hunting claim that it encourages wildlife conservation, but populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically, so critics strongly disagree.

This version correctly joins three independent clauses by using a comma and coordinating conjunction to link each successive independent clause to the preceding one.

Let’s break the sentence into its component parts to check for errors:

(independent clause + comma) Proponents of trophy hunting claim that it encourages wildlife conservation,

(coordinating conjunction + independent clause + comma) but populations of targeted animals have declined dramatically,

(coordinating conjunction + independent clause + period) so critics strongly disagree.

The sentence meaning is clear and logical, and the construction is grammatically correct.

Question 158

Correct/Incorrect?

The single-engine monoplane Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum.

Answer 158

Correct

Since the subject of the relative clause “Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic Ocean” is “Charles Lindbergh,” the sentence is correctly constructed even though the relative pronoun “that” is omitted from the relative clause.

Question 159

Correct/Incorrect?

Having repaired the beehives bears had damaged, the farmer pondered how to prevent such damage going forward.

Answer 159

Since the subject of the relative clause “bears had damaged” is “bears,” the sentence is correctly constructed even though the relative pronoun “that” is omitted from the relative clause.

Question 160

The rights women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls lived in Athens were confined to their fathers’ houses and married young, Spartan women were educated, participated in sports and public discourse, and owned land.

A) women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls
B) that women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world of which girls
C) women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls who
D) that women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls
E) women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world in which girls

Answer 160

MY CHOICE
(D) The rights that women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls lived in Athens were confined to their fathers’ houses and married young, Spartan women were educated, participated in sports and public discourse, and owned land.

This version is missing the necessary relative pronoun, “who,” after “girls.”

Notice that the main verb of the clause “ girls lived in Athens were confined” is not “lived” but “were.” In other words, “were” goes with the subject “girls.”

Since “girls” is the subject of “were,” without the relative pronoun “who,” there is no subject of “lived in Athens.” Thus, the clause is incomplete, and the meaning is nonsensical.

CORRECT ANSWER

(C) The rights women in Sparta enjoyed were unheard of in the rest of the ancient world; while girls who lived in Athens were confined to their fathers’ houses and married young, Spartan women were educated, participated in sports and public discourse, and owned land.

This is the only version of the sentence that includes the necessary relative pronoun, “who,” after “girls.”

Notice that the main verb of the clause “ girls who lived in Athens were confined” is not “lived” but “were.” In other words, “were” goes with the subject “girls.”

Since “girls” is the subject of “were,” without the relative pronoun “who,” there would be no subject of “lived in Athens.”

Notice, however, that a relative pronoun is not necessary after “rights,” since “women” is the subject of the relative clause “women in Sparta enjoyed.”

Also, both what appears before the semicolon and what appears after the semicolon can stand alone as a sentence. What appears before the semicolon is an independent clause, which can stand alone as a sentence, and what appears after the semicolon is a dependent clause followed by an independent clause, which can also stand alone as a sentence.

The sentence is complete and grammatical, and the sentence meaning is clear.

Question 161

Fragment/Sentence?

The Apache tribal chief Mangas Coloradas, who was otherwise known by the alias “Red Sleeve,” and who led a series of heroic retaliatory raids against the Mexican army in the 1830s after it took the scalps of Apache women and children.

Answer 161

Fragment

Let’s cross off the relative clause:

The Apache tribal chief Mangas Coloradas, who was otherwise known by the alias “Red Sleeve,” and who led a series of heroic retaliatory raids against the Mexican army in the 1830s after it took the scalps of Apache women and children.

We see that the structure is composed of only a noun phrase, “the Apache tribal chief Mangas Coloradas,” and a relative clause, “who … children.” Thus, there is no independent clause or main verb.

Question 162

What is the subject? “Noun phrase” or “Noun clause”?

That healing approach was developed centuries ago.

Answer 162

Noun phrase

That healing approach was developed centuries ago.

Question 163

What is the subject? “Noun phrase” or “Noun clause”?

When delivered, packages intended for the crew should be taken upstairs.

Answer 163

Noun phrase

When delivered, packages intended for the crew should be taken upstairs.

