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26 Nov 2019, 00:59
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
69% (01:35) correct
31%
(01:37)
wrong
based on 1019
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Einstein's theory of relativity holds that the gravity of a massive body deflects nearby light rays, observable when a star appears to undergo a shift in position while its light passes near the Sun.
A) observable when a star appears to undergo a shift in position while
B) which can be observed when a star appears to shift its position during the time
C) an observable effect as a star appears to shift position when
D) an effect observed as the appearance of a shift in the position of a star while
E) an effect that can be observed when a star appears to shift position as
26 Nov 2019, 01:01
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
• HIGHLIGHTS
-- This sentence mainly tests the way in which the second part of this sentence is allowed to modify the first part.
-- In particular, in the correct answer, the second part of this sentence contains a "summative modifier."
Don't worry about the jargon.
Do understand the concept. (After you see a few examples of the concept, it should make sense.)
I explain summative modifiers below.
-- The sentence also tests whether a modifier creates ambiguous meaning.
-- Remember to check both parts of the non-underlined portion.
-- Rough meaning/structure of the first part of the sentence?
The theory holds that X does Y.
That sentence describes a process or phenomenon.
The first part of the sentence before the comma
(1) names a theory (Einstein's theory of relativity) and
(2) describes one aspect of the theory (the gravity of a massive body deflects nearby light rays): something happens.
the gravity of a massive body deflects light rays is a clause that describes the effects of the gravity of a massive body.
-- The first part thus contains a noun (the theory) from which follows a process that is not itself named by a noun.
Einstein's theory of relativity holds that XYZ does ABC. The highlighted part is not a noun but rather a clause.
-- Certain kinds of modifiers cannot modify clauses.
The relative pronoun which, for example, must refer to a noun and cannot refer to a clause.
GMAC frequently tests the incorrect use of the word which—and almost always, it is this error.
Correct: The scientist suffered from exhaustion, which muddled her thinking. (which modifies exhaustion, and exhaustion can muddle thinking)
Wrong: The scientist was exhausted, which muddled her thinking. (which cannot modify the adjective exhausted; which cannot modify the whole idea contained in the clause)
Correct: The scientist was exhausted, a weariness that muddled her thinking. (weariness = summative modifier)
THE PROMPT
THE OPTIONS
• observable refers to light rays but should refer to the fact that the gravity of a massive celestial body deflects light rays
-- after all, "light rays" are . . . well, light.
-- the sentence does not mean merely that light rays are observable but rather that their visibility signals the existence of a process that relativity theory describes
-- the light rays are observable when a star seems to shift position while its light passes near the Sun because the Sun is a massive body that has an effect on the light rays.
-- observable is dicey
• nothing is wrong with the pronoun its. The only logical antecedent is "a star."
KEEP, but barely
• GMAC would write, "The relative pronoun which has no antecedent."
-- don't go by your "ear."
Native speakers often informally and improperly use "which" to stand for "the clause I just said or heard."
Eliminate B
-- an observable effect because a star appears to shift position or
-- an observable effect during the time that a star appears to shift position
• if this second part of the sentence is supposed to be an absolute phrase, it should not have a verb in it.
-- absolute phrases modify the subject, verb, or whole clause, but
(1) they are composed of [noun] + [noun modifiers],
(2) the noun modifier is often a participle (a verbED or a verbING word), and
(3) they do not contain a verb.
-- Example (present participle, verbING): Einstein refused to accept wave-particle duality, his mind rejecting the idea of a probabilistic universe.
-- Example (past participle, verbED): Einstein refused to accept wave-particle duality, his mind barricaded against the idea of a probabilistic universe.
• this answer is not great, but I cannot decide in two seconds whether to eliminate it, so
KEEP, but look for a better answer
Eliminate D
• an effect is a "summative modifier" (explained below): it encapsulates the idea of the preceding phrase
-- the modifier is correctly constructed with [noun] + [noun modifier]
-- option E is better than (A) because we do not have to cope with what seems to be a weird adjective floating around without a noun to modify.
Eliminate A
-- (E) is better than (C). E's meaning is clearer and the word "as" is not ambiguous
Eliminate C.
The best answer is E.
• NOTES
SUMMATIVE MODIFIERS
This sentence uses a summative modifier.
