In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different "flavors" of subatomic particles called quarks,most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.


most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display
most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying
mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying
mostly at least as small as the electron, which display
most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying

Also explain what "them" is referring to in some options.
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Since physicists is the subject of the previous clause,cant "them" refer it physicists.
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Hi all,

In the last few decades, physicists have identified the existence of different "flavors" of subatomic particles called quarks, most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display a property known as color charge.

Error Analysis: 1. This sentence uses the incorrect idiom “as small or smaller than” which is actually the mix of two degrees of comparison. This is incorrect. We must one correct idiom to convey the intended meaning.
2. Understanding the sentence structure is very important here. Note that “which display…” is meant to modify “quarks”. However, “which” is closer to “electron” than to “quarks”. Hence, there is an ambiguity in the reference of “which”. Also “display” does not agree in number with “electron” if “which” has to refer to “electron”.

POE:
A) most of them as small or smaller than the electron, which display: Incorrect for the reasons stated above.

B) most of them as small or smaller than the electron and displaying: Incorrect. The idiom error persists.

C) mostly as small or smaller than the electron, displaying: Incorrect. The idiom error persists.

D) mostly at least as small as the electron, which display: Incorrect. “which” is closer to “electron” and hence refer to “electron”. However, “the verb “display” does not agree in number with “electron”.

E) most of them at least as small as the electron, displaying: Correct. Notice that the modifier “most of them at least as small as the electron” is placed between two commas that make this information non-essential for the sentence. In this case, “displaying” correctly modifies “quarks”. If we remove the non-essential information for the sentence, the comma before “displaying” will also be removed. Here, we do not have the case of comma + verb-ing that is modifying the preceding clause.

This sentence is like the following GMAT Prep question the correct answer of which is C:
In the past several years, astronomers have detected more than 80 massive planets, most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circleother stars.
A. most of them as large or larger than Jupiter, which circle
B. most of them as large or larger than Jupiter and circling
C. most of them at least as large as Jupiter, circling
D. mostly at least as large as Jupiter, which circle
E. mostly as large or larger than Jupiter, circling

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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