GMAT Sentence Correction – 時態重要嗎？

先講結論：時態並非GMAT的重要考點，但需要有基本的時態判斷能力。

GMAT是個考邏輯的考試，不是英文語言能力測驗，所以在文法細節上不必花太多時間。

以下用幾個歷年OG出現過的題目來講述時態在GMAT考試的重要性。

1.

In a previous design, the weight of the discus used in track competition is concentrated in a metal center, but now it is lined with lead around the perimeter, thereby improving stability in flight and resulting in longer throws.

(A) In a previous design, the weight of the discus used in track competition is concentrated in a metal center, but now it is

(B) According to a previous design, the weight of the discus used in track competition was concentrated in a metal center, but now it is

(C) Once designed with its weight concentrated in a metal center, the discus used in track competition is now

(D) The discus used in track competition, once designed with its weight concentrated in a metal center, but now

(E) The discus used in track competition was once designed having its weight concentrated in a metal center and now

題目開頭提到 “previous design”，明顯代表過去式，排除(A)選項。雖然GMAT不太考時態，但這種基本錯誤還是需要注意。(E)選項“…and now”，now代表現在，而選項前面唯一的動詞是“..was once…”，應該在前面加上…is now…才正確。

所以，GMAT不是不考時態，但不太會考很難判斷的時態問題。

（本題正確答案為C）

下面這題可以說明GMAT考試重點不在時態上：

A wildlife expert predicts that the reintroduction of the caribou into northern Minnesota would fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than one wolf for every 39 square miles.

(A) would fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more numerous than

(B) would fail provided the density of the timber wolf population in that region is more than

(C) should fail if the timber wolf density in that region was greater than

(D) will fail if the density of the timber wolf population in that region is greater than

(E) will fail if the timber wolf density in that region were more numerous than

哇，勾起我們高中最討厭的假設語氣的文法地獄回憶，必須要在 would 和 will、甚至 should 中間做判斷。

但事實上，GMAT並不想考這種細微的文法。這題的核心觀念應該是density of population屬於程度，程度並無法用數字來衡量，所以 more 和 numerous 的答案全錯，必須使用 greater 來做比較。而 timber wolf density 則會產生歧意，會讓人誤以為是指 timber wolf 的”重量密度”，而不是合理的句意所指的 “數量密度” (density of population)。

所以答案只有 (D) 可選。

再來看一題：

Despite the growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will still use travel agents.

(A) growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will

(B) growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would

(C) growing number of people purchasing plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared to automatic teller machines, many travelers will

(D) fact that the number of people purchasing plane tickets online is growing, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers as compared toautomatic teller machines, that many travelers would

(E) fact that the number of people who purchase plane tickets online are growing, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers compared with automatic teller machines, many travelers would

我們先快速刪掉due to the fact that這種非常囉嗦的用法 (當然還是有風險，不過這題前面的選項問題也比較少沒錯)

，然後 prefer A to B 而不需要 as compared，我們只剩 (A) 和 (B) 可選。這時最明顯的差異，是馬上看到 will 和 would。但，這真的是好解的點嗎? 個人覺得當然不是。GMAT 不會單純考 will 和 would 差異，必定有更明顯的考點。

仔細再看一下，發現“just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines”這句話應該要放在 convinced that 後面 ((A) 選項)，還是 convinced, 之後 that 之前 ((B) 選項)，這才是我們該注意的考點。

(A) growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced that, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, many travelers will

選項放在 convinced that 之後，convinced that 之後起了一個新的句子，所以比較對象為:

“just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines” VS “many travelers will still use travel agents”

(B) growing number of people who purchase plane tickets online, airline executives are convinced, just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines, that many travelers would

選項放在 convinced之後 that 之前，代表在起新子句之前，這句話就必須和前面的句子做對比 “just as one-third of bank customers still prefer human tellers to automatic teller machines” VS “airline executives are convinced”

而很明顯的，這題的比較句子應該是 (A): 就像 1/3 的銀行客戶還是偏好銀行櫃員而不是 ATM，所以旅行者還是會用旅行社。

這樣的句意才是正確的。

拿這兩題當例子，來讓同學明白，基本的時態能力要有，但是細微或過度複雜的時態，則不會是 GMAT 核心考點，不需去鑽研。

(附上時態迷因讓大家笑一下)