Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 27 Oct 2016, 18:44

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Director
Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 954
WE 1: 3.5 yrs IT
WE 2: 2.5 yrs Retail chain
Followers: 74

Kudos [?]: 1222 [2] , given: 40

The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2010, 10:33
2
KUDOS
6
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

82% (01:38) correct 18% (00:41) wrong based on 294 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

_________________

Tricky Quant problems: http://gmatclub.com/forum/50-tricky-questions-92834.html
Important Grammer Fundamentals: http://gmatclub.com/forum/key-fundamentals-of-grammer-our-crucial-learnings-on-sc-93659.html

Director
Status: Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing.
Affiliations: University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Joined: 26 Nov 2009
Posts: 997
Location: Singapore
Followers: 21

Kudos [?]: 709 [0], given: 36

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2010, 11:46
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
discovery that ---> eliminates all except a,b,c
B uses "leading" which is progressive.
C is passive "made to be".
Now the inclination for A is because it says that discovery was done sometime back in the past. "has led" is present perfect.

If you eliminate on "has led" the answer is clear A since E uses "being".
_________________

Please press kudos if you like my post.

Current Student
Status: #TeamFuqua
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Posts: 123
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT 1: 580 Q37 V32
GMAT 2: 570 Q36 V32
GMAT 3: 680 Q44 V40
WE: Consulting (Consulting)
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 30 [0], given: 205

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2010, 12:14
I think it is D
_________________

-MBAJunkie

Director
Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 954
WE 1: 3.5 yrs IT
WE 2: 2.5 yrs Retail chain
Followers: 74

Kudos [?]: 1222 [0], given: 40

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Jun 2010, 12:26
pragnyaparamita, welcome to the club.
_________________

Tricky Quant problems: http://gmatclub.com/forum/50-tricky-questions-92834.html
Important Grammer Fundamentals: http://gmatclub.com/forum/key-fundamentals-of-grammer-our-crucial-learnings-on-sc-93659.html

Director
Joined: 25 Aug 2007
Posts: 954
WE 1: 3.5 yrs IT
WE 2: 2.5 yrs Retail chain
Followers: 74

Kudos [?]: 1222 [0], given: 40

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

23 Jun 2010, 02:30
OA is A. Great job guys.
_________________

Tricky Quant problems: http://gmatclub.com/forum/50-tricky-questions-92834.html
Important Grammer Fundamentals: http://gmatclub.com/forum/key-fundamentals-of-grammer-our-crucial-learnings-on-sc-93659.html

SVP
Joined: 17 Feb 2010
Posts: 1558
Followers: 18

Kudos [?]: 534 [0], given: 6

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

08 Jul 2010, 09:31
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led - CORRECT
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led - "to be" is wordy and awkward in GMAT…should be eliminated
D. of plastic's ability to be made electrically conductive, with this advance leading - "plastic's ability " is incorrect and "to be" is wordy and awkward in GMAT…should be eliminated
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led - " being able to be " is incorrect
Manager
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
Posts: 200
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 40 [0], given: 8

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

08 Jul 2010, 09:48
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
The verb has to be "has led". Between A and E, I'd choose A since E is awkward.
Senior Manager
Status: Fighting on
Joined: 14 Mar 2010
Posts: 318
Schools: UCLA (R1 interview-WL), UNC(R2--interview-ding) Oxford(R2-Admit), Kelley (R2- Admit ), McCombs(R2)
WE 1: SE - 1
WE 2: Engineer - 3
Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 28 [0], given: 3

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

17 Aug 2010, 08:26
After discovery you need that, rules out last to choices, the best among A B C is A

Posted from my mobile device
Forum Moderator
Status: mission completed!
Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Posts: 1426
GPA: 3.77
Followers: 181

Kudos [?]: 828 [5] , given: 621

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

13 Jan 2011, 03:52
5
KUDOS
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
let us remember what is present perfect tense.

The present perfect is a grammatical combination of the present tense and the perfect aspect, used to express a past event that has present consequences

In this SC you have to realize that X happened and now this dicovery has present consequences. Now guess what tense should you use ?! good.

based on the above you may cross out all except for A and E. just compare them and find out that E is very wrong using "being able to be".