Question 164

When you decide whom to support in an election, a candidate for public office who is telegenic, not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

A) a candidate for public office who is telegenic,
B) whether a candidate for public office is telegenic
C) a candidate for public office is telegenic is
D) whether a candidate for public office is telegenic,
E) whether a candidate for public office is telegenic is

System 2 thinking

Answer 164

(A) When you decide whom to support in an election, a candidate for public office who is telegenic, not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

This version has no main verb. Without a main verb, there can be no independent clause, and without an independent clause, we don’t have a sentence.

The subordinate clause “When you decide whom to support in an election” cannot contain the main verb – notice that that clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

“A candidate for public office who is telegenic” is no more than a long phrase. Notice that “is” is part of the relative clause “who is telegenic,” which describes “a candidate for public office.” So, no main verb here.

Lastly, we see that “not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies” also cannot stand alone as a complete sentence, as it lacks both a subject and a main verb. Ask yourself, “ What is ‘not as important as whether you agree …’?”

The sentence is incomplete.

(B) When you decide whom to support in an election, whether a candidate for public office is telegenic not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

This version has no main verb. Without a main verb, there can be no independent clause, and without an independent clause, we don’t have a sentence.

Notice that “whether a candidate for public office is telegenic” is a noun clause and would be the subject of the sentence. Thus, “is” cannot be the main verb of the sentence, since a main verb cannot be contained within that noun clause.

So, “whether a candidate for public office is telegenic not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies” is missing a main verb to tell us what the subject “whether a candidate for public office is telegenic” is/was/will be.

Since the main verb is missing, the sentence is incomplete.

(C) When you decide whom to support in an election, a candidate for public office is telegenic is not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

The second “is” that appears in this version has no subject.

Note that the independent clause starts with a noun phrase, “a candidate for public office,” which is the subject of “is” in “ a candidate for public office is telegenic ….”

What, then, is the subject of “is not as important”?

“A candidate for public office is telegenic” is an independent clause, not a noun clause So, “A candidate for public office is telegenic” cannot serve as the subject of a sentence. Thus, “A candidate for public office is telegenic is not as important” does not make sense.

MY CHOICE
(D) When you decide whom to support in an election, whether a candidate for public office is telegenic, not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

There is no independent clause in this version. Without an independent clause, there is no sentence.

Let’s look at each of the three clauses in this version to see whether any of them can stand alone as a complete sentence.

The subordinate clause “When you decide whom to support in an election” cannot contain the main verb – notice that that clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

“Whether a candidate for public office is telegenic” also does not convey a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

“Not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies” lacks both a subject and a main verb and, thus, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Notice that “whether you agree with the candidate’s policies” is a noun clause. Thus, “agree” cannot be the main verb, since a main verb cannot be contained within that noun clause.

CORRECT ANSWER
(E) When you decide whom to support in an election, whether a candidate for public office is telegenic is not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.

This is the only version of the sentence that contains an independent clause, “whether a candidate for public office is telegenic is not as important as whether you agree with the candidate’s policies.”

The noun clause “whether a candidate for public office is telegenic” is the subject.

The second “is” is the main verb.

The sentence is logical and complete.

Question 165

The noun clause is a direct object or the object of a preposition?

An outline of how the events unfolded would be helpful.

Answer 165

Object of a preposition

The noun clause “how the events unfolded” is the object of the preposition “of.”

Question 166

The noun clause is a direct object or the object of a preposition?

The committee asked for information on why the costs were so high.

Answer 166

Object of a preposition

The noun clause “why the costs were so high” is the object of the preposition “on.”

Question 167

dependent clause is relative clause or noun clause?

What has been referred to as the Silver Era began in the late 1800s.

Answer 167

Noun clause

The dependent clause in this sentence is “what has been referred to as the Silver Era.” The clause does not follow a noun and serves as the subject of the sentence.

Question 168

Correct/Incorrect?

By combining rice and beans, chickpeas and sesame seeds, one can achieve amino acid balance.

Answer 168

We can see that the list in this sentence is incorrectly constructed because there is no comma before the coordinating conjunction “and” that appears before the last item “sesame seeds.”

At the same time, because “and” appears twice, the list appears to be composed of two items, “rice and beans” and “chickpeas and sesame seeds.” So, one way to correct the list is to replace the comma between those two items with the conjunction “or.”

