The answer is d. Why is "certain spicy foods" not a subject phrase/singular?
The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature; this stimulation sometimes results in the activation of certain biological cooling mechanisms, one of which is perspiration.
a. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature
b. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature
c. Certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature does
d. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth and on the tongue as does a rise in temperature
e. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth as does a rise in temperature
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- dbernst
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
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Could you provide an example of a similar singular subject phrase? To me, this is simply a sentence in which foods, a plural noun, must agree with make, a plural verb. The noun reason is just a diversion, as a reason does not normally make me, or others, profusely perspire (except when my girlfriend gave me the numerous reasons that she was dumping my lazy self!).
-dan
-dan
- JadranLee
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
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"Having good friends" is very different from "certain spicy foods".
"Having good friends" is a participial phrase that functions as a noun in the sentence "Having good friends is a wonderful thing". Phrases that start with an -ing form, such as "having", often function as noun phrases, although they can also function as modifiers (As in "The man wearing a red hat is my dad".)
In "certain spicy foods", the word "certain" is just an adjective. The subject of the verb "make" is thus the word "foods".
-Jad
"Having good friends" is a participial phrase that functions as a noun in the sentence "Having good friends is a wonderful thing". Phrases that start with an -ing form, such as "having", often function as noun phrases, although they can also function as modifiers (As in "The man wearing a red hat is my dad".)
In "certain spicy foods", the word "certain" is just an adjective. The subject of the verb "make" is thus the word "foods".
-Jad
- Guest
Shouldn't it be "e" instead of "d"?
Why is the correct answer "d"? "D" introduces "tongue" into the sentence; the original statement has no mention of tongue. Shouldn't it be "e" instead? Factually, it seems closer to the original sentence, and gramatiically, seems cleaner than the original. Please advise. Thanks!
- GMAT Fever
Why isnt the reason the subject of the sentence?
The reason is a noun and is then clarified by that to further describe what the reason is.
I understand Dan's point that the reason doesnt make someone sweat, in fact the spicy foods do, but because of that logic I eliminated A,B,D,E because it seemed like those sentences made the reason the subject.
So eventually went with C, because here the certain spicy foods was clearly the subject to me and the subject verb agreed.
Can someone explain why this logic is incorrect, and why C is incorrect because of it.
Also how can I prevent thinking this way on other sentences, does the word that signify a clue for me to look for a subject.
Just trying to figure how to figure out when a noun is acting as a diversion.
Any help would be appreciated...thanks!
The reason is a noun and is then clarified by that to further describe what the reason is.
I understand Dan's point that the reason doesnt make someone sweat, in fact the spicy foods do, but because of that logic I eliminated A,B,D,E because it seemed like those sentences made the reason the subject.
So eventually went with C, because here the certain spicy foods was clearly the subject to me and the subject verb agreed.
Can someone explain why this logic is incorrect, and why C is incorrect because of it.
Also how can I prevent thinking this way on other sentences, does the word that signify a clue for me to look for a subject.
Just trying to figure how to figure out when a noun is acting as a diversion.
Any help would be appreciated...thanks!
- rfernandez
- Course Students
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:25 am
The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature; this stimulation sometimes results in the activation of certain biological cooling mechanisms, one of which is perspiration.
a. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerve endings in the mouth as does a rise in temperature
b. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, makes some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature
c. Certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth like a rise in temperature does
d. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is that these foods contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth and on the tongue as does a rise in temperature
e. The reason that certain spicy foods, such as the Habanero pepper, make some people sweat is because they contain a chemical that stimulates the same nerves in the mouth as does a rise in temperature
Why is the correct answer "d"? "D" introduces "tongue" into the sentence; the original statement has no mention of tongue. Shouldn't it be "e" instead? Factually, it seems closer to the original sentence, and gramatiically, seems cleaner than the original. Please advise. Thanks!
The introduction of "tongue," while a new addition, does not make the sentence grammatically incorrect. E is incorrect because it uses the construction "The reason ... is because..." It's correct to say "The reason ... is that ..."
Why isnt the reason the subject of the sentence?
The reason is a noun and is then clarified by that to further describe what the reason is.
I understand Dan's point that the reason doesnt make someone sweat, in fact the spicy foods do, but because of that logic I eliminated A,B,D,E because it seemed like those sentences made the reason the subject.
So eventually went with C, because here the certain spicy foods was clearly the subject to me and the subject verb agreed.
Can someone explain why this logic is incorrect, and why C is incorrect because of it.
You are correct! "The reason" is the main subject of the sentence, and it correctly agrees with the verb "is" in A, B, D, and E. In options A and B, the verb "makes" does not agree with the subject "foods". This subject/verb combination occurs within the clause that begins with "that." C contains an ambiguous pronoun "they" that might refer to either foods or people. Also, it uses "like" in a comparison of clauses, when "as" is required.
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