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Welcome  to Irene's blog. you can post here your questions related to the verbal section of the GMAT and her method as well as about  the GMAT and MBA admission in general.

3/27/2016

29 Comments

 
29 Comments
Daniel
4/3/2016 04:39:31 am

Hey,
I'm having a hard time figuring out why C couldn't be the correct answer.

172. Before the Civil War, Harriet Tubman, herself an escaped slave, returned again and again to Maryland to guide other slaves along the Underground Railroad to freedom.
(A) herself an escaped slave, returned again and again to Maryland to guide
(B) being an escaped slave herself, returned again and again to Maryland so as to guide
(C) an escaped slave herself, returned again and again to Maryland for guiding
(D) herself as an escaped slave, returned again and again to Maryland so as to be the guide of
(E) who had been herself as an escaped slave, returned again and again to Maryland for the guiding of

Reply
thesis writing link
8/23/2016 12:02:11 pm

I was reading some of the questions and I must say this page can be really informative if one will only take time to read. I am amazed how some people be very good with that subject. I used to teach ESL before but I never ran across some of the topics you discuss here. I am not done reading. Keep posting.

Reply
Irene Orleansky
4/4/2016 06:42:52 pm

Hey Daniel, if a reflexive pronoun is used before a noun or a noun phrase, it indicates belonging to the group, while a reflexive pronoun after a noun or a noun phrase is used to stress respect or honor. It is all about logic: 'an escaped slave herself' does not make any sense. 'Herself an escape slave' means that she belongs to a group of escaped slaves; she is one of them. Please check reflexive pronoun rules in chapter 5 ( rule 3 vs rule 4)

Reply
Oshin link
4/4/2016 09:33:50 pm

hi
for the GMAT, could you please help me figure out which of the following is correct:-

1. None of the students is happy.
OR
2. None of the students are happy.

I have the same problem using 'neither'.
eg:

1. Neither of the boys has completed any work.
OR
2. Neither of the boys have completed any work.



Please tell me whether 1. or 2. is correct for both the above examples.

Thanks and regards.
Oshin

Reply
Irene Orleansky
4/4/2016 10:40:20 pm

Hey Oshin,
Both 'none' and 'neither' are singular words, therefore they musy agree with a singuler verb (is/ has). the same is true for 'either' and 'each'.

Reply
Daniel
4/7/2016 04:40:05 am

Hey,
Can't seem to understand why we need to use the relative pronoun "whom" and not "who" in this question-

584. Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

Daniel



Reply
Irene Orleansky
4/7/2016 04:48:46 am

Try to replace whom with him and who with he. Him is blind or he is blind?

Reply
Daniel
4/7/2016 07:22:07 am

Tried doing that- seemed that He is blind is the correct answer, though the OA is D.

P.S
Sorry for the many copies of my post.

Daniel
4/7/2016 04:40:13 am

Hey,
Can't seem to understand why we need to use the relative pronoun "whom" and not "who" in this question-

584. Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

Daniel



Reply
Daniel
4/7/2016 04:40:46 am

Hey,
Can't seem to understand why we need to use the relative pronoun "whom" and not "who" in this question-

584. Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

Daniel



Reply
Daniel link
4/7/2016 04:40:53 am

Hey,
Can't seem to understand why we need to use the relative pronoun "whom" and not "who" in this question-

584. Presenters at the seminar, one who is blind, will demonstrate adaptive equipment that allows visually impaired people to use computers.
(A) one who
(B) one of them who
(C) and one of them who
(D) one of whom
(E) one of which

Daniel



Reply
Danit
4/23/2016 08:20:52 pm

Hi Irene,
Can the verb of demand 'suggest' can be used not in a subjunctive form? Here the correct answer C, but it does not follow the subjunctive rules.

604. Repelled by bodily punishments such as maiming and branding, the idea of penitentiaries were reforms of the penal system by Quakers.
(A) the idea of penitentiaries were reforms of the penal system by Quakers
(B) penitentiaries were ideas for reform of the penal system suggested by Quakers
(C) Quakers suggested the penitentiary as a reform of the penal system
(D) Quakers suggested that the penal system be reformed as penitentiaries
(E) the penitentiary was suggested to be a reform of the penal system by Quakers

Thanks,
Danit

Reply
Irene Orleansky
4/24/2016 09:20:18 pm

Hey Danit,

All verbs of demand require the subjunctive only when an action is required. In answer choice C, for example, there is no any action at all (suggested the penitentiary). If there is no any action, the rules of subjunctive are irrelevant, if there is an action, one has to use the subjunctive form of the verb or infinitive in some cases. In addition (not related to this question), the verb "suggest" does not require the subjunctive when it means "prove" or "demonstrate", for example "The new discovery suggests that the first humans migrated from Africa to ..."