By combining rice and beans or chickpeas and sesame seeds, one can achieve amino acid balance.

Question 169

Needs semicolon/Does not need semicolon?

In addition to improving their diets, the subjects also engaged in walking, working out, or cycling, alone or in groups; doing an hour of daily stress-reducing yoga-type stretching, breathing, and meditation; and group support sessions.

Answer 169

Needs semicolon

If this sentence did not use semicolons between list items, it would be difficult to determine where one item ends and the next one begins.

Question 170

The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager, the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée, and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef.

(A) manager, the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée, and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake,
(B) manager, the main course was prepared by the head chef and the sous chef, a vegan entrée, the final course was dessert, a chocolate cake
(C) manager; the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée; and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake,
(D) manager, the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée; and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake,
(E) manager; the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake,

System 2 thinking

Answer 170

A) The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager, the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée, and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef.

A list of three elements is presented, but because each element contains commas within it, separating the elements by using commas makes the sentence confusing and difficult to read. Let’s break down what the three list elements are:

Item 1: The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager,

Item 2: the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée,

Item 3: and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef

It would be easier to distinguish which parts of the sentence belong to which element of the list if semicolons, rather than commas, separated the elements from each other. Let’s look for a choice that creates a clearer, easier-to-read sentence.

(B) The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager, the main course was prepared by the head chef and the sous chef, a vegan entrée, the final course was dessert, a chocolate cake was prepared by the pastry chef.

The necessary coordinating conjunction is missing before the final element in the series in this version.

Notice that a list of three elements is presented:

Item 1: The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager,

Item 2: the main course was prepared by the head chef and the sous chef, a vegan entrée,

Item 3: the final course was dessert, a chocolate cake was prepared …

Without the coordinating conjunction “and” introducing “the final course,” the sentence contains both an ungrammatical list and a comma splice. (Notice that each element of the list is an independent clause. As we know, two independent clauses should not be joined by a comma alone.) In fact, within the third element, we see an additional comma splice, since “the final course was dessert” and “a chocolate cake was prepared …” are both independent clauses.

Furthermore, it would be easier to distinguish which parts of the sentence belong to which element of the list if semicolons, rather than commas, separated the elements from each other, since all of the elements already contain commas within them.

Lastly, the noun phrase “a vegan entrée” logically further describes “the main course” but is too far removed from that noun for the meaning to be clear. Thus, it appears as though “the sous chef” is nonsensically described as “a vegan entrée”

CORRECT ANSWER
(C) The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the ma**nager; the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée; and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake,
** was prepared by the pastry chef.

This choice creates the clearest, easiest-to-read sentence of all the versions and contains no grammatical or meaning errors.

By using semicolons to separate the three elements in the series, this version avoids any confusion about which parts of the sentence belong to which element in the series. Since the three elements already contain commas within them, using commas to separate the elements from each other would make the sentence more difficult to read.

(D) The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager, the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée; and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef.

The portion of the sentence that appears before the semicolon contains a comma splice, which is never correct.

Notice that this version contains three independent clauses:

Independent Clause 1: The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager,

Independent Clause 2: the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée;

Independent Clause 3: and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef.

Independent clauses 2 and 3 are correctly joined using a semicolon. However, Independent clauses 1 and 2 are incorrectly joined by a comma alone.

The sentence produced by this choice is not grammatically correct.

MY CHOICE
(E) The soup, appetizer, and fresh bread were prepared by the senior chef, the saucier, and the manager; the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef.

Logically, “dessert” is “the final course,” not part of “the main course” along with “a vegan entrée.” However, in “the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée and dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared…,” the logical meaning is not clear because “a vegan entrée and dessert” are lumped together, both seeming to describe “the main course.”

If “dessert” is indeed the final course, then two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by the coordinating conjunction “and” alone:

the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée (independent clause)

dessert, the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef (independent clause)

If, by some crazy twist, dessert is in fact part of the main course, the sentence still is not correctly punctuated because it joins two independent clauses with a comma alone:

the head chef and the sous chef prepared the main course, a vegan entrée and dessert, (independent clause)

the final course, a chocolate cake, was prepared by the pastry chef (independent clause)

Since this version conveys an unclear meaning and is not correctly punctuated regardless of the correct meaning, this choice is incorrect.

