Quote:
Costa Rica is one of the few countries
that have reversed deforestation within its borders.
A. that have reversed deforestation within its
B. that has reversed deforestation within their
C. that have reversed deforestation within their
D. that has reversed deforestation within its
E. having reversed deforestation within the
Veritas Prep Explanation:
The correct answer is C.This answer creates proper number agreement throughout. The relative clause beginning with “that” must modify “countries,” and therefore the verb “have reversed” must go with “countries” as well. As such, the plural verb form provided by this answer choice is required. Furthermore, the “few countries” have presumably not all reversed deforestation within Costa Rica’s borders, but instead must have reduced deforestation within “their” own (plural) borders.
Answer A incorrectly uses the singular “its” to describe the “borders.” This illogically suggests that the “few countries” have reversed deforestation within Costa Rica’s borders, rather than within their own borders.
Answer B incorrectly uses the singular “has” within the relative clause. This does not agree with the “few countries” that this relative clause must modify. It is worth noting that if the relative clause did not modify “few countries” then it would be entirely unclear what “few countries” the sentence would be talking about; this would be highly illogical and confusing.
Answer D incorrectly uses both the singular “has” and the singular “its” within the relative clause. These do not agree with the “few countries” that this relative clause must modify. It is worth noting that if the relative clause did not modify “few countries” then it would be entirely unclear what “few countries” the sentence would be talking about; this would be highly illogical and confusing.
Answer E uses a participle phrase at the end of the sentence that creates unnecessary ambiguity in terms of what it modifies. Worse, it removes the possessive pronoun (“its”/“their”) near the end of the sentence. As a result, it is unclear what borders are being referred to by the phrase “the borders.”
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