As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases

Question

As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases; thus, reducing the  nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to  reducing algae, which thrive on certain pollutants.

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to
B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key to
C. nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in
D. nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a body of water are a major part of
E. nutrients such as phosphorus which can enter a body of water, hold the key

daagh · Accepted Answer

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to----- 1. A comma after phosphorous is ungrammatical. 2. Is central to reducing is unidiomatic

B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key to--- body of water is not an example of phosphorous. Distorted meaning 2. -- Is key to reducing -- is unidiomatic

C. nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enters a body of water plays a major role in. --Such as phosphorous --that is set off in commas is the inessential modifier that can be ignored ---  correct choice

D. nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a body of water are a major part of --  are a major -- SV error. Reducing (the nutrients) is the singular subject ; we need to uses a singular verb i.e., is

E. nutrients such as phosphorus which can enter a body of water hold the key ---  1. Which can enter a body of water is altered intent. 2—hold the key--- SV error.

Vips0000 · Answer

'that enter a body of water' is a required clause and must modify nutrients not phosphorus. Classic example of misplaced modifier.

Ans B it is!

Marcab · Answer

Always remember "clauses are singular entities". 
"that" can't be preceded by a comma unless its a part of modifier.

A) Incorrect usage of "that"
B) "phosphorus" seems to be an example of "body of water"
c) Coorect. All the issues have been resolved
D) treats the clause as plural
E)"which" modifies P. Also "which" is incorrectly used.

+1C

jlgdr · Answer

Re answer choice E, do we ALWAYS need a comma after WHICH? Thanks! Cheers J

ankurgupta03 · Answer

Hey the right answer choice is C here.

Always Remember:
If the "which" is after a preposition, the comma is not required.
Else the comma is required always as which is the non essential modifier.

Griffins · Answer

My thinking process -

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central  to  - Incorrect
B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key  to  - Incorrect
C.  nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in  - most qualifying answer among all 
D. nutrients such as phosphorus  that enter  a body of water are a major part of - not clear whether that is referring to nutrients or to phosphorus
E. nutrients such as phosphorus  which  can enter a body of water, hold the key - which should be separated with a comma (,)

bb61 · Answer

As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases; thus, reducing the  nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to  reducing algae, which thrive on certain pollutants.

1)meaning: 
with spread of algae in freshwater, the water quality decrease;  reducing  the nutrients  is  central to reducing algae

2) error analysis:
that introduces essential modifier so we cannot sandwich it!
second and most important point is that .. these nutrients can enter the body of water.. so we have modification error

3) POE

A.  nutrients such as phosphorus,  that enter a body of water , is central to  modifier error 
 B.  nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key to  misplaced modifier .. such as phosphorus seems to modify a body of water 
 C.  nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in
 D.  nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a body of water  are  a major part of  S-V error... reducing nutrients is 
 E.  nutrients such as phosphorus which can enter a body of water, hold the key  again modifier error.. it seems that just phosphorus can enter the body of water while in correct version nutrients can enter the body of water

gauravsoni · Answer

In the choice C , the word "Plays" should be "Play" right ? since it has to refer to a plural noun "Nutrients" ... can you please explain

prasi55 · Answer

Dear gauravsoni,

The subject of "plays" is the gerund "reducing", which is singular.

Read the sentence like this:
Reducing (the nutrients (,such as phosphorus,) that enter a body of water) plays a major role in blah-blah.

The portion between "reducing" and "plays" just serves to identify the object of "reducing."

For example, see:
Singing the songs of Elvis is always a lot of fun.

What is fun? Singing, not the songs.

--Prasad
GMAT and MBA admissions Coach

nhattruong1302 · Answer

As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases; thus, reducing the nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to reducing algae, which thrive on certain pollutants.

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central  to

B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key  to

C. nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in

D. nutrients  such as phosphorus that  enter a body of water  are  a major part of

E. nutrients s uch as phosphorus which  can enter a body of water,  hold  the key

Nhung · Answer

As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases; thus, reducing the nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to reducing algae, which thrive on certain pollutants.

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to
 - that enter a body water is used to modify nutrients and is an essential modifier, so its usage is wrong here 
B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key to
  - the key to do something not the key to doing something  
C. nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in
 CORRECT, play a major role in ... is idiomatic.  
D. nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a body of water are a major part of
 that enter a body of water here modifies phosphorus  
E. nutrients such as phosphorus which can enter a body of water, hold the key
 similar to D

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

A. nutrients such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water, is central to
Central isn't the exact use of terms and distorts the meaning

B. nutrients that enter a body of water such as phosphorus is key to
key are not advisable usage of terms

C. nutrients, such as phosphorus, that enter a body of water plays a major role in
Yes this has a singular usage and projects a clear picture

D. nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a body of water are a major part of
This also distorts the meaning and is not suitable

E. nutrients such as phosphorus which can enter a body of water, hold the key
Similar reasoning to A , B and D 
Hence IMO C

samiaa · Answer

Hi,
how can c be the correct choice? doesnt "plays" refer to nutrients and hence shouldnt it be play" since nutrients is plural?

bshourya · Answer

GMATNinja  I have the same question could you please help here

As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases

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As algae spread in freshwater ponds and lakes, water quality decreases

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