Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

A. Descending approximately 4,000 years ago from the African wildcat, it has been an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat with respect to genetic evolution and it scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

B. The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, which is an exceedingly short time for the domestic cat's genetic evolution and scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

C. Descending from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution and has been scarcely sufficient for the marked physical changes in the animal.

D. Having descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, the domestic cat has had an exceedingly short time for its genetic evolution that has scarcely been sufficient for the marked physical changes that transformed the animal.

E. The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an exceedingly recent divergence with respect to genetic evolution and one which scarcely seems sufficient to allow the marked physical changes in the animal.

I do not understand why E is OA. Is "one which" correct here? I think E has same reference error. ("4,000 years ago" is not a time span but a specific moment)

Please suggest.

In E, the "one which" does not refer to "4,000 years ago." Instead, it refers to the word "divergence." The word "one" stands in as a pronoun so that we can describe the "divergence" without repeating that word. The word "which" begins a modifier for that pronoun.

Though i think E is the correct answer, i dont agree that one here is a pronoun for divergence. it is indeed referring to the time span which is 4000 years. it says an evolution over a period of 400o years and hence, its a time span and not a momment in the past because evolutions do not happen at a partcular moment.

IMO E

chintan, the pronoun "one" cannot properly refer to the words "4,000 years." "4,000 years" is plural and "one" is singular. You may want "4,000 years" to refer to a time span (and "span" is singular), but the words "time span" (or "era" or something similar) do not appear in the sentence. If you wanted "one" to refer to such a singular construction, you would have to insert that construction somewhere in the sentence.

Jonathan is correct that "one" refers to "divergence."

In terms of the actual content here, yes evolution occurs over time, but divergence refers to the general timeframe during which the scientists have established that a separate breeding population emerged. "Approximately 4,000 years ago" fits that kind of description.

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Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT

I think there is a problem with this question.

Isn't structure of E incorrect?

The domestic cat descended from the African wildcat approximately 4,000 years ago, an exceedingly recent divergence with respect...


what is "an exceedingly recent.." modifying? It can't modify "4000 years"
Looks likes it modifying the whole first sentence. I never came across any structure like this..

Please help.

What is wrong with the user of "which" on B?

"exceedingly recent" modifies "divergence." And "a divergence" is describing action of the main clause "the domestic cat descended ... 4,000 years ago."

Here's a similar example:
The magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat, a trick he perfected over many years of practice.
("a trick" was that "the magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat.")

And here it is with other modifiers of "trick" thrown in:
The magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat, an astonishing and popular trick he perfected over many years of practice.

"Which" can only modify nouns, so whenever you see "which _____," rephrase it as the question "WHAT was ______." The noun before the comma in front of "which" must give a logical answer.

For example, the "which" modifier in choice B can be rephrased as "WHAT was an exceedingly short time for genetic evolution?" The noun before it is "4,000 years ago." Now, "4,000 years" is a short time period, but "4,000 years ago" is a moment in time, not a time period. I think the "ago" makes it impossible for us to use this "which" phrase in B.

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Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

i have a doubt here .

a trick he perfected over many years of practice. - is a noun modifier.
But it seems to modify a verb - pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

how can a noun modifier modify a verb?.

Wont it have made more sense if it actually modified the gerund - pulling a rabit out of a hat.

it doesn't just modify the verb. it modifies the ENTIRE DESCRIPTION of the "trick" in the preceding clause.

you are allowed to use these kinds of NOUN MODIFIERS to DESCRIBE THE ENTIRE ABSTRACT NOTION OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PRECEDING CLAUSE.
normally, you only do this when pronouns can't be used, since the verbiage is considerably more bulky than a pronoun.

the general tried to get his troops to retreat quickly, but it didn't work. --> WRONG (make sure you know why)

the general tried to get his troops to retreat quickly, which didn't work. --> WRONG (make sure you know why)

the general tried to get his troops to retreat quickly, a strategy that didn't work. --> CORRECT


(NOTE in particular that the last version - the correct one - sounds AWFUL if you try to say it out loud, while the former two sound better. this is proof that you cannot trust your ear with such matters.)

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Being well-dressed gives a feeling of inward tranquillity [that] religion is powerless to bestow.
C.F. Forbes

Although I choose D but agree that E is correct after reading all discussion.

Can Ron or Stacey point out that
D is wrong because the meaning os not clear as in - D says - after having decended 4000 years ago , cat has small time for evolution - Hence WRONG

E says clearly during 4000 years , the evolution took place.

Please clarify?

This answer choice has several problems. The use of "having descended" is first of all wordy. It also is used improperly. The construction "having + past participle" is used to describe something that happened in the past RESULTING in another action:

Having finished his homework, John watched TV.

Here, the descending from the African wildcat does not result in the cat's short time of evolution. This construction is not very common on the GMAT.

Another problem is the "that has scarcely been sufficient ..." is a misplaced modifier that appears to modify "evolution" when in fact it should modify "time."

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Ben Ku
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

[quote="the general tried to get his troops to retreat quickly, but it didn't work. --> WRONG (make sure you know why)"[/quote]

Hi Ron,

Is this wrong because it doesnt have a referrant?
Please clarify.

Hi Stacey,
I have a doubt.

If "one" referes to divergence,
"one that scarcely seems sufficient " can be re-read as "divergence that scarcely seems sufficient". Is this correct?. Its "time period" that "scarcely seems sufficient" and not "divergence".

correct.

_________________
Being well-dressed gives a feeling of inward tranquillity [that] religion is powerless to bestow.
C.F. Forbes