Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that st

Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

A. that still has a sizable wolf population, and where --- Parallelisms error: we can not place that clause parallel to where clause.
B. that still has a sizable wolf population, where --- where (relative pronoun) is modifying the population.
C. that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where -- same error as in A.
D. where the population of wolves is still sizable; --- separation of ideas by semicolon doesn't go well in this option.
E. where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where --- Though "where there" sounds awkward, E presents perfect parallelism and keeps ideas properly connected.

Therefore, E is Right.

Note: verb "has" in choice A, B and C is fine; it agrees with "the only one".
... the only one of the factors that ...(use singular verb)...
... (only) one of the factors that ... (use plural verb)...

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where the wolf remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

Concepts tested here: Parallelism + Meaning + Modifiers + Pronouns + Grammatical Construction

• Any elements linked by a conjunction (“and” in this sentence) must be parallel.
• Semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one; comma cannot be used to join two independent clauses.
• “where” is only to refer to a physical location.

A: Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “that still has a sizable wolf population” and “where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”; please remember that any elements linked by a conjunction (“and” in this sentence) must be parallel. Further, Option A incorrectly uses the “comma + conjunction (“and” in this sentence)” construction to join the independent clause “Minnesota is the only…population” and the dependent clause “where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one.

B: This answer choice incorrectly and illogically uses the pronoun “where” to refer to the noun “wolf population”; please remember, “where” is only used to refer to a physical location.

C: Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “that still has a sizable population of wolves” and “where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”; please remember that any elements linked by a conjunction (“and” in this sentence) must be parallel. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the “comma + conjunction (“and” in this sentence)” construction to join the independent clause “Minnesota is the only…wolves” and the dependent clause “where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”; remember, semicolons and the “comma + conjunction” construction are used to link two independent clauses; commas are used to link an independent clause with a dependent one.

D: Trap. This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence by using a semicolon to join the independent clauses “Minnesota is the only...still sizable” and “this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”; the use of the semicolon incorrectly implies that the wolf remaining the archenemy of cattle and sheep is a fact separate from the fact that Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states where there is still a sizable wolf population; the intended meaning of the sentence is that Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where the wolf remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

E: Correct. This answer choice maintains parallelism between the phrases “where there is still a sizable population of wolves” and “where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep”. Further, Option D correctly uses the pronoun “where” to refer to the noun “one of the contiguous forty-eight states”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where the wolf remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Punctuations" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~9 minutes):



All the best!
Experts' Global Team

E is the correct answer.

In A and B, this predator has no referent. It is meant to refer to wolves but the population, not the wolves are mentioned.
C uses "that" instead of "where" when referring to Minesotta. Where is used for physical locations.
In D the meaning is obscured. "Population of wolves is still sizable" can mean that it is still possible to obtain the size of the population. The intended meaning is that the number of wolves in the population is still a decently large size. i.e. sizable.

E corrects the above errors and maintains parallel structure.

Choice D woefully misses the conjunction that bridges Minnesota with the un-underlined part of the sentence, resulting in a debate as to what purpose the second part serves after separated from the main part, by a semicolon.

In B, doesn’t the pronoun where, by virtue of its placement, modify population, which is wrong?

Though wordy, by using where for both the parts of the sentence and also by employing the more customary population of wolves rather than the odd wolf population, E seems to stand out IMO

Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

A. that still has a sizable wolf population, and where - "contiguous 48 states" is plural and being the subject of the "that" clause, needs the plural verb "have" and not "has". "that" ||"where"

B. that still has a sizable wolf population, where - "contiguous 48 states" is plural and being the subject of the "that" clause, needs the plural verb "have" and not "has". "Population" is not a place

C. that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where - "contiguous 48 states" is plural and being the subject of the "that" clause, needs the plural verb "have" and not "has". "that" ||"where"

D. where the population of wolves is still sizable; - "where" correctly refers back to a place". But the "population of the wolves" and "predator" wolves "being an archenemy of cattle and sheep" are 2 related ideas which can best be presented by a conjunction "and" and not by a semi colon clause. The purpose of the part remains ambiguous because of this.

E. where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where Correct

as we are talking about 48 states so it should be "have".. A, B , C are wrong.
Down to D and E
Use of semicolon is wrong. E conveys the meaning properly

You are right about the answer being E

But "have" would not be the correct modal here.
We are NOT talking about the 48 states. Notice the definite article "the" and the other hint "only one"

if it says the only one of..., then it's singular.
if it says only one of... (without the), then it's plural.
in the phrase "wolf population", wolf is actually an adjective, not a noun. you can't use a pronoun to stand for an
adjective.
you can't say "such a wolf" or "this wolf" either; those constructions imply that you actually have some particular wolf
in mind.

Hi, I have a question why "Has" in A,B,C is wrong.

As it says: "Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states..." shouldn't the singular "has" be correct as it is not "only one of the ...


A clear explanation would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

THE NUMBER OF takes singular verb
A NUMBER OF takes plural verb
NOT ONE always takes singular verb (I put this here just in case)

In our sentence "Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous..." - therefore the verb should be singular
where and where - should be parallel

Two parallel clauses often both start with subordinators in order to remove ambiguity. In this instance, the subordinator must be repeated for both clauses!

