Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
iikarthik
At issue in the proceeding is whether the gaming firm
can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, using special identification and location software, among other tools.(A) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, using special identification and location software, among other tools.
(B) can, with the use of special identification and location software, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools.
(C) can, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools, verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country.
(D) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country, with the use of special identification and location software, among other tools.
(E) can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country, among other tools, using special identification and location software.
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and present in a legal gambling state or country by using special identification and location software and other tools.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
A: Correct.1/ This answer choice correctly modifies "special identification and location software" with the phrase "among other tools" and uses the phrase "are over 21 and in a legal gambling state or country", conveying the intended meaning - that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and whether they are
present in a legal gambling state or country by using special identification and location software
and by using other tools.
B:1/ This answer choice incorrectly modifies "a legal gambling state or country" with the phrase "among other tools", illogically implying that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and present in a legal gambling state, or
present in other tools, by using special identification and location software; the intended meaning is that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and present in a legal gambling state or country by using special identification and location software
and by using other tools; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
C:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country"; the omission of the preposition "in" illogically implies that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and whether the users
are, themselves, a legal gambling state or country; the intended meaning is that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and whether the users
are, present in, a legal gambling state or country.
D:1/ This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "are over 21 and a legal gambling state or country"; the omission of the preposition "in" illogically implies that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and whether the users
are, themselves, a legal gambling state or country; the intended meaning is that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and whether the users
are, present in, a legal gambling state or country.
E:1/ This answer choice incorrectly modifies "a legal gambling state or country" with the phrase "among other tools", illogically implying that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and present in a legal gambling state, or
present in other tools, by using special identification and location software; the intended meaning is that the issue is whether the gaming firm can verify that the site’s users are over 21 and present in a legal gambling state or country by using special identification and location software
and by using other tools; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team