Let us consider this Question for the Official Guide:
While all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominating industries and the regulatory environment of the states obviously determines the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal.
A. all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominating industries and the regulatory environment of the states obviously determines
B. each state faces a similar industrial waste problem, their predominant industries and regulatory environment obviously determine
C. all states face a similar industrial waste problem; their predominating industries and regulatory environment obviously determines
D. each state faces similar industrial waste problem, the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determines
E. all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine
Just to remind you again, here is out framework
- Identify
- Read
- Reflect and Write
- Organize and Solve
1. Let us start by following our algorithm. The first step is to IDENTIFY the type of the problem
Identified the Problem as SC. Next.
2. The second step asks us to READ the problem
Reading the problem simply means glancing through the problem and keeping in mind what information has been given to us and what information has been asked.
In the case of SC, while reading keep in mind the first two and the last two words of the underlined portion. Usually these are the words which give you a split in the answer choices.
Some words serve as the differentiators themselves. For example, if you see the word “and”, you can focus your attention towards parallelism. Similarly you can find out if there is something going on with the subject verb agreement with the help of “determine/determines” in this case. Keep in mind that there’s always one difference at the beginning or end of each answer choice.
It is often hard to find out a starting point on the SC. So, if you read a sentence by focusing on some words. This will surely give you some leads to progress further in your pursuit of solving the problem. It will help you to focus your attention on a particular issue and will quickly point you towards the issue at hand. In this way, you can avoid re reading the complete sentence and avoid wasting precious time on the GMAT.
Now, in this particular problem, what did you notice?
- Starting of the underlined part: all states/ each state
- Ending of the underlined part: obviously determines / obviously determines
We know that this problem is testing subject verb agreement, and we have to find the option choice that correctly matches the number of the subject with the verb.
3. Here we will club the next two steps: REFLECT and WRITE
This is where you decide on how to solve the problem, which information given to you is relevant and what do you need to solve this problem.
From the previous step, we have found that the problem deals with Subject Verb agreement.
No we Reflect back on our knowledge of Subject Verb agreement.
- Singular subject needs a singular verb
- Plural subject needs a plural verb
The write part in SC is optional and totally depends on the individual. If you wish, you can write S&V on your scratch pad, it will help you to focus your mind on the type of error at hand.
4. At this point, again we will club the next two steps: ORGANIZE and SOLVE
This is the step, where you start striking off the wring answers on the basis of the information which you have recollected during the reflect process and solve the problem.
We need to apply our knowledge on the S&V to the problem in from of us.
We have a compound subject “the predominating industries and the regulatory environment”, that is joined with an “and” hence is makes the subject plural. Do you know that a subject can be made plural only if we use and between two things. Any other word does not make the subject plural.
Example:
- Jack and Jill is plural
- Jack or Jill, Either Jack or Jill, Neither Jack nor Jill, are all Singular.
After this, through the Organize step, we can easily say that the verb has to be plural.
This will bring us to the next step, Solve and help us strike off all the answers that contain a singular verb and we are left with the following options.
- each state faces a similar industrial waste problem, their predominant industries and regulatory environment obviously determine
- all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine
That was good! We are left only with two options and are quiet close to find out the correct answer.
At this point, we need to go back and find out any other issue that will help us to get the correct option.
Going back to the Reflect step, we know that a singular pronoun is used for a singular noun and a plural pronoun is used for a plural noun.
Looking at the answer choices, we know that “Each state” is a singular noun, hence would need a singular pronoun and “All states” is a plural noun and would need a plural pronoun.
This knowledge helps us to strike off (Solve) the remaining incorrect option and we are left with the correct option, option E.
You should have noticed that, on SC, we need to go back and forth between the steps. Every time you Read and get a clue, you Reflect and cross off some answers (Solve!), but then we need to go back and start all over again.
Key Takeaways for Every Problem You Will Ever Do:
(1) First, see whether a quick read can give you an early idea of one topic the sentence may be testing. Read the word right before the underline and at the first and the last words of the underline. Found some problem with the first sentence?
(2) If so, Reflect briefly on what is or might be happening, Read the original sentence, Write down any important markers. When you’ve found a starting point, Reflect again to decide what to do with this piece of information and Organize your thoughts to solve the problem.
(3) Once you find an error, cross off that choice and any others that repeat the same error. While doing this, keep an eye for clues that can help you find the next starting point. After a few rounds, you will be able to boil down to once answer choice and be able to solve the question. If not, pick up your favorite and move on. J