Register    Login    Search    Rss Feeds

Forums Home » Ask An Instructor » GMAT Verbal » Official Guide Verbal


 Page 1 of 1 [ 2 posts ] 



  Print view Print view Previous topic Previous topic | Next topic Next topic
 

OG Verbal Review - SC - #33, OG Verbal Review - SC - #49

Author Message
rahul.gmat
 Post subject: OG Verbal Review - SC - #33, OG Verbal Review - SC - #49
 Post Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:17 am 
OG verbal review # 33
Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.
(A) as old as any of their supposed
(B) older than any of their supposed
(C) as old as their supposed
(D) older than any of their supposedly
(E) as old as their supposedly

The correct answer here is (B). (A), (C) and (E) are out coz "2000 yrs as old as" is unidiomatic. But between (B) and (D), shouldn't we pick (D) coz of "supposedly". "Mediterranean" is an adj and so would require an adverb to modify it.

OG verbal review # 49
Reporting that one of its many problems had been the recent extended sales slump in women’s apparel, the seven-store retailer said it would start a three-month liquidation sale in all of its stores.
(A) its many problems had been the recent
(B) its many problems has been the recently
(C) its many problems is the recently
(D) their many problems is the recent
(E) their many problems had been the recent

Similar case here. Correct ans is (A). Wont we need "recently" to describe "extended" which is an adjective. Further, shouldn't "is" be better than "had been".
Top 
dbernst
 Post subject: OG verbal review #33 and #49
 Post Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:34 pm 
Offline
ManhattanGMAT Staff


Posts: 304
Rahul,

With adjective/adverb problems such as these, the key is to recognize which word or words the modifier is supposed to describe. Often this can only be done by considering the logical or intended meaning of the sentence.

In #33, the monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years older than those that had previously been dated. Thus, the issue in not whether these monuments are Mediterranean. They are. Rather, the issue is whether the previously dated monuments are actually predecessors. Therefore, the adjective supposed in answer choice B correctly describes the noun predecessors, whereas in choice D the the adverb supposedly incorrectly describes Mediterranean.

Similarly, in #49, it is illogical that a retailer would intentionally extend a sales slump. Yet, by using the adverb recently to describe the adjective extended, choices B and C are doing just that! Answer choice A, the correct answer, properly uses the adjective recent to describe the noun slump. Moreover, the past perfect had been is correct, since it indicates an action that took place prior to when the retailer said (simple past) it would begin a liquidation sale.

-dan

Quote:
OG verbal review # 33
Carbon-14 dating reveals that the megalithic monuments in Brittany are nearly 2,000 years as old as any of their supposed Mediterranean predecessors.
(A) as old as any of their supposed
(B) older than any of their supposed
(C) as old as their supposed
(D) older than any of their supposedly
(E) as old as their supposedly

The correct answer here is (B). (A), (C) and (E) are out coz "2000 yrs as old as" is unidiomatic. But between (B) and (D), shouldn't we pick (D) coz of "supposedly". "Mediterranean" is an adj and so would require an adverb to modify it.

OG verbal review # 49
Reporting that one of its many problems had been the recent extended sales slump in women’s apparel, the seven-store retailer said it would start a three-month liquidation sale in all of its stores.
(A) its many problems had been the recent
(B) its many problems has been the recently
(C) its many problems is the recently
(D) their many problems is the recent
(E) their many problems had been the recent

Similar case here. Correct ans is (A). Wont we need "recently" to describe "extended" which is an adjective. Further, shouldn't "is" be better than "had been".
Top 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
 
 Page 1 of 1 [ 2 posts ] 





Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests

 
 

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: