GMAT Prep

Tense Sentence Correction Exercise

EducationAisle is distributing this document, with the understanding that the

contents will not be divulged to any third party without prior written consent
from EducationAisle

Table of Contents
Questions................................................................................................................... 3
Answers.................................................................................................................... 11
Explanation.............................................................................................................. 12

Questions
1

In reference to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently expressed anxiety that
their prospects for being hired and promoted are being stunted by their habit.
(A) In reference to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently expressed anxiety
that
(B) Referring to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently expressed anxiety
about
(C) When referring to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently express anxiety
about
(D) With reference to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently expressed
anxiety about
(E) Referring to the current hostility toward smoking, smokers frequently express anxiety that

The number of mountain gorillas is declining with such rapidity that the population is one-half in
the twenty years between a count made by George Schaller in 1960 and the one made by Dian
Fossey in 1980.
(A) with such rapidity that the population is one-half
(B) with such rapidity that the population was one-half
(C) so rapidly the population divided in half
(D) so rapidly that the population was halved
(E) in such rapidity that the population is halved

A recent study has found that within the past few years, many doctors had elected early
retirement rather than face the threats of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice insurance.
(A) had elected early retirement rather than face
(B) had elected early retirement instead of facing
(C) have elected retiring early instead of facing
(D) have elected to retire early rather than facing
(E) have elected to retire early rather than face

In June, 1981, six teenagers in the village of Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, claimed to have had
visions of the Virgin Mary, who they say has continued to appear to them over the ensuing
years.
(A) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(B) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(C) claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom
(D) claimed to have visions of the Virgin Mary, who
(E) had claimed to have had visions of the Virgin Mary, whom

During the Renaissance, scholars were uncertain as to the location of Troy, and by the
eighteenth century many historians doubted that Troy had ever existed.
(A) doubted that Troy had ever existed
(B) doubt that Troy has ever existed
(C) were in doubt as to the existence of Troy
(D) were doubtful concerning Troys existence
(E) had doubts about Troys ever existing

If the reporter would have known the landlords side of the story, she would not have written an
article so favorable to the 81-year-old tenant.
(A) would have known the landlords side of the story, she would not have written
(B) would of known the landlords side of the story, she would not of written
(C) had known the landlords side of the story, she would not have written
(D) had known the landlords side of the story, she would not have wrote
(E) knew the landlords side of the story, she would not have written

At a recent session, the French government has decided that Paris needs a second, larger
opera house to complement the famous Paris Opera
(A) has decided that Paris needs
(B) decided that Paris needs
(C) has decided that Paris will need
(D) decided that Paris has a need of
(E) has decided that Paris needed

During an era when interracial tensions in the United States have run high, Rosa Parks
became a quiet, unassuming symbol of the continued struggle for human dignity.
(A) have run high
(B) ran high
(C) had run highly
(D) run high
(E) were running highly

During the nineteenth century Emily Eden and Fanny Parks journeyed throughout India,
sketching and keeping journals forming the basis of news reports about the princely states
where they had visited.
(A) forming the basis of news reports about the princely states where they had
(B) that were forming the basis of news reports about the princely states
(C) to form the basis of news reports about the princely states which they have
(D) which had formed the basis of news reports about the princely states where they had
(E) that formed the basis of news reports about the princely states they

10

In the last twenty years, despite the chauvinism of European connoisseurs, California wines
are respected throughout the world.
(A) are respected
(B) are becoming better respected
(C) which have gained respect
(D) have gained respect
(E) have since become respected

11

The Iroquois were primarily planters, but supplementing their cultivation of maize, squash, and
beans with fishing and hunting.
(A) but supplementing
(B) and had supplemented
(C) and even though they supplemented
(D) although they supplemented
(E) but with supplementing

12

In the last ten years, the dropout rate among Black high school students fell substantially over
the past decade, while the number of Blacks who attend college is more than twice what it was.
(A) fell substantially over the past decade, while the number of Blacks who attend college is
more than twice what it was
(B) fell substantially, while the number of Blacks attending college is more than double what it
was at that time
(C) has fallen substantially, while the number of Blacks attending college has more than
doubled
(D) has fallen substantially over the past decade, while the number of Blacks attending college
is more than twice what it was at that time
(E) has fallen substantially over the past decade, while the number of Blacks who are attending
college are more than double what they were

