GMATNinja - Doesn't parallel structures require markers as thus, then when they are used to indicate sequencing? For instance it should be Ocean water evaporates, then rises high in the atmosphere and finally condenses.

In this sentence what is the subject for verbs rises and condenses?

Apologies for my slowness on this! I might be too late to be useful, but just in case it helps somebody else, here's some extra clarification.

You're absolutely right to read this as:

ocean water evaporates,
ocean water rises high into the atmosphere, and
ocean water condenses

But that is much different than reading it as...

LIQUID ocean water evaporates,
LIQUID ocean water rises, and
LIQUID ocean water condenses

If you start with some liquid ocean water and freeze it, you still have ocean water -- it's just FROZEN ocean water (ice). Similarly, when liquid ocean water evaporates, it doesn't cease to be water -- it's still water, just in a gaseous form (vapor).

The vapor that rises high into the atmosphere is still water. So it's okay for "water" to be the subject of all three verbs in the parallel list.

I hope that explanation was clearer than the last one!
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GMATNinja I understand that "which" can refer to a noun that is not the closest one, for example: The box of nails, which is laying on the table is really heavy. In this case, "which" refers to the box, not the nails. But regarding (B), the use of which is wrong because it can refers only to oceans or water and both of these meaning are wrong. The evaporated water is the one that "rises high...". Also, "which"cannot refer to evaporating. So the use of "which" is wrong. Right? Many tks!

Clouds are formed from the evaporation of the oceans’ water that is warmed by the Sun and rises high into the atmosphere, condensing in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust.

(A) Clouds are formed from the evaporation of the oceans’ water that is warmed by the Sun and rises high into the atmosphere, condensing in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust.

(B) Clouds form by the Sun’s warmth evaporating the water in the oceans, which rises high into the atmosphere, condensing in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust.

(C) Warmed by the Sun, ocean water evaporates, rises high into the atmosphere, and condenses in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust to form clouds.

(D) The water in the oceans evaporates, warmed by the Sun, rises high into the atmosphere, and condenses in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust, which forms clouds.

(E) Ocean water, warmed by the Sun, evaporates and rises high into the atmosphere, which then condenses in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust to form as clouds.



This question tests parallelism along with intended Meaning

A). Evaporation, rises, condensing - None of the verbs is parallel to one another
B). Evaporating , Rises,condensing - None of the verbs is parallel to one another
c) . Evaporates, Rises, condenses - Parallel and correct
D). Usage of which is wrong - which refers to minute dust particles . And Minute dust particles didnot form clouds
The evaporation of ocean water forms clouds
E). Which refers to Atmosphere - again atmosphere didnot condense in tiny droplets


IMO - C

Hi GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo VeritasKarishma

Although I got this question correct, I have a doubt regarding option E. Only reason to eliminate option E is that - relative modifier which illogically modifies atmosphere.

But as per my knowledge 'which' can modify a noun away from it (exception to touch rule). Then why it cannot modify Ocean water in this case?

Please correct my conceptual gap. Thanks in advance.

Hi GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo VeritasKarishma

Although I got this question correct, I have a doubt regarding option E. Only reason to eliminate option E is that - relative modifier which illogically modifies atmosphere.

But as per my knowledge 'which' can modify a noun away from it (exception to touch rule). Then why it cannot modify Ocean water in this case?

Please correct my conceptual gap. Thanks in advance.

"which" can modify a noun slightly away but it does so when there is a good reason for it to do so, say multiple modifiers or a prepositional phrase.

(E) Ocean water, warmed by the Sun, evaporates and rises high into the atmosphere, which then condenses in tiny droplets on minute particles of dust to form as clouds.

Note here that which is very far away from what it is modifying with two other nouns in between.

Also note the structure of the sentence:
Ocean water .... evaporates and rises ..., which then condenses

Ocean water does A and B, which then does C.

Here, A, B and C are not parallel, hence I am bound to think that they do not refer to the same thing.

It should be:
"Ocean water does A, B and C."
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