Great explanation by Zarrolou!
However, one aspect that I think can be added to the explanation was that options B, D and E change the intended meaning of the original sentence and therefore, can be rejected on this ground too.
First of all, what is the intended meaning of the sentence:
• Recent breakthroughs in technology have made something possible
• Which thing possible?
o that high-definition digital video cameras are able
a. to capture material with a degree of fidelity that nearly compares to 35-millimeter film
b. and to project it digitally in theaters with no resulting loss of image quality
So, the breakthroughs in technologies have made high definition camera able to do two things as mentioned above.
Now, let’s substitute option B, D and E in the original sentence and see how they change the intended meaning:
Option B:Recent breakthroughs in technology have made it possible to have high-definition digital video cameras that can capture material at a degree of fidelity almost like that with 35-millimeter film and to project it digitally in theaters with no resulting loss of image quality.
So, this sentence says that breakthroughs in technology have made it possible to
have these HD cameras. This may imply one of the following:
• Probably the breakthroughs in technology have made it possible to produce such cameras –
o these cameras probably existed before
o but were not being produced
o and the latest technologies makes it possible to produce them –
• Or the breakthroughs have made it possible to expand their reach –
o these camera were produced even before
o but with the technological breakthroughs, they are now available for everyone to buy them.
So, as we can see that the original sentence says that the technological breakthroughs
enhanced the capabilities of HD camera but this sentence talks about
possibility of possessing these cameras. Clearly, the original meaning has been
distorted in option B.
Option D:Recent breakthroughs in technology have made possible high-definition digital video cameras that can capture material at a degree of fidelity almost like 35-millimeter film and to project it digitally in theaters with no resulting loss of image quality
This sentence says that recent breakthroughs have made possible HD DV cameras that can do some stuff.
The meaning conveyed by this sentence is same as that conveyed by option
B above.
The original sentence said it is possible that HD TV cameras are able to do some stuff.
Option D says that HD TV cameras that can do some stuff are now possible.
So, the focus has shifted from
ability to
existence/production.
Option E distorts the meaning in a similar way.
So notice how subtle changes in placement and wording can have such a big impact on the meaning communicated by the sentence. So make sure that you understand the meaning communicated by each choice and ask yourself – Is this what the author wanted to communicate?- Chiranjeev
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