13

Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during two decades, stringent rationing
and planned distribution have allowed the Peoples Republic of China to ensure nutritional
levels of 2,000 calories per person per day for its population.
(A) Even though its per capita food supply hardly increased during
(B) Even though its per capita food supply has hardly increased in
(C) Despite its per capita food supply hardly increasing over
(D) Despite there being hardly any increase in its per capita food supply during
(E) Although there is hardly any increase in per capita food supply for

14

Art historians are using a process known as infrared scanning in analyzing the Mona Lisa to
determine if it has been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the
figure in black, as done by many artists of the time.
(A) if it has been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in
black, as done
(B) if it had been altered since completion and if Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the figure in
black, a practice employed
(C) whether it has been altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched
the figure in black, a practice employed
(D) whether it was altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched the
figure in black, as was done
(E) whether it had been altered since completion and whether Leonardo da Vinci first sketched
the figure in black, a practice done

15

Despite the recent election of a woman to the office of prime minister, the status of women in
Pakistan is little changed from how it was in the last century.
(A) is little changed from how it was
(B) is a little change from how it was
(C) has changed little
(D) has changed little from how it has been
(E) is little changed from the way it was

16

In June of 1989, Princeton Township approved a developer's plans to build 300 houses on a large
portion of the 210-acre site of the Battle of Princeton, one of only eight Revolutionary War
battlefields that had remained undeveloped.
A one of only eight Revolutionary War battlefields that had remained undeveloped.
B one of eight of the only Revolutionary War battlefields that have remained undeveloped
C one of the only eight undeveloped Revolutionary War battlefields that remains
D only one of eight Revolutionary War battlefields to remain undeveloped
E only one of the eight remaining undeveloped Revolutionary War battlefields

17

If current trends continue, by the year 2010 carbon emissions in the United States will soar to a level
more than one-third higher than were those in 1990, according to official projections.
A. will soar to a level more than one-third higher than were those
B. will soar to a level more than one-third higher than that
C. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than is was
D. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than those
E. would soar to a level more than one-third higher than they were

18

If the corporate bureaucracy persists in its discriminatory hiring and job advancement practices, its
chief executives will expose themselves to class-action litigation by the groups prejudiced thereby.
A. its chief executives will expose themselves
B. its chief executives would expose themselves
C. their chief executives will expose themselves
D. its chief executives themselves would become exposed
E. the chief executives will, by themselves, be exposed

19

Galileo did not invent the telescope, but on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had
been made, he quickly built his own device from an organ pipe and spectacle lenses.
A. Galileo did not invent the telescope, but on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical instrument had
been made, he
B. Galileo had not invented the telescope, but when he heard, in 1609, of such an optical instrument
having been made,
C. Galileo, even though he had not invented the telescope, on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical
instrument had been made, he
D. Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope, on hearing, in 1609, that such an optical
instrument had been made,
E. Even though Galileo did not invent the telescope, but when he heard, in 1609, of such an optical
instrument being made, he

20

Even though the state has spent ten years and seven million dollars planning a reservoir along
the Ubi River, the project will have to be abandoned as a result of the river becoming so heavily
polluted.
(A) will have to be abandoned as a result of the river becoming so heavily polluted
(B) is to be abandoned on account of the heavy pollution which the river received
(C) had to be abandoned because the river had received such heavy pollution
(D) has to be abandoned because of the river and its heavy pollution
(E) must be abandoned because the river has become so heavily polluted

21

The distinctive hereditary tartans that are alleged to be worn since antiquity by members of the
Highland clans were in fact designed by Scottish woolen manufacturers in the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries.
(A) that are alleged to be worn
(B) alleged to have been worn
(C) that are worn, it was alleged
(D) alleged as having been worn
(E) that are worn, allegedly

22

From 1965 on, Yugoslavias standard of living has soared, but unemployment and prices too.
(A) but unemployment and prices too
(B) and also unemployment and prices
(C) but so have unemployment and prices
(D) and so also unemployment and prices
(E) but so did unemployment and prices

23

The original building and loan associations were organized as limited life funds, whose
members made monthly payments on their share subscriptions, then taking turns drawing on
the funds for home mortgages.
(A) subscriptions, then taking turns drawing
(B) subscriptions, and then taking turns drawing
(C) subscriptions and then took turns drawing
(D) subscriptions and then took turns, they drew
(E) subscriptions and then drew, taking turns

