A 9 min read

How does GMAC use this strategy: Conjunctions connect two or more parts of the sentence and establish certain relationship between/among these parts. Thus, conjunctions are connectors. Each conjunction/connector establishes a certain relationship.  Thus, if we change the conjunction/connector, the relationship expressed may change, thereby changing the meaning of the sentence.

In the table below some of the commonly used connectors are presented.  This is not an exhaustive list, but just a representative one.

Conjunction/Connector	What relationship does it establish?
And	The parts connected are independent
Along with	The parts connected are linked or dependent
So that	The parts connected are linked or dependent through a purpose
Or	The parts connected are independent.  However, its different from “and” since it presents a sense of “either..or”.
Because, since, as	Present causal relationship

Let’s take a few examples:

• 

Per this sentence, Tom loves to eat two things – sandwich and cheese.  Now let’s check this sentence below.

• 

Now per this sentence, Tom loves to eat sandwich along with cheese.

Thus, if we compare the two sentences we get the difference in the implied meaning.  In sentence 1, when the two entities “sandwich and cheese” were combined using “and”, we got the sense of two independent entities that Tom loves to eat.  However, in sentence 2, by using “along with”, now we do not consider sandwich and cheese as two separated entities.  They are somehow connected with each other – in this case obviously, cheese is used in the sandwich.

But notice how both meanings are absolutely logical.  This is exactly how GMAT may introduce a difference in meaning.

• 

Per this sentence, Amy does two things.  She eats balanced diet and she does regular workouts.  Pretty logical meaning!!

• 

Now per this sentence, Amy only does one of the two things.  She either eats balanced diet.  Or she does regular workouts.  This is also logical.  (From personal experience I can tell that there are times when I only do one or the other.  But yes, I know doing both is what makes the difference!!)

• 

Now per this sentence, Amy does one action – eats balanced diet – so that she can do the other action effectively – workout.  This is also logical. (From personal experience, I can vouch for this as well.  When I eat in balanced proportions, I feel energized and I can do better workouts!!)

So as you can see, all three sentences above are logical but all three communicate different meanings and this happened because of change in the connectors/conjunctions.  This is exactly how GMAT may introduce a difference in meaning.

Now, let’s take an official question:

Nearly two tons of nuclear-reactor fuel have already been put into orbit around the Earth, and the chances of a collision involving such material increase greatly as the amount of both space debris and satellites continue to rise.

1. as the amount of both space debris and satellites continue to rise
2. as the rise continues in both the amount of satellites and space debris
3. as the amount of space debris and the number of satellites continue to rise
4. with the continually increasing amount of space debris and the number of satellites
5. with the amount of space debris continuing to increase along with the number of satellites

Intended meaning from Choice A (and Correct Choice C): The intended meaning of the sentence from choice A can be inferred as follows:

• Nearly two tons of nuclear-reactor fuel have been put into orbit around the Earth.
• The chances of collision involving such material increase greatly as two things continue to increase
  • the amount of space debris
    • and
    • the number of satellites

Grammatically Correct but Incorrect choice (E) – Notice how in choice E the test makers have changed the connector of the two things.  Now the connection is made with “along with”.  This now implies that there is a relationship between the “increase in number of satellites” and “rise in amount of space debris”.  It implies that amount of space debris increases as the number of satellites increase.  Although perfectly logical, this is not what choice A implied.  And hence this choice is incorrect.

The largest trade-book publisher in the US has announced the creation of a new digital imprint division, under which it will publish about 20 purely digital works to be sold online as either electronic books or downloadable copies that can be printed upon purchase.

1. works to be sold online as either electronic books or
2. works to sell them online, either as electronic books or
3. works and it will sell them online as either electronic books or as
4. works, and selling them online as either electronic books or as
5. works, and it will sell them online as either electronic books or

Intended meaning from Choice A:  Per choice A, the publisher will publish these works with the purpose of having them sold online.  Note clearly that this choice does not indicate who will sell the works.  It only indicates that online selling is the purpose of taking on this project.

Grammatically Correct but Incorrect choice (E) – This choice communicates the sense that publisher will publish these works and will sell them online.  Notice how that the purpose of embarking on that project is no longer communicated.  By using “and”, the sentence simply presents the two as independent facts rather than as purpose relationship.  Furthermore, this choice adds the information that the publisher will be selling the books online.  This information is not presented in the original sentence.

So notice how by simply changing the way the two entities are connected, meaning can be drastically changed.  This is why it is of utmost importance that one reads and understands the meaning of the original sentence.

1. Understand the logical meaning of the original choice.
   1. Note what ideas have been communicated
   2. Note how the ideas have been connected.
   3. Look for the answer choice that best communicates the same meaning in un-ambiguous and grammatically correct manner.
   4. Ignore choices that may be grammatically correct but change the meaning.  A seemingly correct grammatical choice may also communicate an illogical meaning.

The possibilities opened by the recent federal court decision are frightening because now a radical pro-business secretary, in principle, can bypass the clinical trial system and also the F.D.A. approval process in order that he brings a drug faster to the market.

1. bypass the clinical trial system and also the F.D.A. approval process in order that he brings a drug faster to the market
2. bypass the clinical trial system or the F.D.A. approval process in order to bring a drug faster to market
3. bring a drug faster to the market along with the F.D.A. approval process by bypassing the clinical trial system
4. bypass the clinical trial system and the F.D.A. approval process to bring a drug faster to the market
5. bypasses the clinical trial system and the F.D.A. approval process, bringing a drug faster to the market

Understand the Meaning of the Original Sentence

The author implies that the possibilities per the recent court decision are frightening.  This is because now a radical person of authority in medical system can bypass two gates – the clinical trial system and the FDA approval process with an intention to bring a drug faster to the market.

