SC: In July 1965 Mariner IV passed by Mars

[RonPurewal]

I think there is a point to notice here.

The use of which is ambiguous here because in

the first-ever close-up photographs of another planet, which showed

which can modify to either of photographs and planet.

Yeah, but it's obvious that "photographs" is the intended meaning. So, no problem.

If there were a genuine ambiguity here, then you'd have a point.
E.g.,
A close friend of Mr. Smith, who was seen walking in downtown Gainesville, ...
Here, it's genuinely impossible to tell whether the person walking in downtown Gainesville was Mr. Smith or his friend. So here you've got a problem. But, if the meaning is obvious, "ambiguity" is not an issue.

[manhhiep2509]

Hello.

Are A, B, C, D incorrect because of the use of past tense?

Specifically, what the photographs showed are fact, so past tense is incorrect.

Thank you.

Hi Ron. Please answer my question.

[jlucero]

Hello.

Are A, B, C, D incorrect because of the use of past tense?

Specifically, what the photographs showed are fact, so past tense is incorrect.

Thank you.

Hi Ron. Please answer my question.

You should always check the correct answer before deciding whether something is or is not allowed. E says "photos that showed" so it must be ok.

Einstein proved that e = mc^2. That doesn't mean that it's not still true. It just means he proved it in the past. Same thing for the pictures.

[RichaChampion]

Ron,

Can you explain the difference and the use of the "which" and the appositive modifier "photos" here ?
Also, in the current problem, is the use of any one of two modifiers preferable than the other one. ?

they both seem ok to me.

(the use of "which" here is similar to that in OG12 #26; check it out. that problem proves that GMAC is ok with using "which" to refer to noun+prep phrase.)

Ron Sir,

OG12#26, I think this is the problem that you are referring to. Click Here. but I think the case there was of singular and plural. This i from my notebook + a link to other forum where you was active couple of years back -

COMMA + which + singular verb must refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING SINGULAR NOUN.
COMMA + which + plural verb must refer to the NEAREST PRECEDING PLURAL NOUN

However the theory that would be applicable to the current question will be this one, Other Forum Link
here's the basic summary:
if you have "X + preposition + Y, which..."
then:
* if Y works (in terms of both grammar and common sense) as the antecedent of "which", then "which" should stand for Y.
* if Y doesn't work as the antecedent, but "X + prep + Y" DOES work, then "which" can stand for "X (+ prep + Y)".

http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/emi ... t6529.html

While searching for "OG12#26" I also stumbled upon this
My Question is this rule "X + preposition + Y, which..." also applicable for "who"?

[RonPurewal]

you wrote a lot of stuff in that last post, but i don't see any actual questions other than the last line.
if there are any other questions in that post, please clarify.

My Question is this rule "X + preposition + Y, which..." also applicable for "who"?

probably... but, the more important question is -- have you seen this tested in a problem from GMAC?
if so, please cite the problem.
if not, then this is a non-issue.

[JadeK255]

Hi instructors,

Is there a grammar or meaning issue in choice A?
Or is it simply out because it is not precise enough?

[SHOUMODIPR218]

Hi Ron,

Interpreting the original sentence solely on MEANING basis, I came with following 2 conclusions:

Meaning 1. Martian surface was like that of Moon and the similarities were in form of
a) Craters
b) dry and apparently dead surface.
Meaning 2. Martian surface was
a) like that of moon in terms of similar carters
b) dry and apparently dead surface
However I eliminated the option A based on that of Moon's = surface of moon's surface = illogical and also the moonlike crater which meant craters in shape of moon.

Finally I chose option E which was a crisp and clear meaning.
Now my question is OPTION A followed Meaning 1 and correct Option E follows Meaning 2.

I just want to ask
Where I have faltered in interpreting the sentence when I came up with Meaning 1 ?
HOW to determine the correct meaning, which differs from the original sentence?

[RonPurewal]

either of those interpretations could make sense -- but you don't have to choose between them.

more generally, you'll NEVER have to choose one reasonable meaning over another.
if you need to eliminate something because of its meaning, then that meaning will be ridiculous / absurd / nonsense.

However I eliminated the option A based on that of Moon's = surface of moon's surface = illogical and also the moonlike crater which meant craters in shape of moon.

^^ yes.
...and these eliminations are quite straightforward, too. so, the [very slight] difference in meaning is just there to distract you from these MAJOR faults.

[SHOUMODIPR218]

either of those interpretations could make sense -- but you don't have to choose between them.

more generally, you'll NEVER have to choose one reasonable meaning over another.
if you need to eliminate something because of its meaning, then that meaning will be ridiculous / absurd / nonsense.

However I eliminated the option A based on that of Moon's = surface of moon's surface = illogical and also the moonlike crater which meant craters in shape of moon.

^^ yes.
...and these eliminations are quite straightforward, too. so, the [very slight] difference in meaning is just there to distract you from these MAJOR faults.

Thanks Ron...

[RonPurewal]

no problem

[TamaraM471]

Hi,

Can someone explain why the sentence construction in option E is correct. Why is there not connector needed after ' of another planet,' and before ' photos that showed a dry'? This looks like a run on sentence to me.

Thanks for your help.

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

The second part of the sentence (from the comma onward) is a modifier. You can know this by seeing that what comes after the comma couldn't function as a complete sentence on its own. As well as this, the second part of the sentence is giving some extra information about the photographs mentioned in the first part.

Despite the discussion above, and Ron's earlier comments, I would support the view that the 'which' modifier used in A, B, and C is totally fine. Actually, the 'official explanation' referred to earlier makes me suspicious about the origin of this problem, as GMAT Prep problems don't come with official explanations. Squeezing a modifier between the noun and the which is something done in Official Guide problems. On top of this, answers A, B, and C all have other significant problems.

In answers D and E, a different kind of modifier is used, called an appositive. This is simply a noun being used to give extra information about another item in the sentence. For example, 'Jonathan bought a dog, a Labrador.' Here, the bold part simply gives extra information about the dog that Jonathan bought. However, we can enlarge this kind of modifier with a sentence such as this: 'Lucy had a triple heart bypass operation, an operation that involves grafting blood vessels from another part of the body onto the heart arteries.' This one sounds weirder, because I repeated the word 'operation', but it's still fine. Check out chapter 4 of the SC strategy guide for more information about this.

[TamaraM471]

Great, thank you very much for this complete explanation!

[Sage Pearce-Higgins]

You're welcome.