Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems

This is a question of misplaced modifiers. Many of the wrong answers can be eliminated by spotting the faulty modification. (E), however, is a problem of verb tense, not of modification. Let's take a close look:


a.) Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United Stated presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast.

The election did not estimate, the study did.


b.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted. ANSWER

Study is being correctly modified. The verb tense of present perfect mixed with simple past is correct.


c.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates.

Dangling modifier at the beginning. 'Citing...' must modify the study.


d.) A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election.

Here the 'in estimating' is stylistically off, as it is very far from the subject it applies to, 'a new study.' There are also some less obvious errors in verb tense. The votes cast should be in the past perfect tense, 'had not been cast' because this event happened before the counting.


e.) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast.

'Has estimated' is mixing present perfect tenses with the past perfect, 'had not been.' Either use past and past perfect or present and present perfect.

Hope that helps .
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Hi,
Usage of past perfect tense “had not been counted” is certainly incorrect here. We use past perfect tense when two events took place in the past and we need to establish the sequence, conveying which of the two actions in the past took place first.

In this sentence, there are two verbs. One is present perfect “has estimated” and the other is the pat perfect tense. Since one action has taken place very recently, we cannot say that it took place in the past. The timeline of these two events are not the same. Election took place in 2000 while the study has been conducted very recently. Hence, there is no need to show which event took place earlier as it is very evident from the sentence. Hence, use of pat perfect tense “had not been counted” is incorrect. This is certainly a deterministic error to eliminate Choice

Answering your second question, I would say that presence of “that” after estimated would have certainly made the comprehension easier. However, absence of that does not make the sentence incorrect.

Also note that coma + verb-ing modifier always modifies the entire preceding clause. But in this choice, there is no clause before “citing”. There is just a noun phrase that makes the usage of coma + citing incorrect. This is again a deterministic error to eliminate Choice E.

Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Shraddha
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B

B. Citing [faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places], a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted.

Sentence has past progressive usage and passive voice issue

A. Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast. [Sentence seems OK but has Passive voice. That is, instead of emphasizing “new study”, the sentence underscores issues – eliminate it]

B. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted.[Citing modifies new study and written in simple past – hold it]

C. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates.[Citing modifies votes caste – eliminate it]

D. A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. [Sentence has different tenses – starts with present perfect and moves to simple past and later summarizes in past progressive tense. Simple past would have been an elegant solution – eliminate it]

E. A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast. [Sentence switches from Present perfect to past progressive form – eliminate it]

Answer: B

Hi eybrj good that you have a valid point .But the reason E is not the best choice is different.

e.) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast.


In E,it implies that presidential election is doing the citing causing ambiguity
B is further well structred and the modifying phrase starting with citing correctly modifies "new study "
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a.) Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United Stated presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast. Passive voice and modifier issue.

b.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at pollingplaces, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted.

c.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates. Citing modifies voters: incorrect

d.) A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. awkward.

e.) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast.

This is how you can solve this question in 45 seconds straight-

The sentence structure would either be-
1. Something/someone cited W,X,Y,Z
2. W,X,Y,Z have been cited by something/someone

These are your only two possible constructions. Also note that W,X,Y,Z have to be parallel here.

Let's look at the question.
a)W,X,Y,Z are used correctly. However, the usage of WHICH does not refer back to the correct noun i.e a new study

b) Citing W,X,Y,Z, (SOMETHING)... ; here W,X,Y,Z have been used correctly. The -ing form at the beginning of the sentence has to refer to something, AND it does.

c) Citing W,X,Y,Z, (SOMETHING)..; -ing at the beginning do not refer to the study .

d) Votes had to be casted before the counting took place. The sentence says otherwise. Incorrect tense.

e) How the study ESTIMATED something by W,X,Y,Z. Incorrect meaning.

MEANING: There is a study that has cited X,Y, and Z problems at polling places. The study estimated that they did not count 4 million blah blah

a.) Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United Stated presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast.
It is the study that estimated and not the presidential election. OUT!

c.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates.
The position of 4 million to 6 million... is wrongly modifying polling places... OUT!

d.) A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election.
had not (PAST PERFECT) is not necessary usage.. no need to emphasize one past over another past event... OUT!

e.) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast.
same problem as D.. OUT!

b.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted.

"Citing faulty voting equipment..." modifies a new study... This is CORRECT. A new study has estimated that.... were not counted. Simple and no unnecessary PAST PERFECT TENSE usage...

Hi...About E....Can you put clause then comma and then citing.......just for an example for better understanding.