Find the Errors in the Original Sentence

1. The possibilities opened by the recent federal court decision are frightening
2. because now a radical pro-business secretary, in principle, can bypass the clinical trial system and also the F.D.A. approval process in order that he brings a drug faster to the market.

The sentence structure is as shown above.  The SV pairs for both clauses are accounted for and agree in number.  The pronoun “he” correctly refers to the radical pro-business secretary. The verb – can bypass – is written in correct verb tense to indicate the capability that the secretary will have after the new court decision.  The use of “also” is redundant.  The list of two things that can be bypassed is already connected using “and”.  Also, the intention is expressed using “in order to” or “to verb”.  “in order that” is not the correct idiom to express the intention.

Review Answer choices to do POE

Choice B – Use of “or” changes the intended meaning of the sentence.  Now it appears as though the secretary will have the capability to bypass only one or the other and not both.  So per this sentence, the secretary has less capability than per the original sentence (per which he could bypass both systems).  Note that “in order to” is perfectly fine.  Yes “to verb” is more precise but this choice is not incorrect because of use of “in order to”.  It is incorrect because it changes the intended meaning.

Choice C – This choice completely distorts the meaning of the sentence.  Note that per the original sentence, the secretary had the option of bypassing the two systems. Using this capability he could have taken the drug faster to market.  Per this sentence it appears as though the court decision will explicitly allow the secretary to bring a drug faster to the market.    Furthermore, now this choice implies that secretary can bring drug faster to market along with the FDA approval process.  This is non-sensical.   The purpose of “along with the FDA approval process” is no longer clear.  Is the secretary going to also bring the FDA approval process faster to the market?   In any case, the way “along with” has been used, distorts the significance of FDA approval process.

Choice D – Correct choice.

Choice E – Subject-verb do not agree in number.  “Can bypasses” is incorrect.  Also, ‘bringing a drug…” now shows a consequence instead of an intention.  Even though logically and grammatically correct, it does not communicate the intended “intention” of the secretary to bypass the two systems.

Takeaways

1. Understand the meaning of the original sentence.  Note the relationships among each part of the sentence – both from a grammatical standpoint and a logical standpoint.
2. Make sure that these relationships are maintained in the correct choice as well.
3. Focus on the entire sentence and not just the underlined portion of the sentence.   For example, in choice E, can is in the non-underlined portion, so if one does not pay attention to that, one may not be able to catch – bypasses – error.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Finland requires that all teachers have master’s degree and funds the same to ensure that its teachers impart high quality of teaching.

1. degree and funds the same to ensure
2. degree, funds the same, and ensures
3. degree and fund the same to ensure
4. degree, funds the same, ensuring
5. degree, funding the same to ensure

Meaning Analysis

The sentence presents two facts about an organization in Finland – Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  This organization does two things with an aim to ensure that its teachers impart high quality of teaching.

1. It requires that all teachers have masters’ degree
2. It funds the same – i.e. it funds the masters’ degree education of teachers.
3. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Finland requires
   1. that all teachers have master’s degree
   2. and funds the same to ensure that its teachers impart high quality of teaching.

Error Analysis

In this sentence the two verbs – requires and funds – make sense and agree in number with the subject – organization.  Per the context of the modifier “to ensure that its teachers…” it is clear that it provides the purpose of both the actions of the organization.   This sentence is correct as is.

Answer Choice Analysis

Choice B – This choice no longer provides the purpose of the actions.   By changing “to ensure” to “and ensures”, the sentence implies that the organization somehow (probably with some other measures) ensures that its teachers impart high quality of teachers.  This is not the intended meaning of the sentence.

Choice C – This choice is also grammatically correct but it changes the intended meaning of the sentence.  Per this choice, the organization requires two things from the teachers.

1. Teachers have master’s degree
2. Teachers fund the master’s degree

This is clearly not the intended meaning.  Per the intended meaning, the organization requires that teachers have master’s degree and in fact the organization itself funds the same (obviously for the teachers who do not have master’s degree).  The organization implements this requirement and funds the education with a single aim – high quality of teaching.

Choice D – This choice does not use correct punctuation to connect the two verbs – requires and funds.

Choice E – Use of “funding the same…” is incorrect here.  Neither of the two interpretations of the verb-ing modifier is correct:

1. Organization requires that teachers have master’s degree – this results in the organization funding the education. –Illogical.
2. Organization requires that teachers have master’s degree by funding the same.  – Illogical
3. Understand the meaning of the original sentence.  Note the relationships among each part of the sentence – both from grammatical standpoint and from logical standpoint.
4. Make sure that these relationships are maintained in the correct choice as well.

Here’s a list of the articles in the complete series:

1. 5 Strategies that GMAT uses to distort meaning – Part 1 – Modifiers (Update 2018)
2. GMAT and Meaning – Part 2: Strategy 2 – Use of Modifiers
3. GMAT and Meaning – Part 3: Strategy 3 – Change of Conjunctions
4. GMAT and Meaning – Part 4: Strategy 4 – Change of Voice
5. GMAT and Meaning – Part 5 – Change/Remove Words that provide Context

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