It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers more
than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.

(A) It is called a sea, but the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, which covers
(B) Although it is called a sea, actually the landlocked Caspian is the largest lake on Earth,which covers
(C) Though called a sea, the landlocked Caspian is actually the largest lake on Earth, covering
(D) Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian covers
(E) Despite being called a sea, the largest lake on Earth is actually the landlocked Caspian, covering


( This option D cannot find an error with it ...)

Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian covers more than four times the surface area of its closest rival in size, North America's Lake Superior.

Please let me know your thoughts.

The logic of the sentence is :
even though caspian sea is called a sea, it is actually the largest landlocked lake on earth that bla bla bla.

The sentence needs a contrast, but the answer choice A doesn't shows it.

B uses a "contrast" word but has a modifier issue. The "although" clause expects a "landlocked caspian" just after a comma but instead it gets "actually".

C correctly uses "though", implying to show contrast.

The correct way "though" is used is:
Though [clause], [Independent clause].
D incorrectly uses without using a comma. Moreover it also uses SECOND CONTRAST word "BUT" which doesn't adds to the meaning.

E is wrong in that it changes the sequence of the sentence.
It should be" Despite being called a sea, the landlocked caspian is actually the largest lake on earth".

C sounds fine.
+1C
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additionally the sentence structure of C is correct { clause modifier, complete sent/ independent clause, participial modifier}
while D has {clause/incomplete sentence, coordinating conj.(but), independent clause, independent clause}--a coordinating conjunction can only join 2 independent clauses ie complete sentences NOT a clause and a sentence as done in D {Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth}. Moreover to join to independent clauses you need comma+for/and/nor/but/or/yet/so or semicolon but ( it actually is the largest lake on Earth, the landlocked Caspian covers -----uses only a comma that is wrong.
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Hii Carcass.
I feel otherwise.
It seems that what is being called as sea is actually the largest lake on earth.
For your assistance, I am again quoting that below: Though called a sea but it actually is the largest lake on Earth.
I hope you get what I intend to mean.
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This is #49 in og13 which is problematic

A and B are wrong only because "which..." is far from "largest lake". but this is not an absolute error but inferiou error because in many gmatprep questions, "which relative clause "modifying slighly far noun appears in correct answer. e gmat has an artical talking of this point. pls search to find the artical.

there is no other errors in A and B.

is my thinking correct. ?

great reply but not clear, pls help

because "is " is state verb, "which" can modify "greatest lake on earth". This means "which" can jum over "on earth" to modify "greatest lake" and A and B is correct.

I learn gmat incorrectly which is hard.

this sentence is wrong be cause "incorrectly" dose not modify "gmat" and "which" can not jump over "gmat" to modify "gmat"

pls help. I am confused.

I think A and B is correct.
if we think that "which" modifying slightly far noun is inferior, A and B can be eliminated.

pls help

Hi thang,
I will try and give you an explanation as Ron had given about usage of which

Usage of which--Ron mgmt
nouns that are modified by prepositional phrases can still be the referent of 'which' even if they are a few words distant from it.
This usually happens when the immediately preceding noun is grammatically incompatible with the verb after "which".

For example: "The picture of my brothers, which was taken last year in Mexico, is one of my favorites."

You might object to this sentence on the grounds that 'which' might be taken to modify 'brothers'. And, in a strict sort of way, you'd be right.
But here's the catch: There's really no other reasonable way to write this sentence. You just can't get 'picture' next to the 'which' clause without creating total nonsense, or splitting the sentence into 2 smaller sentences.
plus, 'brothers' is plural, and is incompatible with 'which WAS'.
This is an interesting point, though, and subtle at that.

Marcab's example above are good as well. They can help you understand.


I learn gmat incorrectly which is hard.--WRONG
I learn Gmat, copyright of Gmac, which is hard exam--correct
I incorrectly learn gmat, which is hard--Correct

If doubts remain , do post in the forum again.
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thank you , dentobiz

the explanation of Ron is correct and concise. I write again

if you have: X of Y, which

if Y work, which refer to Y
if Y dose not work, and X work, which refer to X

I understand that if Y is eligible to be modified by "Which", "which" refers to Y regardless of X which can be eligible or not eligible to be modified by "which" . Y has priority. if Y is eligible, "which" must refer to Y
come back to the question here,

because "earth" is eligible to be modified by "which covers", this phrase refers to "earth" and this make no sense, A and B are wrong.

the e-gmat artical is different. according to this article, "which "can jump to modify the far noun if the prepositional phrase following the noun modifies that noun and can not be placed in other place. This is quite different. According to this article, "earth" can be placed in somewhere else and "which" can not jump. A and B are wrong.

so, e gmat article succefully defense why A and B are wrong. I am satisfied. but this method require us to test whether the prepotional phase following the noun can be placed in other place. this job is time consuming.

regarding the Ron' rule. to defense A and B are wrong, we have to admit that " earth" is eligible to be modified by "which" and this make no sense.
I find it hard to admit that "earth" is eligible to be modified by "which.

pls explain clearly why A and B are wrong. pls explain what method do you use, e gmat method or Ron's method.

both e gmat article and Ron' rule are correct but not enough,

I summarize as following

if we have : X of Y, which

"which" can jump to modify X if both followings are met:
- Y is not elible to be modified by "which"
- Y modifies X and can not be placed elswhere

if Y is eligible to be modified by "which", "which" modify Y

if I have

the boxes of toys, which are nice, are mine

then
"which" modifies "toys", of course.

pls confirm above thinking. Thank you