ANSWER IS B

The subject is "study"
(faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, problems at polling places, new) are adjectives that modifies study, so they should come immediately before study as a modifying phrase
since the subject "study" is singular, therefore "has" is correct.
a.) Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United Stated presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast. WRONG:- SV agreement , 'they" has no clear antecedent.

b.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at pollingplaces, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted. PERFECT .. RIGHT ANSWER

c.) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates. WRONG MODIFIER PLACEMENT

d.)A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling placesin estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. WRONG PLACEMENT OF MODIFIER, WRONG IDIOM

e.) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast. WRONG-MISMATCH TENSE

I got this right just by process of elimination but can anyone clarify the idiom estimated. I thought the idiom is either estimated at or estimated to be. These all seem to be using estimated that.

A. Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast. here which incorrectly refers to us presidential election
B. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted. correct
C. Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates. citing incorrectly modifies 4 to 6 million people
D. A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. tenses mismatch throughout the sentence
E. A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast. usage of past perfect had not been counted is incorrect

Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast.

(A) Faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places have been cited by a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, which estimated that they did not count 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast. - which incorrectly refers to election ; no antecedent for they

(B) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, a new study of the 2000 United States presidential election has estimated that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted. - Correct

(C) Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted in the 2000 United States presidential election, a new study estimates. - opening modifier citing ... incorrectly modifies 4 million ... votes

(D) A new study has cited faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places in estimating that 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes that were cast had not been counted in the 2000 United States presidential election. - incorrect usage of past perfect had

(E) A new study of the 2000 United States presidential election, citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places, has estimated 4 million to 6 million votes had not been counted of the 100 million votes cast. - tense issue similar to D

Answer B
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choice A
a+noun+comma+which clause, is normally wrong because this mean any noun can have characteristic presented by which clause . we have this pattern when main verb become attributive clause.
"they" is wrong
choice C
clearly wrong is "citing" refers to "4 millions".
choice D.
"had not been" is incorrect because we have a specific time in the past.
"that were cast" is wrong. it should be "that had been cast". this action has no specific time in the past and happen before "has estimated. past perfect CAN GO with present perfect.
choice E
"estimate 4 million" is wrong. "estimate that 4 milion..." is correct.
"of the 100 million votes" should be close to "6 millions.."
"had not been" is incorrect because "counting" show a condition which happen at the time of " has estimate". there is no past point of time for counting to precede.

IF "had done" appears in a sentence, it dose not mean that all actions presented by past simple happen after the action presented by past perfect.

the point is to identify the past point before which the action presented by past perfect finished.

in choice D, "had not counted in 2000 election" means

the 2000 election is past point before which counting finished.

this is absurd meaning.

B

Citing correctly modifies New study

has - used for past study result in present

were - used for past action simple tense

The question is based on the concept of Modifiers. The intended meaning of the sentence is that a new study has estimated something on the basis of a number of parameters such as faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots etc.

Option A contains a subordinate clause at the end of the sentence. The clause begins with the relative pronoun ‘which’. ‘Which’ refers to the noun immediately before it; in this sentence, the noun is ‘election’. But it is the study that estimated something. Since the sentence is not logical, Option A can be eliminated.

In Option C, the subject of the modifier “Citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places” is “4 million to 6 million….” as it has been placed after the comma. The subject of the modifier should be “the study”, so Option C can be eliminated.

In Option E, the modifier “citing faulty voting equipment, confusing ballots, voter error, and problems at polling places” is placed far away from the subject “A new study”. It should be placed at the beginning of the sentence to convey the intended meaning. So, Option E can also be eliminated.

The construction of the sentence in Option D is not ideal stylistically. There is also a tense error. The verb “were cast” should actually be in the past perfect tense ‘had been cast’ as it is an action that took place before the action of counting. So, Option D can also be eliminated.

In Option B, the appropriate subject (a new study) is placed after the modifier and the tense error is also taken care of by the structure of the sentence. Therefore, B is the most appropriate option.

Jayanthi Kumar.
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Hi,

In choice B] when we say
''4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes cast were not counted'' I am a bit puzzled with the stand alone usage of verb 'cast'

I was looking for - 4 million to 6 million of the 100 million votes THAT WERE cast were not counted.

Good question! Even though "cast" certainly looks like a verb here, it actually functions as a modifier. Here's a similar example:

"The party planned for tonight has been canceled."

Sure, "planned" can be a past tense verb, but in this case it's an -ed modifier describing the party.

Here, have another:

"The votes cast after midnight will not count."

The word "cast" can be a past tense verb, but in this case it's an -ed modifier describing the votes. (In case you really want to get into the weeds: "to cast" is an irregular verb -- that's why it's "cast" instead of "casted.") This is similar to what we have in choice (B).

For more on -ed modifiers, check out this article: https://gmatclub.com/forum/experts-topi ... 40280.html.
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