That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that : Sentence Correction (EA only)

swatirpr

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That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 13:33

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A

B

C

D

E

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55% (hard)

Question Stats:

58% (01:29) correct

42% (01:34) wrong

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That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

(A) that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation
(B) if the situation merits immediate action by the government
(C) whether to combat the situation is merited by immediate government action
(D) that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it
(E) whether the government should immediately combat it is merited by the situation

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lagomez

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 15:08

swatirpr wrote:

That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

a) that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation
b) if the situation merits immediate action by the government is a matter of debate
c) whether to combat the situation is merited by immediate government action
d) that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it
e) whether the government should immediately combat it is merited by the situation

answer d

the sentence after the semicolon must be a complete sentence
b: if...then clause is set up but no then part
d: is actually a complete sentence

swatirpr

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 15:46

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lagomez wrote:

swatirpr wrote:

That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

a) that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation
b) if the situation merits immediate action by the government is a matter of debate
c) whether to combat the situation is merited by immediate government action
d) that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it
e) whether the government should immediately combat it is merited by the situation

answer d

the sentence after the semicolon must be a complete sentence
b: if...then clause is set up but no then part
d: is actually a complete sentence

Yes, it was 2-3 split. I eliminated b, c, d

But struggled between A & E. Can you please explain why you chose E over A?

swatirpr

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 19:48

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lagomez wrote:

I chose d not e

Typo

, I am sorry.

I eliminated b, c, e

But struggled between A & D. Can you please explain why should chose D over A?

lagomez

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 20:15

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swatirpr wrote:

lagomez wrote:

I chose d not e

Typo

, I am sorry.

I eliminated b, c, e

But struggled between A & D. Can you please explain why should chose D over A?

a violates parallelism

in d. that pollutions harms...that the situation merits

correct

thephoenix

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 22:11

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lagomez wrote:

swatirpr wrote:

lagomez wrote:

I chose d not e

Typo

, I am sorry.

I eliminated b, c, e

But struggled between A & D. Can you please explain why should chose D over A?

a violates parallelism

in d. that pollutions harms...that the situation merits

correct

moreover is merited by looks awkward in A

StrangeWind

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Nov 2009, 23:56

The answer is D.

By the way E is incorrect because it is awkward

fall2009

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Re: That pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

27 Nov 2009, 20:30

D for me too.
"that...is...that...is" is parallel.

stringworm

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Kap SC- Pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

25 Sep 2011, 19:08

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From P. 219 of KAPLAN's "Advanced Prep for Advanced Students" 8th edition

That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

Correct answer is:
that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it

"it" could refer to "pollution," "the environment," or the clause "pollution harms the environment," or how about after the semicolon..."the situation"

How is the "it" NOT an ambiguous pronoun???

stringworm

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Re: Kap SC- Pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Sep 2011, 15:08

Ugggg, Ok so "D" is correct, but How is the "it" NOT an ambiguous pronoun???

"it" could refer to "pollution," "the environment," or the clause "pollution harms the environment," or how about after the semicolon..."the situation"

Sentences like "Dipping the spoon into the pot of simmering soup, Jean felt it slip out of her hand." are considered as having an ambiguous "it" but the one above does not???

crick20002002

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Re: Kap SC- Pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

26 Sep 2011, 18:32

+1 for D.

GMAT allows pronoun ambiguity , if the context is clear. Check out the following problem and explanation on pronoun reference by GMAT instructor. (the last one)

https://gmatclub.com/forum/sc-pronoun-error-91452.html

gautammalik

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Re: Kap SC- Pollution harms the environment [#permalink]

30 Sep 2011, 08:59

swatirpr wrote:

That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

(A) that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation
(B) if the situation merits immediate action by the government
(C) whether to combat the situation is merited by immediate government action
(D) that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it
(E) whether the government should immediately combat it is merited by the situation

We need a phrase that is the subject whose verb is "is"
Only (D) provides such a phrase.
(C) changes the meaning

loser

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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

07 Nov 2011, 10:33

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I was between B and D but went with B. Everything sounds terrible in this question.

rajeevrks27

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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

08 Dec 2011, 10:42

I think pronoun it is ambiguous..
experts comment plz...
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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

09 Dec 2011, 03:40

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D that X; that Y (active voice)

if, whether cannot stand alone as independent clause.
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kat1983

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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

23 Dec 2011, 01:34

Though initially i opted A but finally agreed with D.

S

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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

28 Apr 2016, 08:22

The answer must be option D. Parallelism & active voice construction make "D" correct.
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Bunuel

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Re: That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that [#permalink]

21 Aug 2018, 09:32

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Expert Reply

swatirpr wrote:

That pollution harms the environment is self-evident; that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation is a matter of debate.

(A) that immediate government action to combat it is merited by the situation
(B) if the situation merits immediate action by the government
(C) whether to combat the situation is merited by immediate government action
(D) that the situation merits immediate government action to combat it
(E) whether the government should immediately combat it is merited by the situation

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

First of all, you can eliminate (B) because the sentence describes alternatives and would therefore need whether rather than if. Next, (C) wrongly relocates is merited by and (E) changes the meaning of the original sentence. (C) suggests that government action, not pollution, is the problem and (E) just doesn't make sense. Finally, (A) and (D) are in many ways quite similar but the passive voice in (A) leaves (D) as the more active and clear option.
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