24

Interest rates on mortgages have declined steadily during the first six months of this year but
virtually remained unchanged during the next three months.
(A) have declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remained
unchanged
(B) declined steadily during the first six months of this year but virtually remain unchanged
(C) steadily declined during the first six months of this year but remain virtually unchanged
(D) declined steadily during the first six months of this but have remained virtually unchanging
(E) declined steadily during the first six months of this year but have remained virtually
unchanged

25

Salt deposits and moisture threaten to destroy the mhenjo-daro excavation in Pakistan, the site of
an ancient civilization that flourished at the same time as the civilizations in the Nile delta and the
river valleys of Tigris and Euphrates.
a. that flourished at the same time as the civilizations
b. that had flourished at the same time as had the civilizations.
c. that flourished at the same time those had
d. flourishing at the same time as those did
e. flourishing at the same time as those were

26

For some birds the sense of smell appears to play a role in navigation, since pigeons with
surgically removed olfactory nerves were found to have increased difficulties in homing.
(A) were found to have increased difficulties
(B) have been found to have increased difficulty
(C) were found to have increasing difficulty
(D) had been found to have increased difficulties
(E) have been found to have increasing difficulties

27

Some of the wild dogs that were distributed to local pet sanctuaries by city health officials and
exterminated last year were collected as part of the city's initiative to protect local residents from dog
attacks.
A. Some of the wild dogs that were distributed to local pet sanctuaries by city health officials and
exterminated last year were
B. Some of the wild dogs that the local pet sanctuaries received and the city health health officials
exterminated have been
C. Some of the wild dogs that were distributed to local pet sanctuaries or exterminated by city health
officials last year had been
D. Last year some of the wild dogs that were distributed to local pet sanctuaries or exterminated by
city health officials made
E. Last year city health officials distributed to local pet sanctuaries as well as exterminated some of
the wild dogs that had been

28

For some birds the sense of smell appears to play a role in navigation, since pigeons with surgically
removed olfactory nerves were found to have increased difficulties in homing.
(A) were found to have increased difficulties
(B) have been found to have increased difficulty
(c) were found to have increasing difficulty
(D) had been found to have increased difficulties
(E) Have been found to have increasing difficulties

29

Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he also won
the loyalty of its citizens: the invading Danes were well aware of this weakness and used it to
their advantage in 893.
(A) Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he
(B) The fact that King Alfred had occupied and fortified London in 886 did not mean that he had
(C) Just because King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean he
(D) The fact that King Alfred occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean that he
(E) Just because King Alfred had occupied and fortified London in 886, it did not mean he

30

A 1972 agreement between Canada and the United States reduced the amount of phosphates that
municipalities had been allowed to dump into the Great Lakes.
(A) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities had been allowed to dump
(B) reduced the phosphate amount that municipalities had been dumping
(C) reduces the phosphate amount municipalities have been allowed to dump
(D) reduced the amount of phosphates that municipalities are allowed to dump
(E) reduces the amount of phosphates allowed for dumping by municipalities

31

Under a provision of the Constitution that was never applied, Congress has been required to
call a convention for considering possible amendments to the document when formally asked
to do it by the legislatures of two-thirds of the states.
(A) was never applied, Congress has been required to call a convention for considering
possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do it
(B) was never applied, there has been a requirement that Congress call a convention for
consideration of possible amendments to the document when asked to do it formally
(C) was never applied, whereby Congress is required to call a convention for considering
possible amendments to the document when asked to do it formally
(D) has never been applied, whereby Congress is required to call a convention to consider
possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do so
(E) has never been applied, Congress is required to call a convention to consider possible
amendments to the document when formally asked to do so

32

It is possible that Native Americans originally have migrated to the Western Hemisphere over a
bridge of land that once existed between Siberia and Alaska.
(A) have migrated to the Western Hemisphere over a bridge of land that once existed
(B) were migrating to the Western Hemisphere over a bridge of land that existed once
(C) migrated over a bridge of land to the Western Hemisphere that once existed
(D) migrated to the Western Hemisphere over a bridge of land that once existed
(E) were migrating to the Western Hemisphere over a bridge of land existing once

33

Native American burial sites dating back 5,000 years indicate that the residents of Maine at that
time were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people.
(A) were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people
(B) had been part of a widespread culture of people who were Algonquian-speaking
(C) were people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(D) had been people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(E) were a people which had been part of a widespread, Algonquian-speaking culture

34

Not since Galileo suffered the scurvy humor of the Inquisition has a religious organization so
effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he could pursue a theory.
(A) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist that he
could pursue
(B) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist that he could
pursue
(C) has a religious organization so effectively curbed the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(D) did a religious organization so effectively curb the ability of a major scientist to pursue
(E) has a religious organization so effectively curbed whether a major scientist had the ability
that he could be pursuing

35

Intentionally left blank.

