+HOT Competition 4 Sep/8AM: Primarily consisting of arctic fish, aquat

Experts Global Explanation:

Modifier + Meaning

Please remember, 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.

A. This answer choice incorrectly modifies the noun “Inuit people” with the modifying phrase “primarily consisting of arctic fish, aquatic mammals, and caribou”, illogically implying that the Inuit people consist of arctic fish, aquatic mammals, and caribou.

B. This answer choice repeats the error seen in Option A, incorrectly modifying the noun “Inuit people” with the phrase “primarily consisting of arctic fish, aquatic mammals, and caribou”. Additionally, Option B incorrectly modifies the noun “Inuit people” with the phrase “in their diet provide them”, implying that the Inuit people provide “them” with vitamins and minerals. Further, Option B lacks a clear antecedent for the pronoun “them”; the only possible antecedents are “arctic fish”, “aquatic mammals”, and “caribou”, and none of them convey the intended meaning of the sentence.

C. This answer choice conveys the intended meaning of the sentence by maintaining appropriate modifier use and correctly utilizes the simple present tense to refer to a statement of universal fact.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses the present perfect tense verb “have provided” to refer to a statement of universal fact; the sentence does not indicate that the action of providing the Inuit people with vitamins and minerals has concluded, as the present continuous tense verb “containing” is used to refer to the diet.

E. This answer choice incorrectly uses the present continuous tense verb “providing” rather than the appropriate simple present tense verb, “provides” to refer to a statement of universal fact; remember, statements of universal fact are always conveyed through the simple present tense.

C is the best answer choice.