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14 Sep 2019, 10:15
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payalkhndlwl
payalkhndlwl , no, your understanding is not correct, but I can see why you would think that enabling should modify CIA.
What or who was authorized (enabled) to withhold identities? The Agency (CIA). This focus is problematic because it ignores the discretionary powers awarded to the CIA. The ability to withhold identities is an essential part of the discretionary powers awarded TO the CIA, not an essential part of the CIA itself.
So we can also ask : "The CIA was awarded discretionary powers to do what?" In that case, enabling makes sense.
discretionary powers enabling it to withhold . . . is a shortened form* of
discretionary powers that enable it to withhold . . .
Both that enable and enabling are essential modifiers of powers—they mean exactly the same thing and they are both essential modifiers of powers. See the footnote.
Discretionary powers to do what? To withhold the identities of its sources.
Enabling answers an essential question about powers and heads up the adjective phrase that follows and correctly modifies powers.
Being enabled to withholding identities of sources is not a defining characteristic of the CIA itself.
Being enabled to withhold identities IS a defining characteristic of the powers granted to the CIA by the Supreme Court.
Enabling should modify powers.
I hope that helps.
*The word enabling comes from a reduced relative clause, namely, [powers] that enable it.
Reduced relative clauses are very common in good writing and on the GMAT.
Reduced means shortened. The "relative" refers to a relative pronoun such as that, who, or which.
In order to shorten the relative clause [powers] that enable it and change it into the adjective enabling:
1) remove the relative pronoun (that);
2) change the verb into the present participle (verbING) (enable→enabling); and
3) place the present participle after the noun
Original: The Court awarded the CIA broad discretionary powers that enable it to withhold ... the identities of its sources ...
Reduced clause: The Court awarded the CIA broad discretionary powers enabling it to withhold ... the identities of its sources ...
That enable is an essential modifier of powers [that were granted to the CIA].
Because enabling is simply a shortened (reduced) form of that enable, enabling is also an essential modifier of powers. You can read a short overview about reduced relative clauses HERE.
14 Sep 2019, 13:39
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mview
mview , this question is official. The answer is correct.
No, we do not need a comma before "enabling." If we needed a comma, the OA would have a comma.
Rather than argue with the correct answer, try to figure out why GMAC constructed the answer as it did. I explained one reason in my post immediately above, (here.
Which part of my answer do you disagree with, and why?
