OG 12th Edition SC Question 116:
Mauritius was a British colony for almost 200 years, excepting for the domains of administration and
teaching, the English language was never really spoken on the island.
(A) excepting for
(B) except in
(C) but except in
(D) but excepting for
(E) with the exception of
Correct Answer given is (C). Correct. The two independent clauses are separated by but, and except in is an appropriate idiom.
However, as far as I know the correct idiom is 'except for'.
Please clarify.
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"except for" OR "except in"
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yourshail123
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confuse mind
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Please use 'spoiler' to hide the answers.yourshail123 wrote:OG 12th Edition SC Question 116:
Mauritius was a British colony for almost 200 years, excepting for the domains of administration and
teaching, the English language was never really spoken on the island.
(A) excepting for
(B) except in
(C) but except in
(D) but excepting for
(E) with the exception of
Correct Answer given is (C). Correct. The two independent clauses are separated by but, and except in is an appropriate idiom.
However, as far as I know the correct idiom is 'except for'.
Please clarify.
I hope you will agree with the first part that there are 2 independent and they have to be connected by a conjunction.
I went with opting for the best and 'but excepting for' is awkward and thus C.
Has there been one more option
'but except for' - I would have been confused. Experts?
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yourshail123
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yeah, 'but excepting for' is awkward.. 'but except for' should be the correct answer.. concern is why they have mentioned 'except in' as appropriate idiom??
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yourshail123
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GMATGuruNY
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When a conjunction such as but serves to connect two independent clauses, any modifier that follows but serves to modify an element in the second clause.yourshail123 wrote:OG 12th Edition SC Question 116:
Mauritius was a British colony for almost 200 years, excepting for the domains of administration and
teaching, the English language was never really spoken on the island.
(A) excepting for
(B) except in
(C) but except in
(D) but excepting for
(E) with the exception of
In the OA, in the domains of administration and teaching serves as an adverb indicating where English was SPOKEN.
WHERE was English spoken?
It was spoken only IN THE DOMAINS OF ADMINISTRATION AND TEACHING.
Here, except for would imply the following:
English was spoken FOR the domains of administration and teaching.
This meaning makes no sense.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
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ceilidh.erickson
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Idioms are tricky, and with "except" in particular, there are several idiomatic forms used in different circumstances. Here, though, we need to look to the broader meaning of the entire sentence. Try rearranging the sentence:
The English language was never really spoken on the island except for the domains of administration and teaching.
Do we speak a language FOR these domains? No, we speak a language IN the domains of administration and teaching. It has less to do with the idiom of what preposition goes with "except," and more to do with a meaning issue.
Consider:
I hate all sports, except baseball.
I do well in all subjects, except in math.
He gets along well with others, except with his boss.
The GMAT is notoriously inconsistent with the way it tests idioms. My best advice is to always think about MEANING first, then deal with any idiom issues last.
The English language was never really spoken on the island except for the domains of administration and teaching.
Do we speak a language FOR these domains? No, we speak a language IN the domains of administration and teaching. It has less to do with the idiom of what preposition goes with "except," and more to do with a meaning issue.
Consider:
I hate all sports, except baseball.
I do well in all subjects, except in math.
He gets along well with others, except with his boss.
The GMAT is notoriously inconsistent with the way it tests idioms. My best advice is to always think about MEANING first, then deal with any idiom issues last.
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
