Mission2012
39. Although schistosomiasis is not often fatal, it is so debilitating that it has become an economic drain on many developing countries.
(A) it is so debilitating that it has become an economic
(B) it is of such debilitation, it has become an economical
(C) so debilitating is it as to become an economic
(D) such is its debilitation, it becomes an economical
(E) there is so much debilitation that it has become an economical
Although schistosomiasis is not often fatal, it is so debilitating that it has become an economic drain on many developing countries.
Analysis of the original sentence -
Meaning - S is not fat but S is so debilitating that it has hurt developing countries
• Although (DC marker) schistosomiasis (subject) is (verb) not often (adverb) fatal (adjective) ---- (DC)
• It (subject – pronoun refers back to subject of DC) is (verb) so debilitating (adjective??) ----IC
• that it (subject – pronoun) has become (verb) an economic drain on many developing countries.---- DC
POE -
A) No error
b) it is of such debilitation, it has become an economical
such x that y - that is missing
C> though it sound very awkward but cant pin point the exact error. Is SO X AS TO BECOME Y correct. If so what could be X and Y. If X has to be an adjective then there is no IC in option C.
D> such is its debilitation, it becomes an economical - Meaning issue...when one says its debilitation - does that mean S is in a debilitated state
E> there is so much debilitation that it has become an economical - Change in meaning. Option doesn't clearly states that S causes debilitation
Dear Student,
Thank you for your post.
In your meaning analysis, you have correctly identified the clauses and different subject-verb pairs in the sentence. Also, you have rightly categorized “debilitating” as an adjective here.
As regards the analysis given by you in the POE section, please find below my comments on the same:
1. Choice A: It is definitely the correct choice.
2. Choice B: You have correctly recognized the shift in meaning that the word “economical” creates in choice B. The word economic means pertaining to the economy. However, the word economical means not wasteful. Clearly, we need the word “economic” here. Also, you are right- “that” is required before the dependent clause.
3. Choice C: So X as to Y is not the correct idiom. This may be the reason that choice C sounds incorrect to you
.
4. Choice D: You are on to something very important here. Because of the way the word “debilitation” has been used here, it seems to refer to the state the disease itself is in rather than the effect it has on something else. Clearly, this distorts the intended meaning of the author. Choice D is in fact incorrect for almost the same reasons as choice B.
5. Choice E: Absolutely spot on!
Hope this helps!
Thanks,
Neeti.