36

Once they had seen the report from the medical examiner, the investigators did not doubt
whether the body recovered from the river was the man who had attempted to escape from the
state prison.
(A) did not doubt whether the body recovered from the river was
(B) have no doubt whether the body recovered from the river was
(C) had not doubted that the body recovered from the river was
(D) have no doubt whether the body recovered from the river was that of
(E) had no doubt that the body recovered from the river was that of

37

The federal rules aimed at protecting human subjects of medical experiments were established
to ensure that patients must be warned of potential risks and an independent panel would
evaluate the experiment before it was concluded.
A) must be warned of potential risks and an independent panel would
B) must be warned of potential risks and that an independent panel
C) are warned about the potential risks and that an independent panel
D) will be warned of potential risks and an independent panel would
E) would be warned of potential risks and that an independent panel would

38

Americans' love affair with the Mustang is readily apparent: few Americans have been known to
have driven it for the first time without taking it out for a another spin.
A. few Americans have been known to have driven it
B. few having been known to drive it
C. few Americans have been known to drive it
D. it has been driven by few Americans
E. few Americans having driven it

10

Answers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38

E
D
E
A
A
C
B
B
E
D
D
C
B
C
C
A
B
A
A
E
B
C
C
E
A
B
C
B
B
D
E
D
A
C
E
E
C

11

Explanation
1

"are being stunted.." So, present. So, "expressed" in b is wrong.

"is" cannot be used, since this talks about two events in the past. So, a, e are out. D
is the most correct usage.

"rather than" is preferred over "instead of", so c is not correect. Also, First parallel
structure is:
Elected X rather than Y. So, X [to retire early] and Y [(to) face the threats] need to
be parallel. This is parallel in choice E.
Second parallel structure is:
face X and Y. So, the threat of lawsuits and the rising costs of malpractice
insurance should be parallel. For this second parallel structure, we dont anyway
need to examine parallelism, since the second parallel structure is entirely in the
non-underlined portion.

Could as well be a Pronouns question. The choice is between "who" and "whom".
Remember that the doer of the action is always the subject pronoun (who), while
the receiver of the action is always the object pronoun (whom). If you look at the
sentence, it basically means:
who/whom has continued to appear to them over the ensuing years.
Clearly has is the verb and whatever has continued to appear is the subject;
hence we are looking for a subject pronoun and who is the correct choice.
Think about it this way. Whenever you have a construction like this:
<x> has continued to appear.
What would you fill up in place of <x>? It would always be he, she, they etc. All
of these are subject pronouns. Hence who (a Subject pronoun) is the correct
usage here.

The entire sentence talks about past tense, so b is not correct. Past perfect tense, as
used in a is the correct usage here.
Would we use:
a. Troy has never existed
Or would be use
b. Troy never existed
Clearly a is the correct choice.

12

Similarly, by eighteenth century many historians doubted that Troy had ever existed.
This is a clear case of Past perfect. By eighteenth century, historians doubted
whether Troy had "ever existed" (at any point of time in history: an "unspecified
time").
Essentially there are two things here that happened in the past:
1. Historians doubting
2. Troy's existence or in-existence
Among these events, the even that happened "latter" (Historians doubting) should be
expressed in Simple Past while the event that happened earlier (Troy's existence or
in-existence) should be expressed as Past Perfect.
This is no different from:
He claimed he had never done anything wrong.
6

Probably the usage is: "If one had known, one would not have blah blah"

The sentence is talking about an incident in the past; hence simple past is best
suited.

"became" in the non-underlined portion gives a hint that this is past tense. So, "ran
high" is correct.
Notice that no event happened "before" another event. Both in fact occurred
"simultaneously" (the "era" and "Rosa Parks"); in other words, "Rosa Parks" was a
part of that era.
It's like this:
During the time when English ruled India, Gandhiji became an apostle of freedom.
As opposed to this, let's take another sentence:
When Gandhiji landed in Mumbai, he had already proved his mettle in South Africa.
Here proving of his mettle in South Africa clearly happened "before" he landed in
Mumbai. Hence, we use past perfect for the "earlier event": had proved his mettle.

