GMAT Verbal : Sentence Correction

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Verbal

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Sentence Correction

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 cultural revolution of the 1960s took the U.S. by storm and propagated previously taboo ideas, leading many to experiment with drugs and exploration of their sexuality.

Possible Answers:

leading to the experimenting with drugs and exploration of their sexuality.

leading to experimentation with drugs, and also, to the exploring of sexuality.

which led many to experimenting with drugs and also exploration of their sexuality.

leading many to experiment with drugs and to explore their sexuality.

which led many to the experimentation with drugs and to explore their sexuality.

Correct answer:

leading many to experiment with drugs and to explore their sexuality.

Explanation:

The point of this problem is recognizing that when it discusses the two effects of the cultural revolution of the 1960s, drug experimentation and sexual exploration, the sentence needs to employ parallel structure. For example, "which led many to experiment with drugs and exploration of their sexuality" isn’t correctly employing parallel structure because it uses one infinitive ("to experiment") and one noun ("exploration") - two infinitives or two nouns could be correct, but one of each is not. The correct answer the only one that employs parallel structure correctly, "leading many to experiment with drugs and to explore their sexuality."

Example Question #72 : Sentence Correction

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.

A healthy lifestyle includes daily exercising, a balanced diet, as well as plenty of sleep.

Possible Answers:

daily exercising, a balanced diet, as well as plenty of sleep.

daily exercise and a balanced diet, as well as plenty of sleep.

daily exercising, and a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep.

daily exercise, having a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep.

daily exercising, a balanced diet, plenty of sleep.

Correct answer:

daily exercise and a balanced diet, as well as plenty of sleep.

Explanation:

This is a list problem. With lists, we can have an “a, b, and c” list or we can have a list with a structure such as “a and b, as well as c”. Going through all the of the potential answers, "daily exercise and a balanced diet, as well as plenty of sleep" is the only one that meets this criteria. "Daily exercise, having a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep" is almost right, but the “having” is what gives it away as incorrect, since all the items in a list should take the same form (either “exercising daily, having a balanced diet, and getting plenty of sleep” or “daily exercise, a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep”).

Example Question #73 : Sentence Correction

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.

Cooking engages all your senses, as you must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, tasting it.

Possible Answers:

must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, taste it. 

must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, taste. 

must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, tasting it. 

must saw the food as it simmers, smelled its aromas, and of course, tasted it. 

must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, tasting. 

Correct answer:

must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, taste it. 

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to have proper parallelism, which means that listed items take on the same grammatical form. The first two items in the list are present tense verbs ("see" and "smell"). Therefore, “tasting” should also be a present tense verb, “taste.” So, the correct answer choice is "must see the food as it simmers, smell its aromas, and of course, taste it."

Example Question #74 : Sentence Correction

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.

Chihuahuas are known for their small bladders, short tempers, and tend to be aggressive.

Possible Answers:

small bladders, short tempers, and tending to be aggressive

small bladders, short tempers, and are aggressive

small bladders, short tempers, and aggression

small bladders, short tempers, and tend to be aggressive

small bladders, short tempers and tend to be aggressive

Correct answer:

small bladders, short tempers, and aggression

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to use proper parallelism, which means that listed items take on the same grammatical form. Here, the first two listed items are nouns ("small bladders" and "short tempers"). Therefore, the third item should also be a noun. However, “tend to be aggressive” is verb phrase, and therefore is incorrect. The correct answer, "small bladders, short tempers, and aggression," corrects this issue by changing the verb phrase "tend to be aggressive" to a noun, "aggression."

Example Question #75 : Sentence Correction

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 coffee shop manager decided that all the baristas should become an expert in the process of preparing coffee.

Possible Answers:

experts for the process of preparing coffee

experts in the process of preparing coffee

an experts in the process of preparing coffee

an expert in the processes of preparing coffee

an expert in the process of preparing coffee

Correct answer:

experts in the process of preparing coffee

Explanation:

There are multiple baristas described in the sentence. Therefore, there should also be multiple (or plural) experts. However, the words used are “an expert,” which is singular and therefore incorrect.

Example Question #76 : Sentence Correction

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.

All three of Chef Milan’s restaurants went on to become a huge success; he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

Possible Answers:

huge successes; he is extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

a huge success, he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

huge successes; he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

huge successes, he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

huge successes; he was extremely pleased for the results and the financial benefits. 

Correct answer:

huge successes; he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits. 

Explanation:

Given that Chef Milan has three restaurants, which is plural, “a huge success” should also be plural. However, it is not. Therefore, that is where the error lies. 

The correct version of this sentence is: "All three of Chef Milan’s restaurants went on to become huge successes; he was extremely pleased with the results and the financial benefits."

 

Example Question #77 : Sentence Correction

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.

Beverly Hills is known for having boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and attracts celebrities.

Possible Answers:

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and for its celebrities.

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and celebrities.

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and attracts celebrities.

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and attract celebrities.

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and has celebrities.

Correct answer:

boutique shops, trendy restaurants, and celebrities.

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to employ correct parallelism, which means that listed items should take on the same grammatical form. Here, the first two listed items are nouns ("boutique shops" and "trendy restaurants"). Therefore, the third item should also be a noun. However, “attracts celebrities” is a phrase beginning with a verb, and therefore is incorrect.

Example Question #78 : Sentence Correction

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.

There are three ways to build strength: doing weight-bearing exercises, eating more protein, and to use resistance training.

Possible Answers:

protein, and use resistance training.

protein, and to be using resistance training.

protein, and using resistance training.

protein and use resistance training.

protein and, using resistance training.

Correct answer:

protein, and using resistance training.

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to have proper parallelism, which means that listed items should take on the same grammatical form. The first two items in the list are gerunds ("doing weight-bearing exercises" and "eating more protein"), so the infinitive “to use” should also be changed to a gerund, "using." Also, in a list of three or more items, there should be a comma preceding "and," which is known as an Oxford comma. This prevents ambiguity from arising in certain sentences.

Example Question #79 : Sentence Correction

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 cooking instructor required all of her pupils to bring their own spatula to class because she noticed that her supplies of class materials had been disappearing lately. 

Possible Answers:

to bring their own spatula to class because she noticed that her

to bring their own spatula to class, because she noticed that her

to bring their own spatulas to class because she noticed that 

to bring their own spatulas to class because she noticed that her

to bring their own spatulas to class, because she noticed that her

Correct answer:

to bring their own spatulas to class because she noticed that her

Explanation:

There are multiple students described in the sentence. Therefore, there should also be multiple (or plural) spatulas. However, the word used is “spatula,” which is singular and therefore incorrect.

Example Question #80 : Sentence Correction

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.

Cats have distinctive qualities, which include fine hunting prowess, fierce independence, and they groom themselves.

Possible Answers:

prowess, fierce independence, and groom themselves.

prowess, fierce independence, and they groom themselves.

prowess fierce independence and they groom themselves.

prowess, have fierce independence, and they groom themselves.

prowess, fierce independence, and the ability to groom themselves.

Correct answer:

prowess, fierce independence, and the ability to groom themselves.

Explanation:

It is important for a sentence to employ proper parallelism, which means that listed items should all take on the same grammatical form. Here, the first two listed items are nouns ("prowess" and "independence"). Therefore, the third item should also be a noun, but “they groom themselves” is a phrase using a verb, and is therefore incorrect. Changing "they groom themselves" to “the ability to groom themselves" fixes this error.

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