The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
_________________

Audaces fortuna juvat!

GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings

Forum Moderator
Status: mission completed!
Joined: 02 Jul 2009
Posts: 1426
GPA: 3.77
Followers: 181

Kudos [?]: 828 [0], given: 621

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Jan 2011, 03:02
thangduong wrote:
I DO NOT AGREE

ACCORDING THE COMPREHENSIVE GRAMMAR, 1700 PAGES, WRITEN BY 4 LEADING AUTHORS OF GRAMMAR

NOUN HAVING DONE dose not exist

NOUN DOING mean NOUN WILL DO, NOUN HAD DONE, NOUN DO, ....Because DOING have no time and can take any time.

I LEARING ENGLISH IS TIRIED means

I WHO WILL LEARN ENGLIS IS TIRED
I WHO LARNED ENGLISH IS TIRED
I WHO LEARN ENGLISH IS TIRED
.......

that is why I ask you why B is wrong.

it looks like you are screamning using the CapsLock .
it is not respectful toward others. Please be respectful.

Quote:
I LEARING ENGLISH IS TIRIED
- it is completly wrong sentence. it seems that English is tired.

Quote:
NOUN HAVING DONE
- are you sure that having done is a noun? it seems you are mistakes nouns and verbs.

Quote:
I WHO
- is quite awkward as for me.

Quote:
Because DOING have no time and can take any time.
- it is progressive or continuous tense in this case.
Present participle are not referred to a specific time. but progressive tenses are referred to the action which is performed now.
_________________

Audaces fortuna juvat!

GMAT Club Premium Membership - big benefits and savings

Manager
Joined: 07 Jul 2010
Posts: 101
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 44 [0], given: 18

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

14 Jan 2011, 06:45
ykaiim wrote:
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led

D and E are wrong because of wordy. B is wrong because of "leading". C is wrong because "can be made to be" is wordy. => A is correct.
_________________

Hung M.Tran
Faculty of Banking and Finance,
National Economics University of Vietnam

GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Posts: 10280
Followers: 858

Kudos [?]: 187 [0], given: 0

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

12 Jun 2014, 22:04
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Manager
Joined: 27 Apr 2014
Posts: 53
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 4 [0], given: 20

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

02 Jul 2014, 07:32
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led - Uses and to describe cause-effect
D. of plastic's ability to be made electrically conductive, with this advance leading -WHY IS THIS WRONG?
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led - being is red-flag

Why is B & D wrong?
_________________

Kudos my back and I Kudos your back

Director
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 584
Location: Bangalore, India
Followers: 28

Kudos [?]: 203 [0], given: 9

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

03 Jul 2014, 05:46
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
amenon55 wrote:
Why is B wrong?

Generally speaking, when this (a demonstrative pronoun) refers to something within the sentence itself, it is almost always incorrect. For example, in this case, this advance is referring to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: that plastic can be made electrically conductive.

Basically it seems to be a matter of stylistic preference of GMAT. I did a quick scan of OG-13 and found 3 more such instances of incorrect options:

#51 option C
A new study suggests that the conversational pace of everyday life maybe so brisk that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words and, the result of this, they are unable to make sense of speech.

Notice that this refers to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: the hampered ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words.

#81 option C
Fossils of the arm of a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles Islands

Notice that this refers to an entity already mentioned within the sentence: sloth.

#115 option D
Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, this has already stimulated international disputes over uninhabited islands.

Notice that this refers to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code.

amenon55 wrote:
Why is D wrong?

This obviously totally changes the meaning of the original sentence. Scientists did not discover plastic's ability; they discovered something about plastic: that plastic can be made electrically conductive.
_________________

Thanks,
Ashish (GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle)
http://www.EducationAisle.com

Sentence Correction Nirvana available at Amazon.in and Flipkart

Now! Preview the entire Grammar Section of Sentence Correction Nirvana at pothi.com

Manager
Joined: 27 Apr 2014
Posts: 53
GMAT 1: 710 Q47 V40
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 4 [0], given: 20

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Jul 2014, 10:45
EducationAisle wrote:
amenon55 wrote:
Why is B wrong?