"journals that formed the basis.." is correct usage, since 'that' correctly modifies
'journals'. "were forming" and "had formed" are wrong tense usage.
Note that if there is a choice between "a participle modifying the noun immediately
before it", and a "relative clause", GMAT generally prefers "relative clause"
(remember, GMAT loves "relative clauses"). Here A uses a participle ("forming")
modifying the noun immediately before it ("journals"), while E uses "relative clause"
("that formed..."). So, relative clause should be preferred.

13

10

Ignore everything between commas. So, the sentence is: "In the last twenty years,
California wines have gained respected throughout the world.". Present perfect is the
correct usage, since this talks about something that started in the past (20 years
back) and is still continuing.

11

"although" brings out the contrast in meaning. The entire sentence talks about events
in the past and so, simple past is most appropriate.

12

"has fallen" is correct. Also, "over the past decade" is redundant, since sentence
already has "in the last ten years".

13

"has hardly increased"; "have allowed".

It should be noted that there is no such rule that all clauses need to be in the same
tense. For example, following is correct:
James has seen great poverty, but now he is very successful.
First clause is present perfect, and second is simple present.
However, in this case, we are talking about events in the same "context", and hence,
both need to be in the same tense. For example:
Though India has progressed economically, India still has highest number of people
below poverty line.

14

"if" is used for conditional statements. So, "whether" is preferable here; so, a, b is
out. Also, the intent is to depict a time frame since Mona Lisa was first painted, till
now. Hence, present perfect tense is the best usage.

15

c is concise and logically depicts the meaning.

16

We are talking about something that had remained undeveloped 'till' 1999. So, we
can't use 'have remained' as in b or remains as in c. only one in d, e change
meaning. Also, 'remains' is a subject-verb problem; should have been remain. Again,
a violation of "everything after of" is noise.

14

17

This is more of a comparison question. In all these kind of questions, it is best to

mentally re-write the complete sentence in the most logical manner. The only way
this sentence can be completed is by:
If current trends continue, by the year 2015 carbon emissions in the United States
will soar to a level more than one-third higher than the level in 1990, according to
official projections.
In other words,
If current trends continue, by the year 2015 carbon emissions in the United States
will soar to a level more than one-third higher than that (the level) in 1990, according
to official projections.
This is what choice B says.
How about other choices? There is no reason to use would in this context.
Remember would is almost always used only when we are talking about future
from a past perspective (He said that he would become a Doctor). However, the
sentence under consideration is a straight conditional statement (of the type: If it
rains, I will wear a raincoat) and hence, does not require would. So, C,E and E are
out straightaway.
How about A? A uses: were those. Notice that the level (of carbon emissions)
is getting compared. Level is singular and neither were nor those can refer to
level.
Hence, A is clearly not making a logical comparison.

18

In a construction like: If X happens, then Y will happen - is used. This is probably

since we are talking about future tense from a present tense perspective. If we are
talking about future these from past tense perspective, then would be used - "10
years ago Bob said that if insurance rates fall, people would stop buying insurance".

19

If you examine the second clause in the sentence, you see that D has no subject;
being should be avoided in GMAT; (e) uses 2 connectors ("even though" and "but")
to join independent clauses. The rule is that we need 1 and only 1 such connector.
The problem with C, D and E is that "even though" just does not "fit in". "even
though" is used to depict "despite the fact that". Some of the examples are:
Even though India lost many matches, it still reached the finals.
Even though he was injured, he still managed to walk.
So, in that sense, adding "even though" in the sentence under consideration, would
be slightly changing the meaning of the original sentence.
p.s. We know that "that" should not be preceded by a comma. In A, the comma is not
before "that", it is after the non-essential "in 1609" (remember non-essentials are
delimited by commas). So, the "core" of the sentence is:
Galileo did not invent the telescope, but on hearing that such an optical instrument
had been made, he quickly built his own device from an organ pipe and spectacle
lenses.
What are other issues with C? For one thing, just notice how fragmented C is (so

15

many commas). So, C's core would be:

Galileo, on hearing that such an optical instrument had been made, he quickly built
his own device.
At the very least, the "he" in the above sentence is wrong. on hearing that such an
optical instrument had been made" is again non-essential and so, the core sentence
would read:
Galileo he quickly built his own device.
This is clearly wrong. It should have been:
Galileo, on hearing that such an optical instrument had been made, quickly built his
own device.
20

"must be abandoned" is the best usage here.

