Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
JAI HIND wrote:
While all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominating industries and regulatory environment of the states obviously determines the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal.
(A) all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominating industries and regulatory environment of the states obviously determines
(B) each state faces a similar industrial waste problem, their predominant industries and regulatory environment obviously determine
(C) all states face a similar industrial waste problem: their predominating industries and regulatory environment obviously determines
(D) each state faces similar industrial waste problems, the predominant industries and regulatory environment of each state obviously determines
(E) all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning of this sentence is key to solving the question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that all states face similar industrial waste problems, but the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal.
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Grammatical Constructions + Pronouns• Commas are used to join dependent clauses to independent clauses, and colons are used to join two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.
A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines".
B: This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error, as the plural pronoun "their" lacks a clear and logical referent. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "each state faces a similar industrial waste problem"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that there is
one similar industrial waste problem that all states face; the intended meaning is that all states face
multiple, similar industrial waste problems.
C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "their predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines". Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "all states face a similar industrial waste problem"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that there is
one similar industrial waste problem that all states face; the intended meaning is that all states face
multiple, similar industrial waste problems. Additionally, Option C incorrectly uses a colon to join the dependent clause "While all states face a similar industrial waste problem" to the independent clause "their predominating industries and regulatory environment obviously determines the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal"; remember, commas are used to join dependent clauses to independent clauses, and colons are used to join two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines".
E: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominant industries and the regulatory environment" with the plural verb "determine". Further, Option E uses the clause "all states face similar industrial waste problems", conveying the intended meaning - that all states face
multiple, similar industrial waste problems. Additionally, Option E correctly uses a comma to join the dependent clause "While all states face similar industrial waste problems" to the independent clause "the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal". Besides, Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Options B and C, as it uses no pronouns.
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the use of punctuations on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~9 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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