When a sentence expresses an idea and we want to say more about that idea, often we summarize the idea in a couple of words.
Whatever words or phrases we choose are nouns to which we can add noun modifiers.
You do not need to remember the terminology—just how these modifiers work.
"To create a summative modifier, end a grammatically complete segment of a sentence with a comma, . . . find a noun that sums up the substance of the sentence, . . . [and then] continue with a relative clause."
(Joseph M. Williams, Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace. Longman, 2003), quoted here.
These summative modifiers use a noun to restate the idea in the main clause.
Correct: Sophisticated writers use varying sentence types, an approach that creates different cadences and changing rhythms in their prose.
Correct: The elected leader of a democratic country liked to talk with ruthless dictators, an inclination that alarmed his own security advisers.
Correct: The frightened puppy came slowly towards the treat, a wariness that was somewhat contradicted by his wagging tail.
STRATEGY - what are the answer choices telling us?
Not one answer choices gives us a conjunction and full, independent second clause.
The second part of the sentence must be either a modifier or a dependent clause.
In this case, we dealt with a modifier.
The summative modifier encapsulated the meaning of the first sentence and added more information in the form of an example.
At this point, option B is the second most chosen answer.
[comma + which] should immediately put you on guard.
Be careful. "Which" cannot modify whole clauses.
So we make up a few words (a summative modifier) that encapsulate the meaning of the first part of the sentence with a noun (usually followed by a that- or who-clause), and elaborate with a noun phrase.
COMMENTS
This question is fairly difficult because its variations are frustrating.
Keep your eyes on the prize: remove the four worst answers.
If I cannot decide in just a few seconds whether to eliminate an option, I tentatively keep it.
Often it is easier to eliminate answers by comparing them.
The posts on this thread range from very good to excellent.
The question is hard.
Nice work. Happy kudos.
Project SC Butler: Day 196: Sentence Correction (SC1)
• HIGHLIGHTS
-- This sentence mainly tests the way in which the second part of this sentence is allowed to modify the first part.
-- In particular, in the correct answer, the second part of this sentence contains a "summative modifier."
Don't worry about the jargon.
Do understand the concept. (After you see a few examples of the concept, it should make sense.)
I explain summative modifiers below.
-- The sentence also tests whether a modifier creates ambiguous meaning.
-- Remember to check both parts of the non-underlined portion.
-- Rough meaning/structure of the first part of the sentence?
The theory holds that X does Y.
That sentence describes a process or phenomenon.
The first part of the sentence before the comma
(1) names a theory (Einstein's theory of relativity) and
(2) describes one aspect of the theory (the gravity of a massive body deflects nearby light rays): something happens.
the gravity of a massive body deflects light rays is a clause that describes the effects of the gravity of a massive body.
-- The first part thus contains a noun (the theory) from which follows a process that is not itself named by a noun.
Einstein's theory of relativity holds that XYZ does ABC. The highlighted part is not a noun but rather a clause.
-- Certain kinds of modifiers cannot modify clauses.
The relative pronoun which, for example, must refer to a noun and cannot refer to a clause.
GMAC frequently tests the incorrect use of the word which—and almost always, it is this error.
Correct: The scientist suffered from exhaustion, which muddled her thinking. (which modifies exhaustion, and exhaustion can muddle thinking)
Wrong: The scientist was exhausted, which muddled her thinking. (which cannot modify the adjective exhausted; which cannot modify the whole idea contained in the clause)
Correct: The scientist was exhausted, a weariness that muddled her thinking. (weariness = summative modifier)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• the word observable cannot modify the whole preceding cause, although what follows "observable" does refer to the whole clause
• observable refers to light rays but should refer to the fact that the gravity of a massive celestial body deflects light rays
-- after all, "light rays" are . . . well, light.
-- the sentence does not mean merely that light rays are observable but rather that their visibility signals the existence of a process that relativity theory describes
-- the light rays are observable when a star seems to shift position while its light passes near the Sun because the Sun is a massive body that has an effect on the light rays.
-- observable is dicey
• nothing is wrong with the pronoun its. The only logical antecedent is "a star."
KEEP, but barely
Quote:
• which can never modify an entire clause
• GMAC would write, "The relative pronoun which has no antecedent."