Question 171

Heads of government including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and others who met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

(A) the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and others who
(B) the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; France’s President, Emmanuel Macron; Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel; and others
(C) Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel; others
(D) the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; France’s President, Emmanuel Macron; Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel and others
(E) Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, others

Answer 171

(A) Heads of government including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and others who met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

This version is not a complete sentence.In fact, the sentence is nothing more than a series of noun phrases. There is no main verb to create an independent clause, and without an independent clause, there is no sentence.

Notice that “met” cannot be the main verb of the sentence because it appears within the relative clause “who met for informal discussions,” which describes “others.” Additionally, the present participle “including” is not a finite verb, and thus cannot be the main verb.

Notice also that the use of commas to separate the items in the list (the list introduced by “heads of government including”) makes the items difficult to parse. If one did not know that the Prime Minister of Canada is Justin Trudeau, that France’s President is Emmanuel Macron, and that Germany’s Chancellor is Angela Merkel, then one might think that the list is made up of six different people (plus “others”), rather than three.

CORRECT ANSWER
(B) Heads of government including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; France’s President, Emmanuel Macron; Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel; and others met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

This is the only choice that creates a clear, complete, and logical sentence. The list of people who “met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit” is made easy to parse by the use of semicolons separating each person/job from the next.

Notice the final semicolon and coordinating conjunction “and” preceding “others”. Those elements properly join “others” to the rest of the list, making “others” the final list item. Thus, the action “met for informal discussions” is attributable to all of the people in the list, not just to “others,” and the sentence is complete.

(C) Heads of government including Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel; others met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

This version is made up of a list of items separated by commas, then a semicolon, and then an independent clause. So, there is an independent clause after the semicolon but no independent clause before the semicolon. Thus, the sentence is not grammatically correct.

Notice that there is no main verb in “Heads of government including the Prime Minister of Canada …,” since the present participle “including” is not a finite verb, and thus cannot be the main verb.

Without a main verb, we don’t have an independent clause. So, the use of a semicolon to join the first part of the sentence to the second part does not make sense.

Notice also that the use of commas to separate the items in the list (the list introduced by “heads of government including”) makes the items difficult to parse. If one did not know that the Prime Minister of Canada is Justin Trudeau, that France’s President is Emmanuel Macron, and that Germany’s Chancellor is Angela Merkel, then one might think that the list is made up of six different people, rather than three.

MY CHOICE
(D) Heads of government including the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau; France’s President, Emmanuel Macron; Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel and others met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

Notice that what appears to be the last element in the list separated by semicolons, “others,” is preceded by only the conjunction “and.” The necessary comma or, in this case, semicolon before “and” is omitted.

In order for the list to be properly constructed the “and” that precedes the last element should be preceded by a semicolon.

(E) Heads of government including Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, others met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit.

This version presents a list of people introduced by “Heads of government including.” We can tell that the last person in the list is “Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel” because that is preceded by a comma and the coordinating conjunction “and,” indicating the end of the list. However, the list would be made clearer by the use of semicolons, instead of commas, to separate each person and respective job title, since (without outside knowledge) “Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron” could be interpreted as either four people or two.

Furthermore, since the comma and coordinating conjunction “and” preceding “Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel” marks the end of the list, “others,” which appears after “Angela Merkel,” is not part of the list. Notice that “others” begins an independent clause, “others met for informal discussions at the G7 Summit,” and that what precedes the independent clause is an incomplete thought:

Heads of government including Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, France’s President, Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel

That is simply a list of nouns. There is no main verb to tell us what those heads of government did, since the present participle “including” is not a finite verb and thus not a main verb.

So, we have a list of nouns joined to an independent clause with a comma. This version is neither grammatical nor logical.

Question 172

In keeping with the company’s multiple missions, the design of the buildings, which house the product development and design departments, intending to both support sustainability and inspire creativity.

(A) buildings, which house the product development and design departments, intending to both support sustainability and inspire
(B) buildings that house the product development and design departments are intended for both the support of sustainability and the inspiration of
(C) buildings that house the product development and design departments is intended to both support sustainability and inspire
(D) buildings, which house the product development and design departments, are intended to both support sustainability and inspire
(E) buildings, which are houses to the product development and design departments, intends to both support sustainability and inspire

Answer 172

In order to answer this question, we have to clearly see that the subject of the sentence is “design” and that, therefore, the main verb of the sentence has to be singular.

