GMAT Idioms

GMAT COURSE – Section 2 (Sentence Correction) IDIOMS – 3 Questions from KAPLAN, page 62 1.

Brief psychotherapy requires far fewer hours and costs far less money than traditional psychoanalysis, and so will hopefully prove to be an effective treatment for many of the large amount of the people currently seeking therapy. (A) will hopefully prove to be an effective treatment for many of the large amount (B) will prove hopefully to be an effective treatment for many of the large amount (C) hopefully will prove to be an effective treatment for many of the large number (D) will, it is hoped, prove to be an effective treatment for many of the large number (E) will, it is hoped, prove to be an effective treatment for many of the large amount

Questions from KAPLAN, page 237 to 241

2.

As a result of having nostrils, called nares, connected to olfactory bulbs that go back to the brain, sharks are capable of smelling even a few molecules of blood in the water. (A) As a result of having (B) As a result of it having (C) Because they have (D) Because of having (E) Because of their having

3.

In the past few months, there has been extensive dispute over if fare hikes should be a first or last recourse in improving the transit system. (A) over if fare hikes should be a first or last recourse (B) about if fares hikes is a first or last recourse (C) about hiking fares being first or last recourse (D) over whether fare hikes should be a first or last recourse (E) concerning hikes in fares and their being first or last recourses

4.

In contrast to Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound considered that late 19th century American poetry is not a distinct, formal repertoire informed by it own ideology, and is essentially an outgrowth of the British poetic tradition. (A) Ezra Pound considered that late 19th century American poetry is not a distinct, formal repertoire informed by it own ideology, and is (B) Ezra Pound considered late 19th century American poetry not as a distinct, formal repertoire informed by its own ideology, but (C) Ezra Pound considered late 19th century American poetry not a distinct, formal repertoire informed by its own ideology, but (D) it was considered by Ezra Pound that late 19th century American poetry is not a distinct, formal repertoire informed by its own ideology, but (E) late 19th century American poetry was considered by Ezra Pound no to be a distinct, formal repertoire informed by its own ideology, and is

5.

Still employing the system of binomial nomenclature devised in the 18th century by Lannaeus, new technology enables modern day biological taxonomists to not only classify species, but to sort their evolutionary relationships by an approach that analyzes the sequences of DNA. (A) new technology enables modern day biological taxonomists to not only classify species, but to sort (B) modern day biological taxonomists using new technology can not only classify species, but sort (C) using new technology enables modern day biological taxonomists to not only classify species, but to sort (D) using new technology not only in classifying species, modern day biological taxonomists are enabled to also sort them for (E) when modern day biological taxonomists are enabled by new technology, not only do they classify species, they also can sort

6.

American executives, unlike their Japanese counterparts, have pressure to show high profits in each quarterly report, with little thought given to long-term goals. (A) have pressure to show (B) are under pressure to show (C) are under pressure of showing (D) are pressured toward showing (E) have pressure that they should show

Questions from The Official GMAT Review, page 299 to 301 7.

However much United States voters may agree that there is waste in government and that the government as a whole spends beyond its means, it is difficult to find broad support for a movement toward a minimal state. (A) However much United States voters may agree that (B) Despite the agreement among United States voters to the fact (C) Although United States voters agree (D) Even though United States voters may agree (E) There is agreement among United States voters that

8.

In his research paper, Dr. Frosh, medical director of the Payne Whitney Clinic, distinguishes mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis. (A) mood swings, which may be violent without their being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis (B) mood swings, perhaps violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis (C) between mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease, and genuine manic-depressive psychosis (D) between mood swings, perhaps violent, without being grounded in mental disease, from genuine manic-depressive psychosis (E) genuine manic-depressive psychosis and mood swings, which may be violent without being grounded in mental disease

9.

As more and more people invest their money in saving certificates or money-market funds in order to earn higher interest, they are abandoning traditional low-interest investment havens such as passbook accounts and life insurance policies. (A) As more and more people invest their money (B) While people have more and more been investing their money (C) AS money is more and more invested by people (D) More and more, when investors put their money (E) While, more and more, investors have been putting their money

Questions from The Official GMAT Review, page 311 to 314

10.

