Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
seekmba wrote:
As business grows more complex, students majoring in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming increasingly successful in the job market.
(A) majoring in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming increasingly
(B) who major in such specialized areas as finance and marketing are becoming more and more
(C) who majored in specialized areas such as those of finance and marketing are being increasingly
(D) who major in specialized areas like those of finance and marketing have been becoming more and more
(E) having majored in such specialized areas as finance and marketing are being increasingly
Concepts tested here: Verb Forms + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• The simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature.
• The present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present.
• Habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense.
• The simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past.
• “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
• “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect continuous tense verb "have been becoming" to refer to an action that is currently ongoing and continuous in nature; please remember, the simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature, and the present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "majoring" in this sentence) to refer to a habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense. Additionally, Option A incorrectly uses "like" to present examples - "finance" and "marketing"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples. Besides, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "those of finance and marketing", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the simple present tense verb "major" to refer to habitual action. Further, Option B correctly uses the simple present continuous tense verb "are becoming" to refer to an action that is currently ongoing and continuous in nature. Additionally, Option B correctly uses "such as" to present examples - "finance" and "marketing". Besides, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses the simple past tense verb "majored" to refer to a habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense, and the simple past tense is used to refer to events that concluded in the past. Further, Option C uses the needlessly wordy phrase "those of finance and marketing", leading to awkwardness and redundancy. Moreover, Option C incorrectly uses the word "being", leading to further awkwardness and redundancy; remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect continuous tense verb "have been becoming" to refer to an action that is currently ongoing and continuous in nature; please remember, the simple present continuous tense is used to refer to actions that are currently ongoing and continuous in nature, and the present perfect continuous tense (marked by "has/have been") is the correct tense to refer to actions that started in past and continue into the present. Further, Option D incorrectly uses "like" to present examples - "finance" and "marketing"; please remember, “like” is used for comparing nouns, “as” is used for comparing actions/clauses, and “such as” is used for giving examples. Additionally, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase "those of finance and marketing", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E: This answer choice incorrectly uses the past participle phrase "having majored" to refer to a habitual action; please remember, habitual actions are best conveyed through the simple present tense. Further, Option E incorrectly uses the word "being", leading to awkwardness and redundancy; remember, “being” is only to be used when it is part of a noun phrase or represents the passive continuous verb tense; the use of passive continuous must be justified in the context.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Simple Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Simple Continuous Tenses" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
To understand the concept of "Present Perfect Continuous Tense" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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