Generally speaking, when this (a demonstrative pronoun) refers to something within the sentence itself, it is almost always incorrect. For example, in this case, this advance is referring to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: that plastic can be made electrically conductive.

Basically it seems to be a matter of stylistic preference of GMAT. I did a quick scan of OG-13 and found 3 more such instances of incorrect options:

#51 option C
A new study suggests that the conversational pace of everyday life maybe so brisk that it hampers the ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words and, the result of this, they are unable to make sense of speech.

Notice that this refers to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: the hampered ability of some children to distinguish discrete sounds and words.

#81 option C
Fossils of the arm of a sloth that was found in Puerto Rico in 1991, was dated at 34 million years old, making this the earliest known mammal of the Greater Antilles Islands

Notice that this refers to an entity already mentioned within the sentence: sloth.

#115 option D
Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, this has already stimulated international disputes over uninhabited islands.

Notice that this refers to a fact already mentioned within the sentence: Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code.

amenon55 wrote:
Why is D wrong?

This obviously totally changes the meaning of the original sentence. Scientists did not discover plastic's ability; they discovered something about plastic: that plastic can be made electrically conductive.

so using this when referring to something withing the sentence is generally incorrect?
_________________

Kudos my back and I Kudos your back

Director
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 584
Location: Bangalore, India
Followers: 28

Kudos [?]: 203 [0], given: 9

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Jul 2014, 10:50
amenon55 wrote:
so using this when referring to something withing the sentence is generally incorrect?

As I mentioned, I did a scan in OG and this indeed seems to be the case.

However, if you (or someone else) do come across any official sentence where this observation does not hold true, do highlight, as it will be interesting to see. For the most part however, this indeed seems to be the case.
_________________

Thanks,
Ashish (GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle)
http://www.EducationAisle.com

Sentence Correction Nirvana available at Amazon.in and Flipkart

Now! Preview the entire Grammar Section of Sentence Correction Nirvana at pothi.com

Manager
Status: GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: EnterMBA.in
Joined: 23 Jun 2013
Posts: 182
Location: India
GRE 1: 2280 Q790 V710
GPA: 3.3
WE: Editorial and Writing (Education)
Followers: 9

Kudos [?]: 76 [0], given: 4

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Jul 2014, 20:22
Not completely true. The OG examples quoted use "this" as a pronoun. In this question, "this" is used as an adjective to the noun "advance".

The GMAT doesn't prefer the use of "this" as a pronoun. But there's no such rule or preference regarding the use of "this" as an adjective.

Here is a perfectly valid construction (in terms of grammar; meaning-wise, it still doesn't cut it):
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive, and this advance has led to improvements in blah-blah.

Let's take a simpler example:
He read The Book of Secrets, a book that has given him much knowledge.
He read The Book of Secrets, this book giving him much knowledge.

The abstract "a book" is the preferred modifier. You would need a conjunction or a preposition before "this".

The other problem with B relates to the use of tense. The participle "leading" "takes on" the tense of the main clause. Assuming the use of "this" in B is correct, the use of "leading" yields the following meaning: the discovery "led" to improvements in blah-blah.

Now go back and note the sequence of events. The discovery occurred first. The prize was awarded later. Using the simple past tense "led" makes it unclear when the improvements occurred. The only other event in the simple past tense in the sentence (directly mentioned) is "was awarded", so "led" might go with it -- but the subject of "led", "this advance", i.e. the discovery, occurred earlier.

The use of the present perfect tense in A yields the logical meaning: the improvements started with the discovery and continue to occur.

_________________

EnterMBA

Director
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 584
Location: Bangalore, India
Followers: 28

Kudos [?]: 203 [0], given: 9

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Jul 2014, 21:26
Quote:
The other problem with B relates to the use of tense. The participle "leading" "takes on" the tense of the main clause. Assuming the use of "this" in B is correct, the use of "leading" yields the following meaning: the discovery "led" to improvements in blah-blah.

Now go back and note the sequence of events. The discovery occurred first. The prize was awarded later. Using the simple past tense "led" makes it unclear when the improvements occurred. The only other event in the simple past tense in the sentence (directly mentioned) is "was awarded", so "led" might go with it -- but the subject of "led", "this advance", i.e. the discovery, occurred earlier.

