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Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th
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GMATNinja
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Re: Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th [#permalink] New post  19 Dec 2020, 08:40
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Niha01 wrote:
GMATNinja how is 'they' in option A different from the rule that pronoun of second clause unambiguously refers to the subject of the first clause as I understood from one of your webinars.

First, there's no ironclad rule about pronoun ambiguity, so you want to avoid using this as a reason to eliminate an answer choice. That said, this construction is a little different than the one referenced in the webinar.

Take another look at the relevant portion of (A):

Quote:
Because there are provisions of the new maritime code.... they have already stimulated international disputes over uninhabited islands.

The first clause begins with "there," one of those funky pronouns that don't have a referent. This wasn't the case in the other example. Now, you could say that "there" is simply a placeholder for the real subject, "provisions," and "they" must refer to those "provisions".

But this interpretation leads to a logical problem, as the sentence, in essence, becomes, "Because there are provisions...the provisions have already stimulated disputes." That's nonsense. I can write that because the provisions do one thing, the provisions also do something else as a consequence. But I can't write that because the provisions exist, the provisions do something as a consequence. So while I wouldn't feel confident getting rid of (A) on account of pronoun ambiguity, I'm perfectly happy to get rid of it because the meaning is incoherent.

The takeaway: pronoun ambiguity = very low priority; illogical meaning = very high priority.

I hope that helps!
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zoezhuyan
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Re: Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th [#permalink] New post  01 Apr 2021, 05:35
AndrewN wrote:
Of course, dave13. I will almost always respond to a direct mention by a user, even if I merely suggest that that person reread an earlier post. (The exception is when someone tags me to explain every single question to an RC passage, when there might be several, particularly when someone else has already offered an analysis.) As for your queries, you are correct about the object and subject of (C). As for the modifier, an -ing modifier (or participial phrase) after a comma can comment on just about anything up to that comma, whether an object, subject, or entire phase or clause. You can almost picture a thereby following the comma, and sussing out what, exactly, justifies that thereby can get really confusing in this sentence. Consider the full sentence:

(C) Even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, already stimulating international disputes over uninhabited islands.

Now, what, exactly, is stimulating these disputes? Is it

a) that tiny islets can be the basis for claims
b) that the claims pertain to fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas (as opposed to smaller ones)
c) the provisions of the new maritime code
d) all of the above

The answer could be any of the above, and such a lack of clarity is problematic. So, is your reasoning correct? Well, yes and no. It is kind of like you felt the trunk of the elephant while Archit143 had a hand on the tail, and the two of you were calling the shots based on your perception of a larger organism.

Your identification of prepositional phrases is enviable. I doubt you will run into trouble if that pops up in a question.

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this one.

- Andrew


dearAndrewN,
I crossed off C because "comma + ing", for me, is the simultaneous with the main verb. it is almost at the same time, while "already" shows an action prior to the main verb.

because I haven't read similar reasoning in this topic, can I cross off C based on this ?

please confirm.

thanks a lot.
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Re: Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th [#permalink] New post  01 Apr 2021, 08:44
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zoezhuyan wrote:
AndrewN wrote:
Of course, dave13. I will almost always respond to a direct mention by a user, even if I merely suggest that that person reread an earlier post. (The exception is when someone tags me to explain every single question to an RC passage, when there might be several, particularly when someone else has already offered an analysis.) As for your queries, you are correct about the object and subject of (C). As for the modifier, an -ing modifier (or participial phrase) after a comma can comment on just about anything up to that comma, whether an object, subject, or entire phase or clause. You can almost picture a thereby following the comma, and sussing out what, exactly, justifies that thereby can get really confusing in this sentence. Consider the full sentence:

(C) Even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, already stimulating international disputes over uninhabited islands.

Now, what, exactly, is stimulating these disputes? Is it

a) that tiny islets can be the basis for claims
b) that the claims pertain to fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas (as opposed to smaller ones)
c) the provisions of the new maritime code
d) all of the above

The answer could be any of the above, and such a lack of clarity is problematic. So, is your reasoning correct? Well, yes and no. It is kind of like you felt the trunk of the elephant while Archit143 had a hand on the tail, and the two of you were calling the shots based on your perception of a larger organism.

Your identification of prepositional phrases is enviable. I doubt you will run into trouble if that pops up in a question.

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this one.

- Andrew


dearAndrewN,
I crossed off C because "comma + ing", for me, is the simultaneous with the main verb. it is almost at the same time, while "already" shows an action prior to the main verb.

because I haven't read similar reasoning in this topic, can I cross off C based on this ?

please confirm.

thanks a lot.

Hello, zoezhuyan. I appreciate your point, and I would say that and has already stimulated (without a comma) would be a more fitting continuation than what we see. I would call this consideration of simultaneity a doubt—not necessarily grounds for elimination, but a compelling reason to seek a better alternative. The meaning puzzle that (C) introduces is a huge problem, as I have indicated above. It is unclear what, exactly, may be stimulating international disputes. Put the two considerations together, and I think you have enough to eliminate (C).

In short, I first like to eliminate answers I know are wrong; then, I start to count up lesser offenses or doubts in the answer choices that remain. I ultimately choose the answer I have the hardest time arguing against. Such an approach has served me well. I often walk away with the correct answer, and I do not have to work too hard to get it. (If I picked through every flaw or peccadillo I could find, then I would start to confuse myself and fare much worse.)

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask.

- Andrew
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yuito
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Re: Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th [#permalink] New post  25 May 2021, 03:13
Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide that even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas, they have already stimulated international disputes over uninhabited islands.

(A) Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide that even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas, they have already stimulated

(B) Because the new maritime code provides that even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas, it has already stimulated

(C) Even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, already stimulating

(D) Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, this has already stimulated

(E) Because even tiny islets can be the basis for claims to the fisheries and oil fields of large sea areas under provisions of the new maritime code, which is already stimulating

I think, Provisions [modifier] that provide, can be enough reason to cut A.
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Re: Because there are provisions of the new maritime code that provide th [#permalink]
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