Question

He came top in the national exams. He could well be the least clever man in the whole country. A. the least clever man B. the most clever man C. the more clever man D. more than any other the cleverest man E. the less clever man

Short answer

A. the least clever man

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Context

Analyze what is being communicated. The first statement notes that he came top in national exams, which typically means he performed very well and could imply high intelligence.

Analyze the Second Statement

The second sentence, 'He could well be the least clever man in the whole country,' suggests a contradiction, implying that despite his great performance, he might not actually be very clever.

Review Answer Choices

Check each option to see which fits best with the given context. The correct choice should reconcile the seeming contradiction.

Evaluate Each Option

A. 'the least clever man' matches the contradiction described. B. 'the most clever man' contradicts 'least clever.' C. 'the more clever man' is grammatically incorrect. D. 'more than any other the cleverest man' is both awkward and redundant. E. 'the less clever man' does not fit the extreme implied by 'the least.'

Select the Best Option

Given the evaluations, Option A correctly captures the intended ironic contrast.

Key concepts

Exam Performance Interpretation

Understanding how exam performance is interpreted can greatly impact your sentence correction on the GMAT. In this example, 'He came top in the national exams' suggests an individual performed excellently. High exam scores often correlate with high intelligence. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, external factors like exam strategies or even luck play a role. When interpreting such performance, consider a variety of factors:

• Consistency – How regularly does the individual perform well?
• Context – Are there other achievements or evidence of their cleverness outside the exams?
• Ability to apply knowledge – Is this exam performance reflected in real-life problem-solving?

Recognizing that performance is not the sole indicator of intelligence provides a deeper understanding, which helps when encountering sentences that use such figures in a nuanced or ironic way.

Context Analysis

To understand sentence corrections better, context is crucial. Here, 'He came top in the national exams' sets a context of high performance. Still, the next sentence, 'He could well be the least clever man in the whole country,' introduces a twist. This creates a contradiction between what is expected and what is explicitly stated. When analyzing context:

• Look at preceding and following sentences or clauses for clues.
• Identify contradictions, as they often indicate emphasis or irony.
• Consider the overall tone – Is the author serious, sarcastic, or ironic?

By dissecting context, you grasp not just the superficial meaning but the underlying nuances that point towards the correct answer.

Ironic Contrast Analysis

Ironic contrast is a tool often used in sentence correction questions to test your understanding of subtlety and nuance in language. In this example, 'He came top in the national exams' is contrasted with 'He could well be the least clever man,' which is ironic because one would expect high intelligence to match top performance. To analyze such contrasts:

• Identify the implicit assumptions – Here, good exam performance generally aligns with being clever.
• Notice the language that signals irony, such as 'could well be.'
• Think about the broader message – Is it to point out an exception or a broader comment on the theme?

This contrast showcases irony, revealing the underlying intricacies in meaning that go beyond a straightforward interpretation.

Grammatical Correctness

Ensuring grammatical correctness is essential in the GMAT sentence correction section. In this example, the statement needs to maintain proper grammar while conveying irony. Analyzing the answer choices for grammatical issues:

• A. 'the least clever man' – Grammatically correct and fits the ironic context.
• B. 'the most clever man' – Contradicts the irony intended.
• C. 'the more clever man' – Incorrect comparison structure.
• D. 'more than any other the cleverest man' – Grammatically awkward and redundant.
• E. 'the less clever man' – Does not fit the extreme measure implied.

Correct grammar ensures clarity and preserves the intended meaning and tone. Always remember to balance grammatical correctness with contextual comprehension to select the best answer.