21

Present perfect is the most appropriate usage here, since the tartans were worn in
the past and are still being worn.
How about D? For one thing, it is more idiomatic issue. "alleged to" is more
appropriate than "alleged as". Also, "having + Past Participle" ("having been worn" in
this case) is almost always used in depicting a chronology of events, where the event
depicted by "having + Past Participle" is already finished.
For example: Having prepared well for GMAT, she hopes to score well.
This suggests that her preparation for GMAT is already done and the only thing that
now remains is scoring well.
But in the context of this sentence, clearly members of the Highland clans are "still"
wearing the hereditary tartans. Hence, present perfect (as used in B) is a better
usage than "having + Past Participle".

22

standard of living has soared; unemployment and prices have also soared.

23

The events are all in the past in this sentence, and so, simple past, as in c makes
sense.

24

The intnet of the statement is to say that in the first six months of this year (past),
interest rates declined, but since then (present perfect) have remained steady. E
suitably describes this.

25

When two events happen simultaneously, we generally use the same tense for both.
We use different tenses to demonstrate that events occured at different times. In the
question above, we have the time clue "at the same time", which tells us that we
want the same tense for both of those actions. Since "flourished" is the simple past,
we need to keep using that tense for the rest of the sentence. We're comparing
flourished with flourished - when the same word would appear twice in a list, you're
allowed to omit the second occurence.
So, even though the word isn't actually there, the original reads:
"that flourished at the same time as the civilizations [flourished]..."

16

B uses "Past Perfect" (had flourished), but Past Perfect is used to establish a
chronological sequence when two events have occured in the past. For example:
Though I found my wallet, all the money had been stolen from the wallet.
In this, the two events are:
1. Wallet having been found
2. Money having been stolen
In such a case, the "earlier" of the two events (event 2 in this case) is expressed as
Past Perfect.
However, in the sentence under consideration, there is just one simple event getting
depicted:
Ancient civilization flourished at the same time as the civilizations in the Nile delta
and the river valleys of Tigris and Euphrates (flourished).
Hence, there is no need to use Past Perfect, similar to the following example:
Gavaskar scored runs at the same time as West Indies possessed most fierce fast
bowlers..
26

E cannot be correct because of 'increasing'.

How about A? "simple past" ("were found") is used only when the event occurred at a
"specific time". On the other hand, "Present perfect" (as used in B) is used for
depicting events that occurred at a "non-specific time". So, we can either say:
1. In an experiment conducted yesterday, pigeons with surgically removed olfactory
nerves were found to have increased difficulty in homing. (this event occurred at a
"specific time" - yesterday and hence, Simple Past is correctly used).
OR
2. Pigeons with surgically removed olfactory nerves have been found to have
increased difficulty in homing. (this event occurred at a "non-specific time" and
hence, Present perfect tense is used).
In the sentence under consideration, no specific time is mentioned (as to when the
experiments were conducted) and hence, Present perfect is the correct usage.
Another example: We cannot say:
Experiments found that some nano-particles travel faster than light.
The correct sentence is:
Experiments have found that some nano-particles travel faster than light.
Also, all pigeons have the "same" difficulty: Difficulty in homing. Hence, "difficulties"
would not be appropriate.
Lastly, "increasing difficulty" would actually mean that the difficulty was "increasing";
this is clearly an absurd meaning.

17

For example: Increasing prices have made it difficult for common man to sustain
livelihood. This means that prices are "in the process" of increasing (prices are still
increasing).
As opposed to this: Increased prices have made it difficult for common man to
sustain livelihood.
This means that the prices have already increased and at their current increased
level, it is difficult for common man to sustain.
In the current sentence, clearly "increased difficulties" is appropriate.
27

