Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook

Question

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,  the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads  one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

(A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads

(B) the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading

(C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads

(D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads

(E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

Zarrolou · Accepted Answer

Lets break down the sentence: it starts with a modifier
 Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,  
so what sould this modify? the chapter or the book itself? The intended meaning of the sentence is: there is a good book with a bad chapter.
This first part refers to the textbook itself: out A B and D.

C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads
E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

the main difference between the remaning options is "which leads" VS "leading".
"which" refers to the preceding noun, so C could be written as 
(...) surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which (  the genetic  ) leads (...)- this is clearly wrong.
The genetic cannot lead  " one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area." 
In E we find "leading", an example of COMMA + ING. This form express the results of the preceding clause most of the times, and that's what happens here:
(...) surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics,   leading    one to doubt the author's scholarship (...)- correct

Main point: 
D is wrong because the initial modifer refers to the textbook. Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,     the chapter  /   the book

Jivana · Answer

A - The noun Textbook is a possessive noun, the opening modifier ends up modifying the chapter, not the book. OUT
B - The modifier should modify the book, not the chapter. Out.
C - starts out ok, but the 'which' ends up modifying 'genetics' . Out.
D - Same problem as A.
 E - Correct.

dolly12 · Answer

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads - 
 possesive noun

B) the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading -- onfuses that the book is on genetics
C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads -- wrong use of which. it is modifying genetics
D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads -- possesive noun 
E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

E -is the correct usage with text book and 'leading modifying the phrase'.

fozzzy · Answer

Why is E better than D can someone please explain! Thanks

pqhai · Answer

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,  the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads  one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative,  which  leads 
 Wrong.  The usage of "which" is incorrect.

B) the chapter of  the textbook on genetics  is surprisingly tentative, leading 
 Wrong.  Change meaning, it's like the textbook on genetics, but the intended meaning is the chapter on genetics.

C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics,  which  leads 
 Wrong.  The usage of "which" is incorrect.

D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative  and leads  
 Wrong.  "is tentative" and "leads" are not parallel ==> This is cause and effect sentence, not parallel.

E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading
  Correct.   "leading" modifies the previous clause.

Bluelagoon · Answer

You need to refer to the noun after the arm up. Among C,D and E, - leading is proper modifier that modifies the complete clause . Which can't be used. Hence E .

akhil911 · Answer

I am not able to understand the phrase - "the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading".
I can understand that the modifier should modify textbook and in that respect E is correct but the second part of the phrase "the  textbook is surprisingly tentative  in its chapter on genetics, leading" and cannot understand how can the textbook be tentative .
This confused me and i hence i marked the incorrect answer.

ssfuturemba · Answer

Another difference to note between C and E, is that in C it is 'surprising and tentative' instead of surprisingly tentative. I wouldn't expect the fact that there is a chapter on genetics to be surprising at all.

gmat6nplus1 · Answer

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics,  the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads  one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

Logically the opening modifier should modify textbook. A chapter usually presents one topic at a time. 
A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads
 out  
B) the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading 
 out 
C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads 
 we have a modifier issue here. Which incorrectly modifies genetics 
D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads 
 out 
E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading
 clear and neat

pkhats · Answer

I understand, from one of the sessions with Ron, that Which can be used to modify Noun immediately proceeding it OR the Noun + Prepositional Modifier,

In this case which can also refer to chapter. And since the meaning of the sentence is that the surprising chapter is the basis for the doubt, Why is C not correct?

Any Expert opinion will be very helpful!!!!!

shank001 · Answer

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics (modifier) – should modify textbook

Chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt
Its not the book or the chapter that leads one to doubt... But it’s the effect of the whole clause that leads one to doubt...
So use of verb-ing modifier is appropriate here. – Verb-ing modifier can be used to show the result of previous clause.

A)  the textbook's chapter  on genetics is surprisingly tentative,  which  leads -  Incorrect. Misplaced modifier. Also which is incorrect here. 
B)  the chapter  of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading – Incorrect. Modifier should describe textbook.
C) the textbook contains a  surprising  and tentative chapter on genetics,  which  leads -  Incorrect. Meaning error. Chapter is not surprising and tentative. It is surprisingly tentative. Also which modifier chaper on genetics. As explained earlier, chapter does not lead one to doubt……it’s the tentativeness that leads one to doubt. 
D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative  and leads  –  Incorrect. Meaning error.
The chapter is shown to have two properties. It is tentative and leads one to doubt... This is not the intended meaning. 
E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading –  Correct. Modifies textbook and shows result of first clause by use of verb-ing modifier

BrainLab · Answer

This one was just a piece of cake

..... the first sentence acts as a modifier and should modify the subject of the following clause --> A Book as a whole ... so eliminate A,B,D. Eliminate (C) which can not modify the entire clause, but a preceding noun. We are left with choice E - CORRECT A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads B) the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

daagh · Answer

The ‘its’ refers to the textbook rather than the chapter on genetics since one can’t expect the chapter to be authoritative on other science topics. We may note that a possessive pronoun "its" can stand for a non–possessive noun (textbook) in GMAT. 
 
A. the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads ---  the textbook's chapter is wrong modification 
 
B. the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading ---  same as in A.

C. the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads ---  surprising and tentative chapter is wrong construction. Surprising does not convey the contrast required in the context.

D. the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads ---  the textbook’s chapter is wrong. 
 
E. the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading ----  correct choice .

thangvietname · Answer

we have to choose between two meanings on sc. in some cases, one meaning is not logic clearly. in other cases, one meaning is not logic subtly. this case is hard for us.

Konstantin1983 · Answer

Here is my approach
A. The use of "which" is wrong since "which" can't modify clause and in this case "which" can't modify "tenative", it makes no sense
B. Wrong. Change the meaning. It is chapter on genetics, not a book itself
C. The same as A
D Looks like chapter performs two action - being tentative and leading to doubt. Wrong
E.Correct

PrakharGMAT · Answer

Hi  daagh ,

Was confused between B and E.

B.  the chapter of the textbook on genetics  is surprisingly tentative, leading
E.  the textbook  is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

According to me the modifier " Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics " can also modify  the chapter of textbook

Because a chapter can also give " authoritative coverage "
Is there any other error in option B..??

Please assist.

chetan2u · Answer

Hi,
the clause has to modify textbook..
why it cannot modify 'the chapter', because it does not modify the chapter but  "the chapter of the textbook on genetics" ...
when the chapter is mentioned as that in  genetics , ho wcan it  be authoritative on other science topics. ..
it has to be the textbook...

HMC · Answer

Friends... I have a question ... Please help. 
Option E - "surprisingly tentative" - Here is 'surprisingly' an adverb. I thought of it as an adverb and marked C. I went on searching a verb for the adverb, didn't find one.

prabugmat · Answer

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads one to doubt the author's scholarship in that particular area.

A) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative, which leads 
B) the chapter of the textbook on genetics is surprisingly tentative, leading 
C) the textbook contains a surprising and tentative chapter on genetics, which leads 
D) the textbook's chapter on genetics is surprisingly tentative and leads 
E) the textbook is surprisingly tentative in its chapter on genetics, leading

Answer is E.

In A,B and E, the subject of the modifier should be textbook not textbook's chapter or chapter.
C-- usage of relative pronoun which is wrong in this context.

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Given its authoritative coverage of other science topics, the textbook

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