Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
Jasontuyj2012 wrote:
That educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said that it is their fault: Alvin Toffler, one of the most prominent students of the future, did not even mention microcomputers in Future Shock, published in 1970.
(A) That educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said that it is their fault
(B) That educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said to be at fault
(C) It can hardly be said that it is the fault of educators who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology
(D) It can hardly be said that educators are at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology
(E) The fact that educators are at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that educators cannot be said to be at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Pronouns + Awkwardness/Redundancy• A pronoun can only have one referent in a sentence.
A: This answer alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "that it is their fault"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that educators cannot be said to be at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology. Further, Option A uses the needlessly indirect construction "That educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "That educators have not anticipated...can hardly be said to be at fault"; the construction of this clause illogically implies that
the fact that educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology cannot be said to be at fault for
something unspecified; the intended meaning is that
educators cannot be said to be at fault for
not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology. Further, Option B uses the needlessly indirect construction "That educators have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology can hardly be said", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "it is the fault of educators who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that the
specific educators who have not anticipated the impact of microcomputer technology cannot be said to be at fault for something
unspecific; the intended meaning is that
educators, in general, cannot be said to be at fault for
not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology. Further, Option C incorrectly uses "it" as a placeholder pronoun in two places; please remember, a pronoun can only have one referent in a sentence.
D: Correct. This answer choice uses the clause "It can hardly be said that educators are at fault", conveying the intended meaning - that educators, in general, cannot be said to be at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology. Further, Option D avoids the pronoun error seen in Option C, as it only uses "it" as a placeholder pronoun in one place. Additionally, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "The fact that educators are at fault...can hardly be said"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that educators
are at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology, but this fact cannot be said; the intended meaning is that educators
are not at fault for not anticipating the impact of microcomputer technology.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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