Alfred Wegener, although credited with one of the greatest paradigm

MAGOOSH Official Explanation:

This is a tough question, one with few, if any, low-hanging fruit. Perhaps, the best way to eliminate is to focus on the “were responsible” vs. “are responsible.” Wegener discovered a process that holds true today, so the original sentence uses “are.” (Yes, while it is true that something has fundamental to geology as the movement of plates wouldn’t suddenly have stopped post-Wegener, the GMAT does not assume outside knowledge.)

Based on the “were” vs. “are” split, we can eliminate (C) and (E).

Other ways of getting the answer

The good news is you can still eliminate other answer choices without having to rely on the “effecting” distinction. After the “were” vs. “are” (A), (B) and (D) remain. (B) uses the slightly unidiomatic “credited for”. Notice, too, the “responsible in”. This is not quite the same as “responsible for”. The first refers to a person’s ability to be responsible while doing a certain job.

Finally, (A) creates a lot of distance between the subject (Alfred Wegener) and the verb (“had been”). This isn’t a clear, cut rule. It’s just bad manners, so to speak, as far as style is concerned, and it’s something the GMAT would most likely not do.

Answer: (D)



Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s up with “effecting?” Isn’t that wrong?

A: This question is written with only the highest GMAT scorers in mind, and they should be familiar with this distinction. Now you're going to join their ranks, so hopefully you will also be in the top!

The verb "effect" means "to bring about a change" or "to bring into existence." While it may seem that this is a mistake, this should not be the word "affecting." Here are some examples of how "effecting" can be used in a sentence:

1) MLK effected sweeping changes in the lives of African Americans.

2) By placing a young Joe Montana in the game, Bill Walsh effected one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.

The reason we need "effect" is that it isn’t quite right to say that a person is credited with one of the greatest paradigm shifts in history. There is a stronger element of bring into being or creation.

Q: In answer choice D, why is there a comma before “that?” I thought we needed to use a comma before the word “which,” but not before “that.” Isn't this wrong?

A: When we're using "that" as a standard relative pronoun we don't need a comma. (e.g. The chair that I bought is red.) We also don't want commas when a subordinate clause follows "that." (e.g. He was sad that she did not want to see him again.)

But here, we're using "that" to begin a substantive clause. When "that" is being used to introduce a substantive clause, it is acceptable (often necessary) to have a comma before "that."

In answer choice D, the whole clause "that large plates in the earth’s crust are responsible for the movement of continents" actually functions as a noun. That’s why it’s a substantive / noun clause. We could also change this clause to "the discovery that large plates in the earth's crust..." This clause is modifying the first noun clause in the sentence ("one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology”).

It’s also helpful to know that have the structure of an appositive phrase. We use the commas to separate the appositive phrase from the rest of the sentence. Being familiar with this structure will definitely serve you well!

Kritisood: You're right, and that is what D does.

Although credited with effecting one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology, that large plates in the earth’s crust are responsible for the movement of continents, Alfred Wegener was...

The that large plates... is just a modifier that explains the one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology bit. Ignore it to check the structure of the rest of the sentence.

Option D

Eliminate the middle men- Alfred W.....WAS largely reviled in his day.

Simple past tense is correct.
So we have only 2 options left. THAT is essential after geology. THAT refers to the paradigm shift.

So we can eliminate B. Only D remains.


Thanks,
Rohan

I eliminated D straight away for comma followed by that.
Little help here [b]mikemcgarry

mikemcgarry


Considering the above, is option D corrcet?

Hi
Can an expert please clarify why option D is the OA.
I would have preferred C as the OA, since option D seems to have a dangling modifier and option C has the least errors. Though I can see why C is incorrect as well.

IMO 'that' is used as a pronoun copying 'one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology'

is "....geology, that.." correct in D?

I have understood that is always wrong(as a rule of thumb).
That refers to the immediate noun preceding it here that being geology.
A which here would have made D the best option. I am doubtful of the quality of this question. IMO D cannot be correct under any circumstances.

How can "that", a restrictive modifier, in option D be preceeded by a comma?

ajtmatch
Your answer is given in above OE. Check these lins

Q: In answer choice D, why is there a comma before “that?” I thought we needed to use a comma before the word “which,” but not before “that.” Isn't this wrong?

A: When we're using "that" as a standard relative pronoun we don't need a comma. (e.g. The chair that I bought is red.) We also don't want commas when a subordinate clause follows "that." (e.g. He was sad that she did not want to see him again.)

But here, we're using "that" to begin a substantive clause. When "that" is being used to introduce a substantive clause, it is acceptable (often necessary) to have a comma before "that."

In answer choice D, the whole clause "that large plates in the earth’s crust are responsible for the movement of continents" actually functions as a noun. That’s why it’s a substantive / noun clause. We could also change this clause to "the discovery that large plates in the earth's crust..." This clause is modifying the first noun clause in the sentence ("one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology”).

It’s also helpful to know that have the structure of an appositive phrase. We use the commas to separate the appositive phrase from the rest of the sentence. Being familiar with this structure will definitely serve you well!

Can that be preceded by a comma?

Could someone please help to explain why D is correct?

daagh mikemcgarry

in D

Although credited with effecting one of the greatest paradigm shifts in geology.. should be followed by Alfred Wegener is that not so?

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