In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.

(A) In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
(B) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in assessing the problems that they face.
(C) A question that is irrelevant in assessing the problems that rural migrant workers face is whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor.
(D) In an assessment of the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
(E) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in an assessment of the problems that they face.

why can't it be C. I don't see any pronoun error
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Hi there,
Choice C - A question that is irrelevant in assessing the problems that rural migrant workers face is whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor.

This choice is incorrect because of its wordiness and awkwardness. There is no grammatical issue in this sentence as such. However, it is not very direct. Compare this portion in choice C - problems that rural migrant workers face – with this one in the correct choice D - problems faced by rural migrant workers. Undoubtedly, the latter is more precise and clear than the former.

The stylistic issue in Choice C makes it incorrect.
Hope this helps.
Shraddha
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A : Case of dangling modifier : In ASSESSING the problems.....................

Deciding to retake the GMAT , the problematic questions were posted in the forum = WHO is deciding, where's the subject without which the reader stays baffled ( Is it the questions decided to retake GMAT ); thus in A , the connection of In assessing the .................... with........... The question = Illogical/Sloppy.

To clear the maze : Deciding to retake GMAT, SKM posted the problematic questions in the forum.

Thus A is incorrect

SC is my weakest verbal element so please please please critique my answer / logic:

The problem in the original question is the use of 'they'. Who is the author referring to? I think the sentence reads that the problems are better off than the urban workers since 'faced by rural migrant workers' is a modifier of problems, making problems the subject.

I think C changes the focus of the statement. The original is looking at the welfare of 2 groups of people, C looks at a question and discusses it's irrelevance.
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The correct answer is D..... A seems tempting but comparing A and D, D is clear winner

Though a bit late, if you ask me, the problem with "they" is that we don't know what "they" refers to - if "urban working poor" or "migrant worker".

Best,
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Thank you very much for reading this post till the end! Kudos?

In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.

(A) In assessing the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
Seems okay. Table.
(B) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in assessing the problems that they face.
Incorrect comparison between one migrant worker, and a class of people, the urban working poor. In addition, "they" is vague.
(C) A question that is irrelevant in assessing the problems that rural migrant workers face is whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor.
Awkward structure. Also, slightly changes the meaning. The point isn't that the world is full of irrelevant questions about rural worker welfare, and this just so happens to be one of them. It's that this question in particular is irrelevant.
(D) In an assessment of the problems faced by rural migrant workers, the question of whether they are better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant.
Assessment changes the meaning a bit. Go for A.
(E) The question of whether the rural migrant worker is better off materially than the urban working poor is irrelevant in an assessment of the problems that they face.
Rural worker and they disagree, incorrect comparison above as in B.

Post-edit: Now I recognize the dangling modifier in A. The question isn't doing the assessing, so D it is.

I choose C over D because use of the verb form "assessing" is more concise than the noun an assessment and there C is grammatically correct. This is in accordance with the rule mentioned in mgmat SC. Having extra relative clause is the only reason for preferring D rather than C. ? Experts pls help out.
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