Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
ISB2011 wrote:
Seismologists studying the earthquake that struck northern California in October 1989 are still investigating some of its mysteries: the unexpected power of the seismic waves, the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air, and the strange electromagnetic signals detected hours before the temblor.
(A) the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air, and the strange electromagnetic signals detected hours before the temblor
(B) the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air, and strange electromagnetic signals were detected hours before the temblor
(C) the upward thrust threw one man straight into the air, and hours before the temblor strange electromagnetic signals were detected
(D) one man was thrown straight into the air by the upward thrust, and hours before the temblor strange electromagnetic signals were detected
(E) one man who was thrown straight into the air by the upward thrust, and strange electromagnetic signals that were detected hours before the temblor
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 some of the mysteries of the earthquake are the unexpected power of the seismic waves, the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air, and the strange electromagnetic signals detected hours before the temblor.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Parallelism + Awkwardness/Redundancy• All elements in a list must be parallel.
A: Correct.1/ This answer choice uses the phrase "the upward thrust that threw one man", conveying the intended meaning - that
the upward thrust was one of the mysteries of the earthquake.
2/ Option A maintains parallelism among "the unexpected power of the seismic waves", "the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air", and "the strange electromagnetic signals detected hours before the temblor".
3/ Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
B:1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism among "the unexpected power of the seismic waves", "the upward thrust threw one man straight into the air", and "hours before the temblor strange electromagnetic signals were detected"; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel.
C:1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism among "the unexpected power of the seismic waves", "the upward thrust that threw one man straight into the air", and "strange electromagnetic signals were detected hours before the temblor"; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel.
D:1/ This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism among "the unexpected power of the seismic waves", "one man was thrown straight into the air by the upward thrust", and "hours before the temblor strange electromagnetic signals were detected"; remember, all elements in a list must be parallel.
2/ Option D uses the passive construction "one man was thrown", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "one man who was thrown straight into the air by the upward thrust"; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that
the man was one of the mysteries of the earthquake; the intended meaning is that
the upward thrust was one of the mysteries of the earthquake.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team