GMAT Verbal : GMAT Verbal
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal
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Example Questions
Example Question #262 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The leading campaign finance reformer has indicated that the political machine is in danger of becoming a mere extension of big corporate agendas.
is in danger of becoming
has been in danger of becoming
is in danger to become
has become through danger
is becoming in danger
is in danger of becoming
The sentence is indeed correct as written. The verb "is" agrees with its noun "political machine." The verb form "becoming" is used appropriately as well.
The answer using the infinitive form is not used correctly in this sentence: the participle is required. The answer using the present perfect tense "has become" is not the correct verb form here. The answer using "has been" (i.e. ended at some point in the past) and "in danger of becoming a mere extension" (i.e. in the future) connote different time frames, rendering the meaning of this choice unclear. Finally, though "is becoming in danger" may sound correct on its own, it does not make sense when placed back in the original sentence.
Example Question #262 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
He worked on the project all night, but he was still very far behind in his work.
all night, but he was still very far behind, in
all night but he was still very far behind, in
all night but he was still very far behind in
all night, but he was still very far behind in
all night; but he was still very far behind in
all night, but he was still very far behind in
This sentence contains no errors. The comma in this sentence is used in order to separate two independent clauses with the help of the conjunction "but," which is a proper use for this punctuation mark. No changes are necessary. The correct choice is, "all night, but he was still very far behind in."
Example Question #263 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Katrina did not look forward to the long, uncomfortable flight.
to the long uncomfortable flight
to the long, uncomfortable flight
to: the long, uncomfortable flight
to the long; uncomfortable flight
to the long, uncomfortable, flight
to the long, uncomfortable flight
There are no errors in this sentence. The words "long" and "uncomfortable" are coordinate adjectives: adjectives that modify the same noun separately, but are not separated with a conjunction. Coordinate adjectives need to be separated with a comma. No other changes are necessary (semicolons and colons do not appear in the middle of clauses). The correct choice is, "to the long, uncomfortable flight."
Example Question #264 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
The new mural was enormous.
The new mural was: enormous.
The new mural was great and enormous.
The new, mural was: enormous.
The new mural was enormous.
The new, mural was enormous.
The new mural was enormous.
This sentence contains no errors. It is a simple sentence, so no punctuation is necessary (note: colons do no separate words in the same clause). Additionally, "great and enormous" is redundant because both of those words have the same meaning. The correct choice is, "The new mural was enormous."
Example Question #265 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Though the new show made record profits, it did not meet the company's expectations.
Though the new show made record profits, it did not meet
Though the new show made record profits it did not meet
Though, the new show made record profits, it did not meet
Though the new show made record profits, the show did not meet
Though, the new show made record profits it did not meet
Though the new show made record profits, it did not meet
This sentence contains no errors. The phrase "Though the new show made record profits" is an example of an introductory phrase, explaining information necessary to the context of the sentence, but outside of the main sentence, grammatically. These types of phrases must be followed by a comma in order to separate them from the rest of the sentence. Note that the sentence that restates the words "the show" after the comma is a little redundant as it does not add anything useful to the sentence to restate these words at this point. The correct choice is, "Though the new show made record profits, it did not meet."
Example Question #266 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip, but he could not figure out how to throw it properly.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip but was at a loss in trying to figure out how to make it work and function properly.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip, but he could not figure out how to throw it properly.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip but he could not figure out how to throw it properly.
Keith bought a boomerang, but he could not figure out.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip; but he could not figure out how to throw it properly.
Keith bought a boomerang on his trip, but he could not figure out how to throw it properly.
This sentence contains no errors. The sentence contains two independent clauses that are joined with a comma and conjunction, which is an appropriate way to combine the clauses. The other choices are wordy, misuse the punctuation, or are sentence fragments. The correct choice is, "Keith bought a boomerang on his trip, but he could not figure out how to throw it properly."
Example Question #267 : Recognizing Sentences That Contain No Errors
Choose the best version of the underlined phrase. One option will remain unchanged.
The public was shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant was closing after forty years in business.
The public was shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant were closing after forty years in business.
The public were shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant was closing after forty years in business.
The public were shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant were closing after forty years in business.
The public was shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant was closing after forty years in business.
The public was shocked to hear the beloved local restaurant was closing after forty years in business.
Here, we need to have agreement between the noun and the verbs. 'The public', and 'the restaurant' are both singular nouns. Therefore, they both require singular verbs. Thus, the best version remains unchanged.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Toni Morrison does not identify her works as “feminist,” but critics have referred to them as exemplifying characteristics of "postmodern feminism" because she typically focuses on black female protagonists and makes use of shifting narration.
but critics have characterized them as exemplifying characteristics of “postmodern feminism” because
but critics have characterized them as "postmodern feminism" because
but critics have referred to them, exemplifying characteristics of "postmodern feminism," because
but critics are characterizing them as “postmodern feminism” because
but critics have referred to them as exemplifying characteristics of "postmodern feminism" because
but critics have characterized them as "postmodern feminism" because
The correct answer not only uses the correct tense but also has a concise (i.e., non-wordy) construction. There are no extra words or strange constructions.
Example Question #1 : Correcting Other Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
In order to prevent rhino poaching, members of the Rhino Rescue Project have developed a novel technique, injecting a mixture of indelible dye and a parasiticide that allows them to track the horns and poison the rhino horn consumers.
members of the Rhino Rescue Project have developed a novel technique, which consists of injecting a mixture of indelible dye and parasiticide that allows them to track the horns and that poisons the horn consumers
members of the Rhino Rescue Project have developed a novel technique, injecting a mixture of indelible dye and a parasiticide that allows them to track the horns and poison the rhino horn consumers
members of the Rhino Rescue Project track the horns and poison the rhino horn consumers, using a novel technique that they developed, which includes injecting a mixture of indelible dye and a parasiticide into the rhino horn
members of the Rhino Rescue Project track the horns with an indelible dye and poison the rhino horn consumers with a parasiticide, both of which are in a mixture that is injected into the rhino horn
members of the Rhino Rescue Project have developed a novel technique that consists of injecting a mixture of indelible dye that allow them to track the horns, and a parasiticide that poisons rhino horn consumers
members of the Rhino Rescue Project have developed a novel technique, which consists of injecting a mixture of indelible dye and parasiticide that allows them to track the horns and that poisons the horn consumers
The correct answer is the only one that constructs the sentence is a logical way that is not wordy or convoluted.
Example Question #2 : Correcting Other Errors
Replace the underlined portion with the answer choice that results in a sentence that is clear, precise, and meets the requirements of standard written English.
Colleges have begun offering students more courses related to careers in fields such as those like petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in fields such as petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in such fields as those like petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in fields such as those that are like petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in fields such as those like petroleum engineering, the environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in fields such as those like petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
in fields such as petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction.
The phrase "such as those like" is simultaneously awkward and redundant, as its two component parts, "such as" and "those like," mean essentially the same thing. The best approach to improving the sentence is to delete one half of the awkward phrase. The only answer choice which properly does this is "in fields such as petroleum engineering, environmental sciences, and natural gas extraction."
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