Reply
Danit
4/25/2016 02:04:17 am

Hi Irene,
What is the problem with answer choice A? The preposition 'like' means 'similar to' - the goal of the young adults is similar to the goal of earlier generations. Also, it keeps the parallelism rules.

36. According to a recent poll, owning and living in a freestanding house on its own land is still a goal of a majority of young adults, like that of earlier generations.
(A) like that of earlier generations
(B) as that for earlier generations
(C) just as earlier generations did
(D) as have earlier generations
(E) as it was of earlier generations

Thanks,
Danit

Reply
noga
4/26/2016 07:59:14 pm

Hi Irene,
I can't seem to understand why option E is the right one. when using an extra information clause "who....his art" we should be able to read the sentence without it, but in option E leaving the extra information clause out we get a weird sentence...

"Sculptor Alexander Calder also believed in recycling at home..."

thank you for your help,
Noga

Reply
Danit
4/26/2016 08:34:48 pm

Hi Irene,
The answer of the question below is E, but in this answer "selling" is a modifier that modifies the “Maple Leaf Rag”. Can the “Maple Leaf Rag” do the action? It does not make sense.
Can you pleas explain?

Thanks,
Danit


632. Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months, the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
(A) Selling several hundred thousand copies in six months, the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899 was an instant hit, helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
(B) The publication in 1899 of “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: in six months they sold several hundred thousand copies and it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.
(C) Helping to establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer was the publication of “Maple Leaf Rag” in 1899, which was an instant hit: it sold several hundred thousand copies in six months.
(D) “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer, published in 1899 and selling several hundred thousand copies in six months.
(E) Published in 1899, “Maple Leaf Rag” was an instant hit, selling several hundred thousand copies in six months: it helped establish Scott Joplin as the preeminent ragtime composer.

Reply
noga
4/27/2016 10:14:25 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
noga
4/27/2016 10:14:36 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
noga ra
4/27/2016 10:15:05 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
noga
4/27/2016 10:16:02 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
noga
4/27/2016 10:18:03 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
Noga
4/27/2016 10:17:35 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
Noga Ra
4/27/2016 10:17:46 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
Danit
4/27/2016 10:22:36 pm

Hi Irene,
in the following question "where" is used to indicate something that is not a place. in which cases is it possible to use "where"?
thanks!!!

Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting the imposition of an alien tax on immigrant workers, after 1897 the United Mine Workers made a determined effort to enlist Italians and Slavs in its ranks.
(A) Where once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members by supporting
(B) Where once the union acquiesced to it English-speaking members’ prejudice for the support of
(C) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in support of
(D) While once the union acquiesced to its English-speaking members’ prejudice in supporting
(E) While once the union had acquiesced to the prejudices of its English-speaking members in its supporting of

Reply
Daniel
5/20/2016 02:12:24 am

Hey Irene,
We've talked about Stative verbs- Verbs that cannot be used in a progressive tense.
In this qustion, it seems that "LACK" is used in a proggressive tense though-

672. Students in the metropolitan school district lack math skills to such a large degree as to make it difficult to absorb them into a city economy becoming ever more dependent on information-based industries.
(A) lack math skills to such a large degree as to make it difficult to absorb them into a city economy becoming
(B) lack math skills to a large enough degree that they will be difficult to absorb into a city’s economy that becomes
(C) lack of math skills is so large as to be difficult to absorb them into a city’s economy that becomes
(D) are lacking so much in math skills as to be difficult to absorb into a city’s economy becoming
(E) are so lacking in math skills that it will be difficult to absorb them into a city economy becoming

How come E is correct? (I understand why all the other options are wrong, and yet i thought that E can't be correct as well).

Thank you

Reply
Irene Orleansky
5/21/2016 07:52:55 pm

Hey Daniel, as far as I remember we even did this question in class. I will not give you a direct answer, but I I will give you a hint. What is the function of the word "so" in answer choice E?

Reply
Daniel
5/29/2016 06:28:34 am

Hey,
Well i guess it's a part of an idiom- "so...that..". Which means that "lacking" must be an adjective\adverb and not a verb.

Thanks :-)

Reply
Irene Orleansky
5/29/2016 09:16:04 pm

Not exactly, Daniel, the real reason is that "so" is an adverb of intensity which is used before adjectives and adverbs, a clear sign that lacking here functions as an adjective.

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MBA Dissertation link
3/6/2017 07:24:15 am

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