If this was indeed correct, then I don't believe there is any tense issue in B. Participial phrases neatly depict cause and effect. So, advance is the cause, while leading is the effect.

Quote:
The use of the present perfect tense in A yields the logical meaning: the improvements started with the discovery and continue to occur.

I don't believe that present perfect here in any way suggests that improvements continue to occur.
_________________

Thanks,
Ashish (GMAT Faculty @ EducationAisle)
http://www.EducationAisle.com

Sentence Correction Nirvana available at Amazon.in and Flipkart

Now! Preview the entire Grammar Section of Sentence Correction Nirvana at pothi.com

Last edited by EducationAisle on 13 Jul 2014, 23:07, edited 1 time in total.
Intern
Status: Pursuit of happyness
Joined: 07 Nov 2012
Posts: 31
Location: India
GMAT Date: 04-24-2013
WE: General Management (Energy and Utilities)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 6 [0], given: 358

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

06 Jul 2014, 23:23
Options B,C,D,E come into the picture when there is something wrong in the sentence given in A in terms of Grammar,meaning and concision. So A is the better answer when compared to the rest in this case
Intern
Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 13
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 2

Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists [#permalink]

### Show Tags

30 Dec 2014, 18:45
Hi There,

Thank you for an excellent note!

Pointing out back the rules really helps.
I guess what made me go for E on this question was that, the use of -that- in "their discovery that plastic". I thought that it just sounded awkward and that of may be better, to pick E, though I realize that "being able to be" was wrong as well. So i guess picking between 2 evils I choose E.

Anyway, if you could explain why "that" is fine in there, and possibly point to a rule, that would be fantastic!

Very Grateful,

Yela:)

PTK wrote:
let us remember what is present perfect tense.

The present perfect is a grammatical combination of the present tense and the perfect aspect, used to express a past event that has present consequences

In this SC you have to realize that X happened and now this dicovery has present consequences. Now guess what tense should you use ?! good.

based on the above you may cross out all except for A and E. just compare them and find out that E is very wrong using "being able to be".

The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists for their discovery that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led to improvements in film, television screens, and windows.

A. that plastic can be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
C. that plastic can be made to be electrically conductive, and this advance led
E. of plastic being able to be made electrically conductive—an advance that has led
Re: The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists   [#permalink] 30 Dec 2014, 18:45

Go to page    1   2    Next  [ 21 posts ]

Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
4 In 1959, the Nobel Prize was awarded to the Czech chemist and inventor 3 26 Aug 2015, 10:58
6 Dr. Tonegawa won the Nobel Prize for discovering how the 18 06 Sep 2007, 14:48
Dr. Tonegawa won the Nobel Prize for discovering how the 1 12 Jul 2007, 10:14
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarder to three scientists 5 18 Mar 2007, 20:02
The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to three scientists 0 20 Nov 2006, 23:52
Display posts from previous: Sort by
{"extraction_info": {"found_math": true, "script_math_tex": 0, "script_math_asciimath": 0, "math_annotations": 0, "math_alttext": 0, "mathml": 0, "mathjax_tag": 0, "mathjax_inline_tex": 1, "mathjax_display_tex": 0, "mathjax_asciimath": 0, "img_math": 0, "codecogs_latex": 0, "wp_latex": 0, "mimetex.cgi": 0, "/images/math/codecogs": 0, "mathtex.cgi": 0, "katex": 0, "math-container": 0, "wp-katex-eq": 0, "align": 0, "equation": 0, "x-ck12": 0, "texerror": 0, "math_score": 0.39329785108566284, "perplexity": 5533.083020366149}, "config": {"markdown_headings": true, "markdown_code": false, "boilerplate_config": {"ratio_threshold": 0.18, "absolute_threshold": 10, "end_threshold": 15, "enable": true}, "remove_buttons": true, "remove_image_figures": true, "remove_link_clusters": true, "table_config": {"min_rows": 2, "min_cols": 3, "format": "plain"}, "remove_chinese": true, "remove_edit_buttons": true, "extract_latex": true}, "warc_path": "s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988721415.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183841-00564-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz"}