Prep 2012 SC Q5 In Alexandria, the Ptolemys founded a librar

[onkipak]

Source: Prep 2012 Q5

Question:
In Alexandria, the Ptolemys founded a library so as the written remains of Greek literature could be gathered together and systematized.
A. so as
B. in which
C. and
D. whereby
E. by which

Official Answer:
Idiom; Logical predication
The sentence describes the Ptoiemys' objective in founding a library as a location where Greek literature could be gathered together and systematized. The correct version of the sentence makes this locational importance clear.
A. The connector so as is imprecise and unidiomatic. The correct expression would be so that.
B. Correct. A library is a location, and the phrase in which is consistent with this meaning.
C. The additive conjunction and does not accurately describe the relationship between the library and the gathering and systematizing of literature.
D. Whereby indicates that the library is a means of gathering and systematizing, instead of a place where this happens.
E. By which indicates that the library is an agent of gathering and systematizing, which makes no sense.
The correct answer is B.


My Question:
1. I don't understand the difference between "so as" and "so that". Please kindly explain a bit more.
2. Since A explains that "so that" is the correct expression, does that mean "so that" and " in which" are both correct answer?

Thanks in advance!

[RonPurewal]

"So as" should be followed by to + verb. It expresses the ultimate purpose of some action, usually indirectly or in potential terms.
I purchased a ladder, so as to be able to reach the highest shelves.
(Note the indirect relationship: Buying a ladder does not directly let one reach higher. First, one must actually take the ladder home, put it on the ground, and climb onto it.)

"So as to" is somewhat weird. It's not actually wrong, but I don't think GMAC would include it in an incorrect answer.
(This is not the same as so + (adjective) + as to + (verb), which is a common construction: Some of these feats are so difficult as to be nearly impossible even for the world's most accomplished athletes.

"So that" is followed by a complete sentence, expressing the purpose of something. Its meaning is a lot like that of "so as to".
Jimmy bought a ladder so that he could reach the top shelves.

[RonPurewal]

"In which" is, of course, totally different. It doesn't have anything to do with purpose; it just refers to some situation in which something goes/happens in something else.
The teacher drew a diagram in which a circle was enclosed in a square.

[RonPurewal]

In this problem, gathered together doesn't fly very well with "so as to"/"so that". ("So as" WITHOUT "to" is wrong no matter what.)
I.e., if we wanted to express purpose, the sentence would make more sense in the opposite direction: People gathered together the written remains of Greek literature so as to form a library / so that a library could be formed.

This is a non-issue anyway, of course, because neither "so as to" nor "so that" is a choice.

"In which" makes perfect sense, because these things happened in the library.

[750plus]

Source: Prep 2012 Q5

Question:
In Alexandria, the Ptolemys founded a library so as the written remains of Greek literature could be gathered together and systematized.
A. so as
B. in which
C. and
D. whereby
E. by which

Official Answer: B

Ron,

I'd like you to explain what is wrong with the choice D.

Where can we use 'whereby' correctly. I've already googled but after going through the usage of 'whereby' from a lot of sources, I'm confused.

I'd be happy to see a sentence where 'whereby' is used and that is considered CORRECT by GMAC.

Thank You

Warm Regards
Rajat Gugnani

[RonPurewal]

basically, if "xxxxx occurs by Method X" works, then "Method X, whereby xxxx occurs" works, too.

e.g.,
Molten pig iron is converted into steel by the Bessemer process.
Manufacturing industries worldwide were revolutionized by the Bessemer process, whereby molten pig iron is converted into steel.

off the top of my head, i can't invent any sentence in which "whereby" follows anything other than a method of some kind.

[RonPurewal]

^^ so, since a library is not a method of storing information, "whereby" doesn't work here.

[tanwarkml]

^^ so, since a library is not a method of storing information, "whereby" doesn't work here.

Does the GMAC really expect us to learn these idioms. If I encounter a question with unknown idioms like these, I would bomb the test.
How to tackle this problem? Read daily from a good source or mug up all one can?

Last time I gave GMAT I encountered something similar as the first verbal question. I ended up getting V34. How much damage do you think getting the first verbal question wrong does?

[RonPurewal]

^^ so, since a library is not a method of storing information, "whereby" doesn't work here.

Does the GMAC really expect us to learn these idioms. If I encounter a question with unknown idioms like these, I would bomb the test.
How to tackle this problem? Read daily from a good source or mug up all one can?

well, "whereby" is not a ridiculous word.

the main problem with transition words--in good writing, at least--is, ironically, that they flow so well that readers are less inclined to notice them.
(likewise, if a friend were talking to you, you'd pay less attention to the "so"s and "then"s and so on, and more attention to the specifics of what (s)he is saying).

[RonPurewal]

Last time I gave GMAT I encountered something similar as the first verbal question. I ended up getting V34. How much damage do you think getting the first verbal question wrong does?

it probably doesn't matter any more (or any less) than any other question.
but... this is not something over which you have any control at all, so it is irrelevant.

ironically, even if some weird degree of importance were heaped onto the first question,, you actually wouldn't want to know that! (if you started telling yourself "geez this is SUPER IMPORTANT", the added stress would definitely make you less capable of actual problem solving.)

[HemantR606]

Hi Ron,

In this question, the original sentence seems to be

Ptolemys founded something so that something can be done.

Even though option 'B' is a correct sentence, it does not convey the same meaning as the sentence above. Moreover, option 'D' seems fine to me because it goes like,

Ptolemys founded someting whereby something can be done.

To me, this seems grammatically fine and in line with the meaning of the original sentence.

I have even checked on web for the use of whereby and found sentences in which it is used to show the result of something.
Eg:
He was found guilty, whereby he was sentenced to five years in prison

" The first thing Mr Gascoigne showed me was a large telescope amplified and adorned with inventions of his own, whereby he can take the diameters of the sun and moon, or any small angle in the heavens or upon the earth, most exactly through the glass, to a second."


Please let me know where I have mistaken.


Thanks,
Hemant

[RonPurewal]

'whereby' means, essentially, 'using which', 'by which method', or, more generally, 'by means of which'.
in general, in the construction a NOUN whereby xxxxxx, the NOUN will be either (a) an instrument/tool used to accomplish xxxxxx, or (b) a method used to accomplish xxxxxx.

your 'gascoigne' example illustrates this beautifully: it describes instruments with which someone can measure the sizes of celestial bodies.

the "five years in prison" example is not correct formal usage.
(i searched the internet for it, and all i found was (a) this post and (b) some other language forums, on which the example was provided by people who were decidedly not experts.)

a library is not a tool or instrument for gathering literature, so 'whereby' doesn't make sense here. (rather, a library is a place where literature can be gathered.)

[RonPurewal]

also, i just realized, one of the earlier posts cites an "official explanation".

if there's an explanation, then this must be a paid gmat prep problem, and so we can't continue to discuss it here. (we can use only the free gmat prep problems—which don't have answer keys.)