Defining a medical practitioner as any individual whose occupation is

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION





• Split #1: the introductory phrase modifies researchers

Whenever you see a participial phrase (a verbING phrase) begin a sentence, start looking for modifier errors.

The "touch" rule states that a noun modifier such as this intro phrase should be as close as possible to its noun.
In addition, introductory phrases anchored by participles must modify the subject of the immediately following clause.
GMAC is notorious for testing this concept.

Who or what was defining a "medical practitioner" in a certain way?
The researchers were.
Eliminate options A ("the number of women"), B ("the women medical practitioners), and D ("in 1560, the number of women").
None of those nouns were defining medical practitioners in 16th century London.

I discuss six kinds of introductory phrases and what they must modify in this post, here.

• Split #2: idiom

I posted this question because a recent official question tested this idiom.
Usually when a question tests an idiom, answers can be eliminated on other bases.
Not always.
Worse, with respect to this idiom in particular, OE writers and OG question writers have contradicted one another.
Rather than slog through that hell (which I am not going to recite), you might just use this mnemonic to remember:
-- estimate to be sounds like a guess whose accuracy will be determined in the future ("to be"), and an estimate is indeed a guess
-- estimate at sounds as though the estimate is located somewhere (at a place)

Correct answers to official questions indicate GMAC's postion:
Estimate to be is correct.
Estimate at is not correct.

Eliminate option C

The best answer is E.

Well, looking at the good stats, maybe GMAC ought to toss idioms altogether.
GMAC can't do so. Part of good writing includes effective use of idiom.

I wanted you to know this one because many people are not sure where GMAC stands on the issue.
Although the scenario is unlikely, if the last two answers that remain turn on whether estimate to be or estimate at is correct, choose "to be."

COMMENTS

Mac3921 , welcome to SC Butler.

Others, I am happy to see you all again, too.

Answers range from very good to excellent.
Happy kudos to all.