Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
mymba99 wrote:
For the first time in the modern era, non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago.
(A) which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters only a decade ago
(B) which amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when it was nearly three-quarters
(C) and that amounts to a little less than half the population of the state, down from a decade ago, when they were nearly three-quarters
(D) amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago
(E) amounting to a little less than half the population of the state, down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California, because they amount to a little less than half the population of the state, and a decade ago, they were nearly three-quarters of the population.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Verb Forms + Pronouns + Comparison• The introduction of present participle ("verb+ing"- “amounting” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
• "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refers to the noun just before the comma.
• A comparison must always be made between similar elements.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to "California" with "which amounts...state", illogically implying that
California amounts to a little less than half the population of the state; the intended meaning is that
non-Hispanic Whites amount to a little less than half the population of the state; please remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma.
B: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "non-Hispanic Whites" with the singular pronoun "it". Further, Option B incorrectly refers to "California" with "which amounts...state", illogically implying that
California amounts to a little less than half the population of the state; the intended meaning is that
non-Hispanic Whites amount to a little less than half the population of the state; please remember, "who/whose/whom/which/where", when preceded by a comma, refer to the noun just before the comma. Additionally, Option B incorrectly compares "a little less than half the population of the state" to "a decade ago"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.
C: This answer choice suffers from pronoun ambiguity, as the pronoun "that" lacks a clear referent. Further, Option C incorrectly compares "a little less than half the population of the state" to "a decade ago"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.
D: Correct. This answer choice avoids the pronoun errors seen in Options B, C, and E, as it uses no pronouns. Further, Option D uses the phrase "amounting to a little less than half the population of the state"; the use of the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing" - "amounting" in this sentence)" construction correctly implies that
non-Hispanic Whites are officially a minority in California,
because they amount to a little less than half the population of the state; remember, the introduction of the present participle ("verb+ing"- “amounting” in this case) after comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship. Moreover, Option D uses the phrase "down from nearly three-quarters a decade ago", conveying the intended meaning - that a decade ago non-Hispanic Whites made up
a total of three-quarters of the population of the state. Additionally, Option D correctly compares "a little less than half the population of the state" with "nearly three-quarters".
E: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "non-Hispanic Whites" with the singular pronoun "it". Further, Option E alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "down from what it was a decade ago by nearly three-quarters"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that a decade ago non-Hispanic Whites made up
three-quarters more of the population of the state than they currently do; the intended meaning is that a decade ago non-Hispanic Whites made up
a total of three-quarters of the population of the state.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Comma + Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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