GMATFIGHTER wrote:
Astronomers of the late twentieth century discovered several distant, planet-like objects orbiting the sun, which has led to heated debates over which of these objects are deserving the classification "planet."
a) which has led to heated debates over which of these objects are deserving
b) leading to heated debates over which of these objects deserve
c) which has led to heated debates over which of these objects should deserve
d) leading to heated debates over which of these objects are deserving
e) which is now leading to heated debates over which of these objects deserve
Would you guys please provide explanation for your answer choice? I really appreciate your input! OA will follow
a comma followed by "which" refers to the word directly in front of the comma but it's not correct since the discovery of the objects orbiting the sun is leading to heated debates not the sun itself.
so you can cross out (a), (c), and (e)
this leaves "are deserving" vs. "deserve". "Are deserving" is awkward construction.
also, present progressive tense describes an ongoing action that is happening at the same time the statement is written. This tense is formed by using am/is/are with the verb form ending in -ing. These debates didn't start when this statement was written but started in the past and are continuing. The debates have always been over the objects' classification.
It is better to use the simple form "deserve" in the present tense as the present tense expresses an unchanging, repeated, or reoccurring action.
(b) is the answer.