Computerization and modern methods of managing voter registration have improved the integrity of election results while at the same time they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having been ignored by the mainstream press since their nearly silent rise to power more than a decade ago.


(A) while at the same time they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having

(B) while at the same time placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations that have

(C) while they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations at the same time, and have

(D) but placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations at the same time that have

(E) but at the same time place unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having


Source: GMAT Hacks - 061313

The use of but seems that the methods created an intentional effect which is not the case. Hence, while is correct

(A) while at the same time they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having
they introduces a pronoun error. It should be these methods. Also trust in a few private corporations, having been.. is not correct. So A is out

(B) while at the same time placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations that have
Bingo!. This one corrects the pronoun error and conveys the intented meaning clearly and concisely. Hence B is correct

(C) while they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations at the same time, and have
Here the pronoun error persists. The introduction of and have distorts the meaning, implying that the methods are ignored. So C is out

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Official Explanation

Answer: B The main problem with the sentence as written is the modifier at the end of the sentence. What has been ignored by the mainstream press is "a few private corporations," but starting the modifier with "having" means it should refer all the way to "they"--modern methods of voter registration. The mistake is repeated in (E), so we're left with the middle three choices. While the wording is different, the same mistake occurs in (C). "and have" turns "been ignored..." into the second part of a list, the first part is "placed ... trust." Again, the grammar indicates that the modern methods have been ignored by the press. That leaves (B) and (D). Choice (D) is an incomplete sentence. "placing unprecedented trust..." is a modifier of something that should come after it. However, there is no subject that corresponds with it. That leaves only (B), a complete sentence that correctly indicates that the private corporations are what has been ignored by the press. (B) is correct.

The while is a Coordinating Conjunction. A coordinating conjunction connect words, phrases or clauses that are of equal importance or have the same grammatical structure within a sentence.

"Computerization and modern methods of managing voter registration have improved the integrity of election results ..." is an independent clause and while connects that clause to the dependent clause "at the same time placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations that have been ignored by the mainstream press since their nearly silent rise to power more than a decade ago."

my train of thought.

first, eliminated A, B and C because they use while and at the same time together, both means the same thing actually.

then looked at D and E and neither of those are okay.

D) this is not a complete sentence. definitely eliminate.

E) parallelism error and having been doesn't modify corporations. again, definitely eliminate.

now we have to go back to A, B and C.

A) having. same mistake with E. definitely eliminate.

B) would not favor for it but it seems okay for now. let's have a look at C.

C) last part should modify corporations and that is not satisfied again. it changes the meaning. definitely eliminate.

stuck with B.