In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant
(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant
(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it
(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

A and B are awkward and wordy. In A and D attempt to Try is redundant and unidiomatic. Hence E is correct one.

Cheers

Organism`s is possessive it should be like organism`s NOUN

so A&B are ruled out
attempt to try to is redundant C&D left out

we are left with E now
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One Final Try.......

Hmmm........the logical referent to "it" is "organism",but its in possessive form in the sentence,so not sure whether "it" can refer to "organism" or not.

I have chosen E as the answer:

A. The use of "trying" is very confusing. This should be replaced by a word that is clearer.

B. Again, trying is confusing. The use of the pronoun "it" is confusing to me and seems repetitive if it refers back to organism.

C. Attempt and to try are redundant. The use of "such a" does not make sense in this context.

D. Again, attempt and to try are redundant.

E. Using just the word "attempt" makes the sentence clearer. Without the pronoun "it," the sentence also seems to make more sense because I'm no longer confused about what "it" is supposed to refer to.

I share the same understanding that it can not logically refer to possessive organism's. Can anyone throw some light on this ?
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~soaringAlone
~Live fast, die young and leave a marketable corpse behind !!

Hi all,

Received a PM to clarify the reference of 'it' in this sentence.

'It' in choices A & D should logically refer to 'organism's' but grammatically, this reference is not possible because 'it' is a pronoun that can only refer to a noun. However, 'organism's' is not a noun. It functions as an adjective. It modifies 'attempt'. Hence, pronoun 'it' cannot refer to 'organism's'. These two choices can be eliminated on this incorrect pronoun reference.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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if noun of doing exists, we can not use possessive +doing. we should remember this thing as mechanical grammar point.

organism's trying
is wrong

of course, if there is no noun , we have to use possesive+doing.
my learning gmat is good.

this above point of grammar is ilustrated by this og problem.

there is some cases in which, doing is correct, and noun is incorrect. the following is from gmatprep, og sourse.

Thirteen states from all regions of the country announced a plan to impose new controls on pollution from truck and bus engines in that they will jointly adopt eission limits that would be far stricter than the federal rules.
A to impose new controls on pollution from truck and bus engines in that they will jointly adopt
B to impose new controls on truck and bus engines' pollution by the joint adoption of
(C) to impose new controls on pollution from truck and bus engines by jointly adopting
D for imposing new ontrols on pollusion from truck and bus engines, and jointly adopting
E for imposing new controls on truck and bus engine pollution in the joint adoption of

in above sentence, adopting is correct, and adoption is incorrect. adopting implies that the states do "adopting" and is correct. in contrast, "adoption" implies the general action which has no doer of "adoption". this is incorrect.

possessive+noun is good because possesive shows the doer of noun. "oganism's attempt" is good. "oganism's" makes general noun "attemp" belong to the doer of "attempt.

in above sentense, I think "by/in their joint adoption" would be correct though it is wordy.

is my thinking correct?, pls comment