Nuclear fusion

[bond_am]

Hi,

 

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of

atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear

reactors.

 

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting

them apart, as in nuclear reactors

(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting

them apart, like nuclear reactors

© merging the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not

split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors

(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic

reactors that split them apart.

 

 

 

 

 

Official answer is E

why not D?

[dkpbus]

Originally posted by bond_am

 

Hi,

 

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of

atoms and not splitting them apart, as in nuclear

reactors.

 

(A) merging the nuclei of atoms and not splitting

them apart, as in nuclear reactors

(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting

them apart, like nuclear reactors

© merging the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not

split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors

(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic

reactors that split them apart.

 

 

 

 

 

Official answer is E

why not D?

 

because nuclear reactor does not merges atoms, it splits them. D says that nuclear reactor mergers atoms

[ash]

Here doesn't it seem odd that nuclear fusion - a process is being compared with nuclearc reactor.........somehow it doesn't sound right to me..

[Yazynin]

?????

Does it mean that I should now that nuclear reactor does not merges atoms, but it splits them? If I do not know this fact, then I can assume that D is correct?

???

These is "special knowledge", I think...

[gmatfordays]

No, unfortunately this question does not require special knowlege.. What is compared here is what two different processes or subjects do to atoms. . Nuclear fusion and Nuclear reactors. If you take the subject, Nuclear fusion and take away the clause after it, it sounds funny, under the original sentence. Nuclear fusion, merging....

 

But if you take D or E, then you see that Nuclear fusion does x, y, and z, which is correct. E then compares what Nuclear fusion does against what Nuclear reactors do to atoms. So I would go for E.

 

I probably totally butchered how to break this apart!

 

Erin -- feel free to do some damage control if you feel that I am leading folks astray.. thx!

[800Bob]

In fact, the credited response is neither D nor E. Try again.

[soz_gmat05]

so what about C?

[800Bob]

so what about C?

That's what OG 11th Edition says (p. 709).

[Niegra]

That's what OG 11th Edition says (p. 709).

 

Bob,

OG explanation is not clear to me.

Why OG says Illogical and awkward construction attempts to make merges the second verb of restrictive clause parallel to powers and does not split; punctuation makes clear this seperate action cannot be the case?

[bhavya_sehgal]

I go for E because:

1. parallel construction that 'powers ....and merges...'

2. 'as' must always be follwed by another 'as' when comparing. E is the only choice which does that, its the best available

Do not go for logic, when rules work... they help cut on precious time

[800Bob]

Simplest way to rule out D and E is to say that you cannot have "and merges" after a comma. That's what the OG explanation means when it says "incorrectly makes merges the second verb of the restrictive clause... punctuation makes clear this separate action cannot be the case." If you want to say that nuclear fusion is the force that does two things (powers and merges), you must not put a comma before "merges":

 

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs and merges...

 

D and E have other problems as well. D: "as is done in nuclear reactions" is not as good as "as nuclear reactors do." E: "atomic reactors"? Where does this "atomic" come from?

 

What's wrong with C?

 

What's wrong with C?

[sumeet_rana]

Nuclear fusion is the force that "powers" the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs, "merging" the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do.

 

In the context.

Underlined section of sentence refers to first part. i.e. nuclear fusion powers the sun, the stars and hydrogen bombs.

Second part refers to: " nuclear fusion powers x, merging y as reactors do"

 

A Very tricky question.

 

SO C

[bragss2]

I think the choice is between C & E. Both appear to be grammmetically correct. It is just the meaning that the sence formation conveys.

C says that - Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs, (by) merging the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do.-------- defining "Nuclear fusion"

(E) says that - Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs,and (Nuclear fusion or force?) merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic reactors that split them apart.

I would personally go with C.

Could somebody confirm the OA?

Agree with Sumeet - a tricky question indeed.

[800Bob]

Could somebody confirm the OA?

