OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPTQuote:
Categorized as a “red” volcano as a result of the lava that periodically spews from its crater, a depression measuring 2,100 feet across and 750 feet deep, many cataclysmic explosions have been associated with Mt. Vesuvius since the volcano’s most famous eruption in 79 A.D.
(A) many cataclysmic explosions have been associated with Mt. Vesuvius since the volcano’s most famous eruption in 79 A.D.
(B) they have associated many cataclysmic explosions with Mt. Vesuvius since its most famous eruption in 79 A.D.
(C) many cataclysmic explosions were associated with Mt. Vesuvius since its most famous eruption in 79 A.D.
(D) Mt. Vesuvius has exploded cataclysmically many times since its most famous eruption in 79 A.D.
(E) Mt. Vesuvius has erupted cataclysmically many times since its most famous one in 79 A.D.
• Split #1: Dangling modifierThe beginning of the sentence consists of a long noun modifier:
Categorized as a “red” volcano as a result of the lava that periodically spews from its crater, ...(That long noun modifier is followed by an appositive that begins with "a depression that").
Try to isolate the important part of long modifiers. The appositive is set off by commas, a fact that almost always means it is not essential. We can eliminate it.
Similarly, "as a result of" simply describes
why this noun is named as it is. We can strike most of the beginning this way:
Categorized as a “red” volcano
as a result of the lava that periodically spews from its crater, a depression measuring 2,100 feet across and 750 feet deep, Noun modifiers should be as close as possible to what they modify.
If a modifier is far away from its noun, we have a "dangling" or "misplaced" modifier.
What is "categorized as a 'red' volcano'"? Mt. Vesuvius!
Not
many cataclysmic explosions or
and many cataclysmic explosions, which options A and C use respectively.
Not
they (whatever
they means), which option B uses.
Mt. Vesuvius should be placed at the beginning of the clause that follows
750 feet deep.
Eliminate A, B, and C
-- Eliminate B also because
they has no antecedent. Who are
they?
-- Eliminate C also because
(1)
and turns the sentence into babble.
And implies that the first part is an independent clause with a working verb. The first part is not an independent clause; and
(2) the word "since" is a verb tense marker that requires present perfect
have been associated.-- "Since" means "from that time in the past
until now." -- The present perfect verb tense bridges the past and the present, indicating an event that started in the past and that continues into the present.
• Split #2: pronoun referenceIn option E, the pronoun
one should logically refer to the noun
eruption.
No such noun exists. Only the
verb erupted appears in the sentence.
A pronoun cannot refer to a verb.
(Jargon: A verb cannot act as an antecedent of a pronoun.)
Eliminate E
The answer is D.Option D is correct because it places Mt. Vesuvius after the second comma and all the words that describe Mt. Vesuvius) and uses the singular pronoun [i]its[/] to refer to Vesuvius.
COMMENTSOn the GMAT, you will run into a question similar to this one—that is, a question that contains a hellishly long modifier.
Just remember (as did all the posters here) that your job is (1) to find the "core" of the modifier and (2) to find the option in which the noun is right after that modifier.
I am glad to see veterans, semi-veterans, and newish or new people posting.
Speaking of,
ArindamLucky , welcome to SC Butler.
These answers range from very good to exceptional. Nicely done.
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