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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
prasannar
Critical-thinking instruction is predicated on two assumptions: that there are clearly identifiable thinking skills that students can be taught to recognize and apply appropriately, and if recognized and applied, students will become more effective thinkers.
(A) if recognized and applied, students
(B) if these skills are recognized and applied, that students
(C) if students recognize and apply them, that they
(D) that if recognized and applied, students
(E) that if students recognize and apply these skills, they
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that if students recognize and apply the relevant thinking skills, they will become more effective thinkers.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Pronouns + Parallelism• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• Any elements linked by a conjunction ("and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
• A pronoun and its derivatives can only refer to one noun in a sentence.
A: This answer choice incorrectly uses "if recognized and applied" to modify "students", illogically implying that
the students are recognized and applied; the intended meaning is that
the relevant thinking skills are recognized and applied
by the students; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option A fails to maintain parallelism between "that there are clearly identifiable thinking skills that students can be taught to recognize and apply appropriately" and "if recognized and applied, students will become more effective thinkers"; remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ("and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
B: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between "that there are clearly identifiable thinking skills that students can be taught to recognize and apply appropriately" and "if these skills are recognized and applied, that students will become more effective thinkers"; remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ("and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
C: This answer choice incorrectly uses "them" to refer to "skills" and "they" to refer to "students"; remember, a pronoun and its derivatives can only refer to one noun in a sentence. Further, Option C fails to maintain parallelism between "that there are clearly identifiable thinking skills that students can be taught to recognize and apply appropriately" and "if students recognize and apply them, that they will become more effective thinkers"; remember, any elements linked by a conjunction ("and" in this sentence) must be parallel.
D: This answer choice incorrectly uses "if recognized and applied" to modify "students", illogically implying that
the students are recognized and applied; the intended meaning is that
the relevant thinking skills are recognized and applied
by the students; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
E: Correct. This answer choice correctly uses the pronoun "they" to refer to only the noun "students". Further, Option E uses the phrase "if students recognize and apply these skills", conveying the intended meaning - that
the relevant thinking skills are recognized and applied
by the students. Additionally, Option E maintains parallelism between "that there are clearly identifiable thinking skills that students can be taught to recognize and apply appropriately" and "that if students recognize and apply these skills, they will become more effective thinkers".
Hence, E is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team