Rust Can Deteriorate A Steel Pipe to Such An Extent that it Will Snap Easily, As Though It Was A Twig.

Question: Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it will snap easily, as though it was a twig.

(A) will snap easily, as though it was a twig
(B) will snap easily, like a twig does
(C) will snap easily, as though it is a twig
(D) might snap easily, as though it was a twig
(E) will snap easily, as though it were a twig

“Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it will snap easily, as though it was a twig.”- is a GMAT sentence correction question. This particular GMAT sentence correction topic has been taken from the book ‘The Official Guide of GMAT Verbal Review, 2nd Edition, 2009’. This question checks verbs, nouns, and Clauses. GMAT Sentence Correction questions comprise 11-16 questions to be completed within 65 minutes. Each Sentence Correction question contains a sentence with an underlined portion that includes 0-2 errors.

Answer: E
Explanation: The following concepts are tested here:

1. Verb
2. Noun
3. Clauses

Option A: Incorrect
This option is incorrect because we have to use a subjunctive form. We can use “were” instead of “was”. Subjunctive forms are used when we are talking about events that are not likely to happen but we hope that they happen. Since this option does not use a subjunctive form, Option A is incorrect.

Option B: Incorrect
This option is incorrect because “like” can not be used to introduce the comparative clause “a twig does”. “Like” is used to compare nouns only and since it is not a noun, the word “as” should be used to describe it. So, Option B is incorrect.

Option C: Incorrect
This option is incorrect because the verb used in this option “is” is not suitable for the subjunctive mood. The appropriate verb that could be used here instead was “were”. Subjunctive forms are used when we are talking about events that are not likely to happen but we hope that they happen. So, Option C is incorrect.

Option D: Incorrect
This option is incorrect because the verb “was” is not correct for subjunctive mood. Instead of “was”, “were” is more appropriate. This option also changes the meaning of the sentence and conveys the meaning that it is possible for rust to deteriorate the pipe to the point where it might snap. So, Option D is incorrect.

Option E: Correct
This option is correct because it uses the correct subjunctive form “were”. We are using “were” because it is a hypothetical scenario. Also the use of “as though” accurately compares hypothetically the pipe and the twig. So, Option E is correct.

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