Why does MGMAT test punctuation?

[aliensoybean]

I noticed a couple of punctuation questions on the verbal CAT....thought GMAT doesn't test this?

[RonPurewal]

why don't you post one or two of them, so that we could comment more specifically?

thanks.

[Guest]

During the past decade, the labor market in France has not been operating according to free market principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers.
a. principles, but instead stifling functioning through its various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers
b.principles, instead it has been functioning in a stifled manner as a result of various government regulations that restrict the hiring and firing of workers
c. principles, rather functioning despite being stifled as a result of government regulations that variously restrict worker hiring and firing
d. principles; the hiring and firing of workers is restricted there by various government regulations, its functioning being stifled
e. principles; instead, its functioning has been stifled by various government regulations restricting the hiring and firing of workers


MGMAT explanation:
(E) CORRECT. This answer choice correctly uses the semicolon to connect two independent but closely related clauses. In addition, the pronoun "its" clearly and unambiguously refers to the "labor market."

[StaceyKoprince]

The official test does not test all punctuation, but it does test some - for example, semi-colons and colons.