Hi Experts, i have a query can we not eliminate abc on the basis of that as we always use where when addressing location?
1 more thing what is the anticident of this predator?
Thanks

Posted from my mobile device

Good question, shalabhg27. I don't think that the GMAT is particularly rigid on this. Sure, if you use the word "where", it would have to modify a place or location -- but you could use "that" to modify a location, too.

• The restaurant that serves a Polish buffet is one of Chicago's most legendary eateries.
• Someday, I want to live in a country that has a reasonable health care system.

Both of these seem completely acceptable to me, even though "that" modifies a location in each case ("restaurant" and "country", respectively). So I wouldn't say that "where" is necessary when you're modifying a place or location.




Ugh -- this part is trickier, and I don't really like what the GMAT has done here. First, you don't technically need an antecedent for "this predator", since "this predator" isn't a pronoun. But the singular/plural thing is a little bit funky: the sentence would probably be a little bit better if (E) said "these predators" (to match the word "wolves") instead of "this predator."

But to be fair, I don't think that the singular/plural issue is all that much of a crime in this case. Again, "this predator" isn't a pronoun; if "this predator" were changed to "it" in (E), then the answer choice would be inarguably wrong, since "it" can't refer to "wolves." But since "this predator" isn't a pronoun, I think the GMAT would argue that there's no ambiguity here: we still easily understand what, exactly, "this predator" is. Again, I don't love it, but I see their point.

More importantly: remember that the GMAT never asks you to identify a perfect answer choice. They're asking you to identify the best of the five options. Or the least crappy of the five options. As plenty of others have suggested, there are more severe problems with the other four answer choices -- and the little singular/plural issue in (E) is pretty minor by comparison.

Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

A. that still has a sizable wolf population, and where That is referring to States and it must have ‘have’ instead of ‘has’

B. that still has a sizable wolf population, where same as A

C. that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where same as A

D. where the population of wolves is still sizable; It is changing he meaning. As per the original sentence we must convey the meaning that those states have two things. But this sentence conveys only one things and makes the other thing as a part of Independent clause. Hence, incorrect.

E. where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where

Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states that still has a sizable wolf population, and where this predator remains the archenemy of cattle and sheep.

(A) that still has a sizable wolf population, and where
(B) that still has a sizable wolf population, where
(C) that still has a sizable population of wolves, and where
(D) where the population of wolves is still sizable;
(E) where there is still a sizable population of wolves and where

if an expert can please solidify my thinking here, that would be great:

- at first upon re-reviewing this question, i thought "where" was an error b/c there is no physical location immediately following/preceding the position "where" is in, in the sentence.

-- however, upon reading it again, i'm considering that "where" can tie back in to Minnesota. in fact, for the correct answer, both "where"s tie back to "Minnesota". correct?
> Broader take-away being the GMAT does not necessarily have to insert a location immediately before/after "where" in a sentence...there could be some words/phrases separating the two components

As a longtime Warriors fan, I cannot, in good conscience, answer any of your queries, LakerFan24.

Just kidding. The Lakers are going to be really, really fun to watch this year. And next year, once they get LeBron. And the entire NBA will be better when the Lakers are good again.

Anyway, I think that there are a couple of ways to think about this:

• All five answer choices are basically structured the same way, with the modifier (starting with either "that" or "where") following the phrase "Minnesota is the only one of the contiguous forty-eight states." So it's clearly a moot point in the eyes of the GMAT: all five answer choices are structured the same way, so you don't really have to worry about the modifier placement. (If you're concerned about "that" vs. "where", check out my post above: https://gmatclub.com/forum/minnesota-is ... l#p1838805)
• In this particular example, I think we could debate whether the modifier "where there is still a sizable population" refers to "Minnesota" or "one of the only states" (which, of course, is the same thing as saying "Minnesota"). Either way, it makes perfect sense.
• More broadly, it can be perfectly OK to stick some sort of modifier between "where" and the location/place it modifies. Example: "In 2012, I moved to Colorado, the most beautiful and drunken state in the country, where beer flows from mountain streams." Sure, "where" is a little ways from "Colorado", but it's still perfectly clear.

I hope this helps!

Hi Experts,

I was really bumped after seeing the OA of this question. In the correct answer option E, wolves are mentioned, whereas in the non-underlined portion the reference to "this predator" confused me and I directly rejected this option. This predator is singular and "wolves" is plural. Though that part is clear after reading the GMATNinja's explanation.

But I have one quick question. "that" and "where" both are relative pronouns so why they cannot be parallel? ALso, can someone elaborate why options A and C are incorrect??
Someone has mentioned : Parallelisms error: we can not place that clause parallel to where clause. Is that correct? I maybe asking a silly question but I am confused and really need to clear my confusion.

When "that" and "where" both can be used to refer to a location as GMATNinja also pointed above, then why they cannot be parallel??

daagh mikemcgarry

Thanks.
-Varun