Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
saikarthikreddy wrote:
A 2009 study from the California State Housing Authority concluded that conversion from ownership to rental properties has often been difficult; it has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes that are relatively small and old, located in central cities.
(A) difficult; it has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes that are relatively small and old, located in central cities.
(B) difficult; it has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes that are relatively small, old, and that are located in central cities.
(C) difficult; it has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes, which are relatively small and old, and located in central cities.
(D) difficult: It has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes that are relatively small and old and located in central cities.
(E) difficult: It has been more common for some townhouses and other “attached” homes that are relatively small and old, and located in central cities.
Concepts tested here: Modifiers + Grammatical Construction + Awkwardness/Redundancy• If a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by a conjunction; the "comma + and construction" (oxford comma) is used for the last element in a list of three or more elements.
• “that” is used to provide information needed to preserve the core meaning of the sentence, and the “comma + which” construction is used to provide extra information.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses a comma to join two elements in a list - the adjective phrases "relatively small and old" and "located in central cities"; remember, if a list has only two elements, they must be joined with a conjunction.
B: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses a comma to join two elements in a list - the adjectives "small" and "old"; remember, if a list has only two elements, they must be joined with a conjunction. Further, Option B incorrectly uses the "comma + and" construction (oxford comma) to join two elements in a list - the phrases "that are relatively small, old" and "that are located in central cities"; remember, if a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by conjunction; the "comma + and construction" (oxford comma) is used for the last element in a list of three or more elements. Additionally, Option B uses the needlessly wordy construction "that are located in central cities", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
C: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the "comma + and" construction (oxford comma) to join two elements in a list - the adjective phrases "relatively small and old" and "located in central cities"; remember, if a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by conjunction; the "comma + and construction" (oxford comma) is used for the last element in a list of three or more elements. Further, Option C incorrectly uses the "comma + which" construction to refer to information that is needed to preserve the core meaning of the sentence; remember, “that” is used to provide information needed to preserve the core meaning of the sentence, and the “comma + which” construction is used to provide extra information.
D: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses conjunction ("and" in this case) to join two elements in a list - the adjective "small and old". Further, Option D correctly uses conjunction ("and" in this case) to join two other elements in a list - the adjective phrases "relatively small and old" and "located in central cities". Additionally, Option D correctly uses "that" to refer to information that is needed to preserve the core meaning of the sentence. Besides, Option D is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
E: Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses the "comma + and" construction (oxford comma) to join two elements in a list - the adjective phrases "relatively small and old" and "located in central cities"; remember, if a list contains only two elements, they must be joined by conjunction; the "comma + and construction" (oxford comma) is used for the last element in a list of three or more elements.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.Additional Note: Please note that both a semicolon and colon can be used to join the two independent clauses here since the second clause explains the first; remember, colons are used to join two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.
To understand the use of punctuations on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~10 minutes):
To understand the concept of "Which" vs "That" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~2 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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