-- don't go by your "ear."
Native speakers often informally and improperly use "which" to stand for "the clause I just said or heard."
Eliminate B
Quote:
• the word "as" is confusing:
-- an observable effect because a star appears to shift position or
-- an observable effect during the time that a star appears to shift position
• if this second part of the sentence is supposed to be an absolute phrase, it should not have a verb in it.
-- absolute phrases modify the subject, verb, or whole clause, but
(1) they are composed of [noun] + [noun modifiers],
(2) the noun modifier is often a participle (a verbED or a verbING word), and
(3) they do not contain a verb.
-- Example (present participle, verbING): Einstein refused to accept wave-particle duality, his mind rejecting the idea of a probabilistic universe.
-- Example (past participle, verbED): Einstein refused to accept wave-particle duality, his mind barricaded against the idea of a probabilistic universe.
• this answer is not great, but I cannot decide in two seconds whether to eliminate it, so
KEEP, but look for a better answer
Quote:
• the effect is not "observed as [in the role of] the appearance of a shift." The effect can be observed when a star appears to shift.
Eliminate D
Quote:
• this sentence is correct
• an effect is a "summative modifier" (explained below): it encapsulates the idea of the preceding phrase
-- the modifier is correctly constructed with [noun] + [noun modifier]
-- option E is better than (A) because we do not have to cope with what seems to be a weird adjective floating around without a noun to modify.
Eliminate A
-- (E) is better than (C). E's meaning is clearer and the word "as" is not ambiguous
Eliminate C.
The best answer is E.
• NOTES
SUMMATIVE MODIFIERS
This sentence uses a summative modifier.
When a sentence expresses an idea and we want to say more about that idea, often we summarize the idea in a couple of words.
Whatever words or phrases we choose are nouns to which we can add noun modifiers.
You do not need to remember the terminology—just how these modifiers work.
"To create a summative modifier, end a grammatically complete segment of a sentence with a comma, . . . find a noun that sums up the substance of the sentence, . . . [and then] continue with a relative clause."
(Joseph M. Williams, Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace. Longman, 2003), quoted here.
These summative modifiers use a noun to restate the idea in the main clause.
Correct: Sophisticated writers use varying sentence types, an approach that creates different cadences and changing rhythms in their prose.
Correct: The elected leader of a democratic country liked to talk with ruthless dictators, an inclination that alarmed his own security advisers.
Correct: The frightened puppy came slowly towards the treat, a wariness that was somewhat contradicted by his wagging tail.
STRATEGY - what are the answer choices telling us?
Not one answer choices gives us a conjunction and full, independent second clause.
The second part of the sentence must be either a modifier or a dependent clause.
In this case, we dealt with a modifier.
The summative modifier encapsulated the meaning of the first sentence and added more information in the form of an example.
At this point, option B is the second most chosen answer.
[comma + which] should immediately put you on guard.
Be careful. "Which" cannot modify whole clauses.
So we make up a few words (a summative modifier) that encapsulate the meaning of the first part of the sentence with a noun (usually followed by a that- or who-clause), and elaborate with a noun phrase.
COMMENTS
This question is fairly difficult because its variations are frustrating.
Keep your eyes on the prize: remove the four worst answers.
If I cannot decide in just a few seconds whether to eliminate an option, I tentatively keep it.
Often it is easier to eliminate answers by comparing them.
The posts on this thread range from very good to excellent.
The question is hard.
Nice work. Happy kudos.
General Discussion
26 Nov 2019, 03:23
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Bookmarks
Einstein's theory of relativity holds that the gravity of a massive body deflects nearby light rays, observable when a star appears to undergo a shift in position while its light passes near the Sun.
Quickest way to answer the question. Noun + noun modifier is preferred in such constructions. So, A, B and C is out. Active voice is preferred than passive voice and removal of when from the sentence changes the specific timing of event from the original sentence. So D is out.
E) an effect that can be observed when a star appears to shift position as - Correct.
Imo. E
Quickest way to answer the question. Noun + noun modifier is preferred in such constructions. So, A, B and C is out. Active voice is preferred than passive voice and removal of when from the sentence changes the specific timing of event from the original sentence. So D is out.
E) an effect that can be observed when a star appears to shift position as - Correct.
Imo. E
