Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
kpadma wrote:
Scientists calculated that the asteroid, traveling at 46,000 miles an hour, is on an elliptical path that orbits the Sun once a year and regularly brings it back toward Earth.
(A) hour, is on an elliptical path that orbits the Sun once a year and regularly brings it
(B) hour, is orbiting the Sun once a year on an elliptical path that regularly brings it
(C) hour, once a year orbits the Sun, regularly bringing it on an elliptical path
(D) hour and orbiting the Sun once a year on an elliptical path, regularly bringing it
(E) hour, orbits the Sun on an elliptical path once a year and that regularly brings it
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of the sentence is that the asteroid orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, and this path regularly brings it back towards Earth.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Grammatical Construction• The introduction of the “present participle (“verb+ing” – “bringing” in this sentence)” directly after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
A: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “path that orbits the Sun”; the construction of this phrase illogically suggests that it is
the path that orbits the sun; the intended meaning is that
the asteroid that orbits the sun.
B: Correct. This answer choice acts upon the independent noun phrase “the asteroid” with the active verb ohrase “is orbiting” to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Further, Option B uses the phrase “path that regularly brings it", conveying the intended meaning – that
the asteroid orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, and
as a separate action, this
path regularly brings it back towards Earth.
C: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “regularly bringing it on an elliptical path”; the use of the “comma + present participle (“verb+ing” – “bringing” in this sentence)” construction incorrectly implies that the asteroid is regularly brought onto an elliptical path back towards the Earth
because the asteroid orbits the Sun; the intended meaning is that the asteroid orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, and
as a separate action this path regularly brings the asteroid back toward Earth; remember, the introduction of the “present participle (“verb+ing” – “bringing” in this sentence)” directly after a comma generally leads to a cause-effect relationship.
D: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as “traveling”, “orbiting”, and “bringing” are all participles acting as modifiers, there is no active verb to act upon the subject noun “the asteroid”.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “and that regularly brings it"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that
the act of orbiting the Sun on an elliptical path once a year brings the asteroid back toward Earth; the intended meaning is that the asteroid orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, and
this path regularly brings it back towards Earth.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Comma Plus Present Participle for Cause-Effect Relationship", you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team