MY CHOICE:
(E) In keeping with the company’s multiple missions, the design of the buildings, which are houses to the product development and design departments, intends to both support sustainability and inspire creativity.

Because the verb “intends” agrees with the subject “design,” this version is grammatically correct. However, this version conveys ideas that don’t make sense.

“Which are houses to the product development and design departments,” conveys the somewhat nonsensical meaning that, to these departments, but perhaps not to other departments, the buildings are houses.

Also, “the design … intends to” conveys the illogical idea that the design itself is, basically, planning to do something.

CORRECT CHOICE:
(C) In keeping with the company’s multiple missions, the design of the buildings that house the product development and design departments is intended to both support sustainability and inspire creativity.

In this version, the singular verb “is” agrees with the singular “design,” and this version is otherwise grammatically correct and conveys a meaning that makes sense.

Question 173

Correct/Incorrect?

Judy likes to eat at fine restaurants and drink expensive wine, whereas Clarissa says that peanut butter and jelly is her favorite.

Answer 173

Correct

Judy likes to eat at fine restaurants and drink expensive wine, whereas Clarissa says that peanut butter and jelly is her favorite.

**peanut butter and jelly ** is a single food item.
Judy “likes to” eat at fine restaurants and drink expensive wine: drink => to drink

Question 174

Stop and frisk, which involved unprompted searches and questioning of civilians on the street by police officers, ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge; this decision effectively put an end to this controversial law enforcement practice.

(A) ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge; this decision effectively put
(B) were ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge and were a decision that effectively put
(C) were ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge, and effectively, by this decision, put
(D) was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge and was a decision effectively putting
(E) was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge, a decision effectively putting

Answer 174

The subject of the sentence is “stop and frisk,” which is later in the sentence termed a “practice.” Since a practice is a singular entity, a singular verb is necessary.
(MY EYES!)
Notice that the subject is separated from the main verb by a long relative clause that contains multiple plural nouns: “searches,” “civilians,” and “police officers.” So, we have to be careful not to get fooled by the presence of those plural nouns into choosing a plural verb.

CORRECT CHOICE:
Stop and frisk, which involved unprompted searches and questioning of civilians on the street by police officers, was ruled unconstitutional by a U. S. District Court judge, a decision effectively putting an end to this controversial law enforcement practice.

Question 175

In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, on a mysterious island in the middle of the sea sings enchanting creatures whose call send ships crashing and lure passing sailors to their deaths.

(A) sings enchanting creatures whose call send ships crashing and lure
(B) sing enchanting creatures whose call send ships crashing and lure
(C) sings enchanting creatures whose calls sends ships crashing and lures
(D) sing enchanting creatures whose call sends ships crashing and lures
(E)sing enchanting creatures whose calls send ships crashing and lures

Answer 175

The sentence is a bit of a tongue-twister, but the important thing is to separate the main clause from the relative clause, so that which verb goes with which noun is clear.

The main clause is inverted, and its main verb is (sings/sing). To determine whether the main verb should be plural or singular, we have to determine who or what sings. We see that it is the creatures who sing. So, the subject that goes with (sings/sing) is the plural “creatures.” Thus, the correct main verb of the main clause is the plural “sing.”
Eliminate (A) and (C)

The other clause within the sentence is the relative clause “whose call(s) (sends/send) ships crashing ….” In the correct answer, the subject and verb in this relative clause will agree.

CORRECT CHOICE:
In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, on a mysterious island in the middle of the sea sing enchanting creatures whose call sends ships crashing and lures passing sailors to their deaths.
The plural “sing” agrees with the plural “creatures,” and the singular “sends” and “lures” agree with “call.”