A Labor Department study states that the numbers of women employed outside the home grew by more than a thirty-five percent increase in the past decade and accounted for more than sixty-two percent of the total growth in the civilian work-force. (A) numbers of women employed outside the home grew by more than a thirty-five percent increase (B) numbers of women employed outside the home grew more than thirty-five percent (C) numbers of women employed outside the home were raised by more than a thirty-five percent (D) number of women employed outside the home increased by more than thirty-five percent (E) number of women employed outside the home was raised by more than thirty-five percent increase

11.

The first decision for most tenants living in a building undergoing being converted to cooperative ownership is if to sign a no-buy pledge with the other tenants. (A) being converted to cooperative ownership is if to sign (B) being converted to cooperative ownership is whether they should be signing (C) being converted to cooperative ownership is whether or not they sign (D) conversion to cooperative ownership is if to sign (E) conversion to cooperative ownership is whether to sign

12.

In three centuries - from 1050 to 1350 - several million tons of stone were quarried in France for the building of eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some tens of thousands of parish churches. (A) for the building of eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some (B) in order that they might build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some (C) so as they might build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and some (D) so that there could be built eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and (E) such that they could build eighty cathedrals, five hundred large churches, and

13.

A report by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science has concluded that much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes from the incineration of wastes. (A) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed comes (B) much of the currently uncontrolled dioxins that North Americans are exposed to come (C) much of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and that North Americans are exposed comes (D) many of the dioxins that are currently uncontrolled and North Americans are exposed to come (E) many of the currently uncontrolled dioxins to which North Americans are exposed come

14.

Bufo marinus toads, fierce predators that will eat frogs, lizards, and even small birds, are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt to control pests in the state's vast sugarcane fields. (A) are native to South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt to control (B) are native in South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's as attempts to control (C) are natives of South America but were introduced into Florida during the 1930's in an attempt at controlling (D) had been native to South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930's as an attempt at controlling (E) had been natives of South America but were introduced to Florida during the 1930's as attempts to controlling

Questions from Arco's teach yourself the GMAT CAT, page 395

15.

To ensure the integrity of fossil evidence found at climatically unstable archeological sites, the immediate coating of newly exposed fossils with a specially formulated alkaline solution is as crucial, if not more crucial than, the prompt removal of the fossil from the site. (A) crucial, if not more crucial than, the (B) crucial as , if not more crucial than, the (C) crucial as, if not more than, the (D) crucial, if not more crucial, than the (E) crucial, if not more crucial, as the

16.

According to Newtonian physics, the greater the distance between two particles, given the so-called gravitational constant, the less will be the gravitational force between them. (A) the greater the distance between two particles, given the so-called gravitational constant, the less will be the gravitational force between them (B) the greater the distance the less the gravitational force between two particles, given the so-called gravitational constant (C) given the so-called gravitational constant, more distance between two particles will result in a lesser gravitational force between them (D) the less of a gravitational force between two objects, the more of a distance between them, given the so-called gravitational constant (E) given the so-called gravitational constant, the greater the distance between two particles, the smaller the gravitational force between them

Questions from Arco's teach yourself the GMAT CAT, page 397 to 398

17.

The severity of the weather can some of the time prevent airplanes departing on time. (A) The severity of the weather can some of the time prevent airplanes departing on time. (B) The severity of the weather some-time can prevent airplanes from their timely departing. (C) Severe weather can sometimes prevent airplanes from departing on time. (D) Airplanes departing in a timely manner can sometimes be prevented by severe weather. (E) Timely departures for airplanes are sometimes prevented as a result of severe weather.

18.

Over twenty million illegal immigrants live in the United States, including greater than a million alone in California. (A) including greater than a million alone in California (B) including in California greater than a million (C) including more in California than a million (D) including more than a million in California alone (E) including greater than a million such illegal immigrants in California

Questions from Arco's teach yourself the GMAT CAT, page 427 to 430 19.

No only smoking cigarettes but also cigar smoking has been banned now from many places. (A) No only smoking cigarettes but also cigar smoking has been banned now (B) Cigarette smoking and cigar smoking are both banned now (C) Not only has smoking cigarettes been banned but so has cigar smoking (D) Both smoking cigarettes and cigar smoking is now banned (E) Smoking cigarettes as well as cigars is now banned

20.

