Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
scheol79 wrote:
Nearly two tons of nuclear-reactor fuel have already been put into orbit around the Earth, and the chances of a collision involving such material increase greatly as the amount of both space debris and satellites continue to rise.
(A) as the amount of both space debris and satellites continue to rise
(B) as the rise continues in both the amount of satellites and space debris
(C) as the amount of space debris and the number of satellites continue to rise
(D) with the continually increasing amount of space debris and the number of satellites
(E) with the amount of space debris continuing to increase along with the number of satellites
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 the chances of a collision involving nuclear reactor fuel increase greatly because the amount of space debris and the number of satellites continue to rise.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• Singular nouns joined with an "and" form a plural noun phrase.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the singular noun "amount" with the plural verb "continue". Further, Option A incorrectly refers to the countable noun "satellites" with the term "amount"; for countable nouns, the appropriate equivalent word would be "number".
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "both the amount of satellites and space debris"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the space debris,
itself, is rising; the intended meaning is that
the amount of space debris is rising. Further, Option B incorrectly refers to the countable noun "satellites" with the term "amount"; for countable nouns, the appropriate equivalent word would be "number".
C: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun phrase "the amount of space debris and the number of satellites" with the plural verb "continue"; remember, singular nouns joined with an "and" form a plural noun phrase. Further, Option C uses the phrase "as the amount of space debris and the number of satellites continue to rise", conveying the intended meaning - that the chances of a collision involving nuclear reactor fuel increase greatly
because the
amount of space debris
and the number of satellites are rising. Additionally, Option C correctly refers to the countable noun "satellites" with the term "number".
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "with the continually increasing...and the number of satellites"; the construction of this phrase illogically implies that the chances of a collision involving nuclear reactor fuel increase greatly
alongside the amount of space debris, which is continually increasing, and the number of satellites,
which is not increasing; the intended meaning is that the chances of a collision involving nuclear reactor fuel increase greatly
because the amount of space debris
and the number of satellites are rising.
E: This answer choice uses the needlessly wordy and passive construction "the amount of space debris continuing to increase along with the number of satellites", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "And" versus other conjunctions, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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