Sentence Correction - Idioms & Meaning

[pamela.liu]

I have some questions re: Sentence Correction guide (6th ed.)

Chapter 9: Idioms

For the "suspect" idioms, it says that they are expressions that the GMAT seems to avoid if possible. Does this mean that the GMAT typically wouldn't include those idioms anywhere on the test at all, as a potential answer choice? Or does it mean that the "suspect" ones may show up as answer choices but you have to know to choose the "right" idioms over the "suspect" ones?

For the idiom "consider" (p 144 in the Sentence Correction Guide), it gives this as a correct example: "I consider illegal the law passed last week by the new regime" and adds a note "You can switch the order of the two objects if one is long". Is it equally correct/preferred if the sentence were to say "I consider the law passed last week by the new regime illegal" or whenever the object is long and the adjective comes at the end?

Chapter 2: Grammar & Meaning

Problem set page 35

Question 1) The solution explains that the answer is A. B is wrong because it unjustifiably changes the meaning of the original sentence.
Why wouldn't the answer be D (both are correct)? In GMAT sentence correction questions, can't two answers be correct even if the meaning is slightly different? Do we always assume that the original sentence has the clearest meaning, and that any other options that slightly change the original sentence's meaning would be incorrect?

Questions 4 & 5) The bold text slightly changes the meaning of the original sentence for both of these, which is what it says in the solution explanation (p. 37). I don't understand why the answer is D, both are correct (when, like in Question 1, the bold text is wrong because it changes the meaning of the original text)?

[RonPurewal]

For the "suspect" idioms, it says that they are expressions that the GMAT seems to avoid if possible. Does this mean that the GMAT typically wouldn't include those idioms anywhere on the test at all, as a potential answer choice? Or does it mean that the "suspect" ones may show up as answer choices but you have to know to choose the "right" idioms over the "suspect" ones?

blue is the correct interpretation.

basically, you should use only as a last-resort guessing method, since they are only "suspect" (i.e., not actually wrong).

[RonPurewal]

For the idiom "consider" (p 144 in the Sentence Correction Guide), it gives this as a correct example: "I consider illegal the law passed last week by the new regime" and adds a note "You can switch the order of the two objects if one is long". Is it equally correct/preferred if the sentence were to say "I consider the law passed last week by the new regime illegal" or whenever the object is long and the adjective comes at the end?

the green thing is bad writing, and you won't see such a thing in a correct answer.
that said, it's far more important to note that you will never be tested on such a difference, since both versions are, technically, correct——the issue is just that one version is stylistically bad / hard for the reader to understand. (try reading the green sentence from the perspective of a new reader, one who hasn't already seen it. would you understand it in a single read-through? nope.)

so, all you have to know is "both arrangements are things that exist in the language". you just need to recognize both orders as acceptable—you will NEVER have to choose between them.

[RonPurewal]

^^ ... and if you do see a problem that appears to be testing the difference between the two orders, look for something else that might be influenced by that order.

e.g.,
I consider illegal the laws passed by the new régime, which ...
if the pink modifier says something about the new régime, then switching "illegal" and "the laws passed by the new régime" will result in an incorrect sentence; the pink modifier must follow "the new régime".

[RonPurewal]

Chapter 2: Grammar & Meaning

Problem set page 35

Question 1) The solution explains that the answer is A. B is wrong because it unjustifiably changes the meaning of the original sentence.
Why wouldn't the answer be D (both are correct)? In GMAT sentence correction questions, can't two answers be correct even if the meaning is slightly different? Do we always assume that the original sentence has the clearest meaning, and that any other options that slightly change the original sentence's meaning would be incorrect?

for this one you'll have to post the complete text of the question, along with all answer choices (if there are any), as per the forum rules.

before posting further, please read through those rules, too. first post in every folder. thanks!

[RonPurewal]

Questions 4 & 5) The bold text slightly changes the meaning of the original sentence for both of these, which is what it says in the solution explanation (p. 37). I don't understand why the answer is D, both are correct (when, like in Question 1, the bold text is wrong because it changes the meaning of the original text)?

same for this one——again, please post the complete text of the question, along with all answer choices (if there are any), as per the forum rules.
thanks.