City officials did 'one of the two things' with dogs: 1. distributed to sanctuaries OR 2.
exterminated them (note that they cannot do 'both' these things). Hence, 'or' is the
correct usage. Hence, a, b, e are out. 'made' in d is awkward.
This is a case where the original sentence uses "and", while the correct answer uses
"or". A "rule" for Sentence correction indeed is that we are indeed supposed to
preserve the meaning of the original sentence, "unless" the meaning of the original
sentence is obviously absurd. In this case, if you look at the original sentence, a dog
cannot be "both" (which is what "and" implies) distributed to local pet sanctuaries
"and" exterminated. Hence, C fixes this meaning issue.
There are two things that have happened in the past:
(a) Wild dogs were distributed to local pet sanctuaries or exterminated by city health
officials last year
(b) Some of the wild dogs were collected as part of the city's initiative to protect local
residents from dog attacks
Now, these are both things that happened in the past. Out of these, which one
happened "earlier" in the past? Obviously (b). Hence, the event that happened in the
"past of the past" is expressed as past perfect ("..had been collected..").
Also, (a) was the event that happened at a "specific time" and is indeed expressed in
Simple past ("...were distributed.."). At some "unspecified time" before those dogs
were distributed or exterminated, those dogs "had been" ("unspecified time")
collected as part of the city's initiative to protect local residents from dog attacks.
A similar question from Official GMAT source:
Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last
year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.
A)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last
year were
B)Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last
year had been
C)Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last
year have been
D)Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have
been
E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the
earth quake had been.
The answer to this question is B. Again, one of the very prominent reasons why A is
not correct is because a building cannot be logically "both" destroyed and heavily
damaged. A building can be either destroyed "or" heavily damaged.

18

28

When the sentence then discusses why this is "always true," the appropriate tense is
present perfect, which is used for something that started in the past but is still true or
still going on today.

29

Sequence of events:
886: King Alfred occupies and fortifies London and potentially wins the loyalty of
citizens
893: Danes invade
Since 893 is in the simple past (Danes WERE), both events of 886, which is prior to
893, should be in the past perfect (HAD occupied, HAD won); so a is wrong. Also, 'it'
should refer to a single noun. Here, 'it' can refer to 'London', but that is not logical.

30

The Act is an ongoing, living document - it doesn't apply retroactively, it's always in
effect.
If we were to use the verb "had been allowed", then we'd only be speaking about
what they were allowed to do in the past. By using "are allowed", we recognize that
the Act continues to govern what people are allowed to do today.

31

The sentence does not suggest anywhere that the provision has ever been applied.
So, 'was' cannot be used, since the provision has not been applied even now.
Hence, a, b, c are out. "whereby" in d is redundant.

32

The entire sentence talks about past tense, choice should be between c and d. One
migrates 'to' somewhere. So, "migrated to" in d makes the most logical sense and
only then a description of 'how' the migration took place (over a bridge of land).

33

The original sentence is correct. "had been" is inappropriate since one single incident
in the past is being described.
Past perfect ("had been" in this case) is used when there are multiple events that
happened in the past and in such case, the event that happened "earlier in the past"
is expressed as past perfect. For example: India did not reach the finals, because it
had lost in the earlier round: Here two events occur in the past: (a) India not reaching
the finals (b) India loosing in the earlier round. Now, out of these two events, India
loosing in the earlier round happened "earlier in the past" and hence is expressed as
past perfect ("it had lost in the earlier round").
In the current sentence, there is only one event that happened in the past. Hence,
"past perfect" is not appropriate.

34

"Present perfect" is the correct usage here, since the sentence is talking about a time
from Galileo's time till now. C most precisely expresses the meaning.

35

Intentionally left blank

36

Notice that 'had' in choice e is not really used in the 'past perfect' tense, but as a past
form of 'have' (e.g. 'I had no doubt'). Also, note that 'whether' in GMAT is used when
there is some uncertainty between X and Y (whether X should be done or Y should
be done). In this case, since the investigators had no doubt, 'whether' is not the
correct usage.

19

37

'Would' should be used when a sentence talks about the future in past tense. In this
sentence 'was' at the end of the sentence suggests that the sentence is speaking in
past tense rather than the present. Also, C uses subjunctive (..an Independent panel
evaluate..), but subjunctive is not required here.

38

"to have driven" is a structure that indicates the past in an infinitive. So, "to have
driven", as used in A, indicates that Americans drove the Mustang in the past. But
the sentences is talking about a present-day phenomenon.
B: Error in Ellipses! "Few" indicates "few Americans," but the word "Americans"
appears nowhere in the sentence! At the beginning of the sentence, we get
Americans' -- the possessive, not the noun!
C: "To drive" correctly indicates "to drive (in the present)."
D uses passive: not preferred if the 'doer' of the action is present.
E: completely eliminates 'known' and hence, changes meaning.

20