According to 1000 SCs, the answer is E. According to OG 11th edition (p. 709), the answer is C. Whom would you believe?

[bhavya_sehgal]

this time, i guess rules are not working..

I was wrong, it has to be C

although E has the paralellism 'powers... and merges'

C makes better sense..

"Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the

stars, and hydrogen bombs,merging the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do"

this implies that nuclear fusion powers the 3 "by" actually merging the nuclei of atoms.. that is how the energy (or whatever, m bad at science) is generated

E states that nuclear fusion powers them and merges the nuclei of atoms.. the 2 become separate aspects

C shows continuity

[kindergartenkid]

(B) merging the nuclei of atoms instead of splitting

them apart, like nuclear reactors

© merging the nuclei of atoms rather than split-

ting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

(D) and merges the nuclei of atoms but does not

split them apart, as is done in nuclear reactors

(E) and merges the nuclei of atoms, unlike atomic

reactors that split them apart.

 

All the options have too many problems compared to C.

Here is my take

B - "do" is missing, so improper use of "like" we are comparing the actions. Also, nuclear reactors are doing what "merging....OR splitting?"

D - Again nuclear reactors are doing what "merging....OR splitting?". Why this passive construction "as is done...".

E - comparing "force..." to a "reactor...."? Also, as 800BOB said "atomic reactors?"

[WAG]

Here's my :2cents:

 

I am no master in SC, but I would say it's best practice to always filter out first by overall meaning & then get 'technical' with the remaining options.

 

In this particular case D & E just don't make sense.

[bulls-eye]

C is a better choice than E....

[score800]

IMO: C

 

In C the compariative form of "rather" suits the sentence best

 

A: Is out bcoz for comparison, conjunction "and" is used

B: "Instead" is akward here

D: is wordy

E: unlike is not the correct form of comparison and there is an illogical comparion to reactors

[parag_bhadra]

Simple rule of GMAT Land "rather then" > "and not"

[MarsAlien]

Is 1000SC screwed up?

 

I had chosen C too.

[aspirant1976]

it can be. the questions of sets and these 1000* are good but never trust the answer. look for the explanations

[cbcgter]

Simplest way to rule out D and E is to say that you cannot have "and merges" after a comma. That's what the OG explanation means when it says "incorrectly makes merges the second verb of the restrictive clause... punctuation makes clear this separate action cannot be the case." If you want to say that nuclear fusion is the force that does two things (powers and merges), you must not put a comma before "merges":

 

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs and merges...

 

D and E have other problems as well. D: "as is done in nuclear reactions" is not as good as "as nuclear reactors do." E: "atomic reactors"? Where does this "atomic" come from?

 

What's wrong with C?

 

What's wrong with C?

 

 

Hi, Bob,regarding the usage of A .... , as B do , i still have confusions.

 

In normal situation, we construct the sentence liike this:

 

A do ..., as B do.

 

However, in this sentence, the structure is :

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs, merging the nuclei of atoms rather than splitting them apart, as nuclear reactors do

 

Nuclear fusion ...., merging A rather than splitting B, as nuclear reactors do

 

In here, if the "do" refer to the "splitting", then it means the "do" can refer not only the verb but also the gerund.

 

How can this be? Thanks

[sjpre10]

Simplest way to rule out D and E is to say that you cannot have "and merges" after a comma. That's what the OG explanation means when it says "incorrectly makes merges the second verb of the restrictive clause... punctuation makes clear this separate action cannot be the case." If you want to say that nuclear fusion is the force that does two things (powers and merges), you must not put a comma before "merges":

 

Nuclear fusion is the force that powers the Sun, the stars, and hydrogen bombs and merges...

 

 

I generally get confused when a comma (,) precedes "and". Please tell me when this type of construction is allowed and when not.

Examples will be welcomed.

[vass]

Hi bond_am

 

i think you wrote the wrong OA. Its problem 104 in OG11 and the correct answer choice is C.