Call means صدا

Question 176

Singolar/Plural?

team

Answer 176

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 177

Singolar/Plural?

crowd

Answer 177

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 178

Singolar/Plural?

litter

Answer 178

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

a litter of kittens
گروهی از توله های حیوانات

Question 179

Singolar/Plural?

choir

Answer 179

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

گروه سرود

Question 180

Singolar/Plural?

crew

Answer 180

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 181

Singolar/Plural?

band

Answer 181

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 182

Singolar/Plural?

troupe

Answer 182

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 183

Singolar/Plural?

pack

Answer 183

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 184

Singolar/Plural?

staff

Answer 184

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 185

Singolar/Plural?

army

Answer 185

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 186

Singolar/Plural?

regiment

ˈredʒɪəmənt

Answer 186

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

گروهان

Question 187

Singolar/Plural?

tribe

Answer 187

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 188

Singolar/Plural?

panel

Answer 188

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 189

Singolar/Plural?

gang

Answer 189

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 190

Singolar/Plural?

flock

Answer 190

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

گله گروه
SYN: Crowd

Question 191

Singolar/Plural?

board

Answer 191

Almost always considered singular

Collective noun

Question 192

A majority of the people living in San Francisco ( has / have ) walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, but a substantial minority of them ( does / do ) not do so on a regular basis.

Answer 192

A majority of the people living in San Francisco has walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, but a substantial minority of them do not do so on a regular basis.

In this scenario, it is the individual members of the majority who have walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. Thus, we need the plural finite verb “have.” Similarly, it is the individual members of the substantial minority who do not do so regularly. Thus, we need the plural finite verb “do.”

Question 193

Singolar/Plural?

Every

Answer 193

Always singular

Question 194

Singolar/Plural?

Each

Answer 194

Always singular

Question 195

Singolar/Plural?

Many a

Answer 195

Always singular

Question 196

Singolar/Plural?

Many an

Answer 196

Always singular

Question 197

Some on the administrative side objects to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs, claiming that the school superintendent has given into demands from a handful of overprotective parents.

(A) objects to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs, claiming that
(B) objecting to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs claims that
(C) objecting to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs and claiming that
(D) objects to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs and claims that
(E) object to the school district’s decision to ban Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the use of racial slurs, claiming that

Answer 197

The indefinite pronoun “some” is singular when it refers to a singular subject and plural when it refers to a plural subject. In this case, although the sentence does not explicitly say “people,” we can tell that “some” must refer to people in the administration. Therefore, in this sentence, “some” requires plural verbs.

CORRECT CHOICE:
(E)

Question 198

PREPOSITION+NOUN+VERB,ing

Answer 198

BE EXTREMELY SUSPICIOUS
It’s wrong if the intended object is the VERB
Just correct if the intended object is the NOUN in which case the VERB-ing will be modifier. So, the modifier can be emitted.

RON: I’ve Never seen in official contexts “OF+NOUN+VERB,ing” is correct.

Question 199

A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.

(A) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump

(B) reduced the phosphate amount that municipalities had been dumping

(C) reduces the phosphate amount municipalities have been allowed to dump

(D) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump

(E) reduces the amount of phosphates allowed for dumping by municipalities

Answer 199

The intended meaning of the sentence is that till 1972, municipalities were allowed to dump a certain amount of phosphate into the Great Lakes. However, a 1972 agreement between Canada and the US reduced this amount. Now analyze:

• A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates “that municipalities had been allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.”

The only error in this sentence is the use of past perfect tense “had been allowed”.

Because not finished just reduced

Choice A ✘

Choice D: reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump.
This choice conveys the intended meaning. In general, the municipalities are allowed to dump a certain amount of phosphate. However, an agreement between Canada and the US reduced that amount in 1972.
Therefore this option is correct.

The thing to note here is that both “were” and “are” can be correct.

Now, the question is: what difference does it make to use “are” over “were”?

• The school reduced the fine that Joe was supposed to pay.
• The school reduced the fine that Joe is supposed to pay.

In the first sentence, Joe “was” supposed to pay the fine sometime in the past and we do not know whether he has paid the fine till now or not.
In the second sentence, Joe “is” supposed to pay the fine presently and we know that he has not yet paid the fine.

Similar is the case with the use of “were” and “are” in the original sentence.

• A 1972 agreement between Canada and the US reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities were allowed to dump into the Great Lakes
• A 1972 agreement between Canada and the US reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump into the Great Lakes

The first sentence means that we are referring to amount of phosphates that municipalities were allowed to dump in the past whereas the second sentence means that we are referring to the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump currently.

So, both “are” and “were” are grammatically correct but convey different meanings.