Ignorance of the law does not preclude one being arrested for violating it. (A) one being arrested for violating it (B) arrest for one's violation of it (C) one's violation and arresting for it (D) one from being arrested for violating the law (E) one from an arrest for having violated the law

Questions from HBJ GMAT, page 168 to 171

21.

During the first year after the corporate reorganization, no one considered the management was well-organized; managers were largely untrained and directionless. (A) was well-organized (B) well-organized (C) were well-organized (D) seemed to be well-organized (E) seemed well-organized

22.

Dental caries and gingivitis can be exacerbated not only by the foods patients eat but also by when the patients eat them. (A) not only by the foods patients eat but also by when the patients eat them (B) by not only the foods patients eat but also by when the patients eat them (C) not only by the foods patients eat but also by the time when the foods are eaten (D) by not only the foods that are eaten by patients but also by the times the foods that are eaten by patients (E) not only by what patients eat but also by when they eat it

23.

For most consumers, the price of automobile insurance continues to rise annually, even if free of damage claims and moving violations (A) even if (B) despite being (C) even if they are (D) although they may be (E) even if remaining

24.

Marketing researchers have found that, because many residents of the Southeast do not share the same ethnic heritage as Northeasterners, the two varieties of commercially prepared coleslaw most popular in New York City and Boston are virtually ignored by consumers in Richmond and Raleigh. (A) because many residents of the Southeast do not share the same ethnic heritage as (B) because many residents of the Southeast do not share the same ethnic heritage with (C) because many residents of the Southeast do not have the same ethnic heritage as (D) due to many residents of the Southeast not sharing the same ethnic heritage with (E) whereas many residents of the Southeast do not share the same ethnic heritage as

25.

Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked. (A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea (B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea (C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea (D) laid in his propose (E) lay in his proposal

26.

In spite of continuing national trends toward increased consumption of specialty foods, agronomists in the Midwest foresee a gradual reversion to the raising of agricultural staples: feed corn and hard red wheat. (A) a gradual reversion to the raising of agricultural staples (B) that a gradual reversion back will feature the raising of agricultural staples (C) a gradual reversion back to the raising of agricultural staples again (D) a gradual reversion to raise agricultural staples (E) a gradual reversion into the raising of agricultural staples

27.

A little under a million years ago, the briny waters of the Baltic Sea began flooding into the cold North Atlantic; geologists are still debating whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm. (A) whether the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm (B) if the flood was gradual or created a cataclysm (C) about whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic (D) whether the flood was gradual or cataclysmic (E) whether the flood was gradual or it created a cataclysm

28.

According to Henry David Thoreau, the reason a majority is allowed to rule is not that it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger. (A) the reason a majority is allowed to rule is not that it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger (B) a majority is allowed to rule not because it is more likely to be right, but because it is stronger (C) the reason for majority rule is not because they are more likely to be right, they are stronger (D) the majority is allowed to rule because of its strength, not because it is more likely to be right (E) the reason why the majority rules is that it is strong, not because it is likely to be right

Questions from HBJ GMAT, page 210 to 211. 29.

Balzac drank more that fifty cups of coffee a day and died of caffeine poisoning; furthermore, caffeine did not seem to bother Samuel Johnson, the great writer and lexicographer, who was reported to have drunk twenty-five cups of tea at one sitting. (A) furthermore, caffeine did not seem to bother (B) however, caffeine did not seem to bother (C) however, caffeine did not seem to have bothered (D) furthermore, caffeine did not seem to have bothered (E) in addition, caffeine did not seem to bother

30.

A peculiar feature of the embryonic mammalian circulatory system is that in the area of the heart the cells adhere to one another, beating in unison and adopting specialized orientations exclusive of one another. (A) beating in unison and adopting (B) they beat in unison while adopting (C) beat in unison, and adopt (D) beating in unison yet adopting (E) even though they beat in unison and adopt

Answers: 1-D, 2-C, 3-D, 4-C, 5-B, 6-B, 7-A, 8-C, 9-A, 10-D, 11-E, 12-A, 13-E, 14-A, 15-B, 16-B, 17-C, 18-D, 19-B, 20-D, 21-B, 22-E, 23-C, 24-C, 25-E, 26-A, 27-D, 28-B, 29-B, 30-D.