Question

Her success was due to her ability to think strategically while overseeing day-today activities, and such an ability is rare indeed. A. and such an ability is B. and to do so is C. and to think strategically while overseeing day-to-day activities is D. and as such an approach is E. and her successful ability is

Short answer

A. and such an ability is

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Subject

The subject here is 'Her success,' which is attributed to her ability to think strategically while overseeing day-to-day activities.

Examine the Conjunction

The conjunction 'and' connects the first part of the sentence with the clause describing the rarity of such an ability. Ensuring smooth grammatical flow is crucial.

Analyze Each Option

Evaluate each answer choice:A. 'and such an ability is' — correctly extends the subject 'her ability' and logically connects with the rarity being described.B. 'and to do so is' — unclear reference; doesn't hold the sentence structure.C. 'and to think strategically while overseeing day-to-day activities is' — redundant phrase, making the sentence unnecessarily long.D. 'and as such an approach is' — introduces a term 'approach' not mentioned before.E. 'and her successful ability is' — awkward and redundant; does not maintain the flow.

Select the Best Option

Option A is the most suitable as it clearly and concisely connects with the first part of the sentence and maintains grammatical correctness.

Key concepts

Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is crucial for solving sentence correction problems in GMAT. To solve these items effectively, you need to:

• Identify the main idea: Focus on the core message the sentence is trying to convey.
• Evaluate relevance: Ensure that each part of the sentence is necessary and contributes to the overall meaning.
• Compare options: Assess all answer choices to determine which one best preserves the sentence's integrity and clarity.

In this exercise, for example, our strategic thinking helped us see that 'Option A' is the most concise and directly relates to the main idea - her ability being rare. This method can make sentence correction much less daunting.

Sentence Structure

Understanding sentence structure is essential for mastering GMAT sentence correction. Each part of the sentence has a role:

First, identify the subject. In the exercise, 'Her success' is the subject.

Second, locate the verb and its dependencies. This could be 'was due to her ability,' indicating the cause of the success.

Third, notice conjunctions like 'and.' Here, 'and' links two clauses, so whatever follows must logically connect to the initial part of the sentence.

This structure is key:

• Main Clause: Her success was due to her ability...
• Conjunction: and...
• Secondary Clause: such an ability is...

This helps avoid options that break the sentence's flow, like D and E, which introduce new elements or result in awkward phrasing.

Grammatical Correctness

Grammatical correctness is vital for GMAT sentence correction.

Firstly, ensure agreement in subjects and verbs. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. In the exercise, 'her ability' and 'is' align correctly.

Next, avoid redundant phrasing which can confuse the reader. For example, 'and to think strategically while overseeing day-to-day activities is' is unnecessarily long.

Lastly, maintain logical flow. Introducing new terms like 'approach' in option D can disrupt the sentence's continuity. We aim for clarity and cohesion, making Option A the grammatically correct choice.