FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS are belowQuote:
If a single strain of plant is used for a given crop over a wide area, a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, it increases the likelihood that the impact of a single crop disease or pest will be disastrous.
(A) If a single strain of plant is used for a given crop over a wide area, a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, it
(B) If a single strain of plant is used for a given crop over a wide area, as is fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, it
(C) A practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, a single strain of plant used for a given crop over a wide area
(D) A single strain of plant used for a given crop over a wide area, a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods,
(E) The use of a single strain of plant for a given crop over a wide area, a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods,
The
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:
• Choice A is faulty because the pronoun
it and the appositive
a practice each
lack a noun referent.
• Nor are there logical referents in choice B for
as is and
it.
• Choice C entails a false appositive: the sentence now says that
the single strain of plantis itself a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, not that the use of a
single strain is such a practice.
• Choice D reverses the order of the constructions, but the appositive remains illogical.
• Choice E is the best answer:
use is the proper subject for the verb increases
and [is also] a governing noun for the appositive
practice.
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS - kudos for correct and well-explained answers!
Questions are welcome, too. This material is important.
In some part of every followup question is material that test takers need to learn but that hasn't been addressed or addressed thoroughly here.
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(1) ANSWERED ALREADY in
THIS POST• What is an appositive? Please give an example that is similar to the one in this question.
• In this question, what is the appositive, and what is or should be its noun?
(2) The OE states, "Choice A is faulty because the pronoun
it and the appositive
a practice each
lack a noun referent."
ANSWERED ALREADY in
THIS POST• Why did I put a word in red typeface? Be specific. Shorthand for a rule doesn't help those who don't know the rule.
• What does the author of the OE mean when (s)he writes that the pronoun it and the appositive lack a noun referent?
(3)The OE states, "Nor are there logical referents in choice B for as is and it."
• If there were logical referents, what would they or it be?
• As a subject, this phrasing works: If a single strain of plant is used for a given crop over a wide area.
However, this similar phrasing does not work as a subject: A practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods. Explain why.
(4) In plain English
• What does the phrase "a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods" mean?
You don't have to Google anything. In fact, please don't.
In context, what does "modern seed-marketing methods" refer to?
• What is the relationship between "methods" and "practice"?
(5) The OE states, "Choice C entails a false appositive: the sentence now says that the single strain of plant
is itself a practice fostered by modern seed-marketing methods, not that the use of a
single strain is such a practice."
• Rewrite this explanation in plainer English that spells out details.
The OE states, "Choice D reverses the order of the constructions, but the appositive remains illogical."
• What "constructions" does D reverse, and why is the appositive illogical?
(6) Distillation of meaning. (Look up "distillation" if it is unfamiliar. It may be for many. Great word.)
• What is the connection between (a) the appositive and the subject, and (b) the appositive and the result?
HINT: Why would farmers be inclined to court disaster?
HINT: There are "bad guys" in the picture. Who or what are they?
• Given these connections, what, in plain English, does this sentence mean?
Pretend I am not an agrarian expert. Pretend I look like this
or this
when you use words whose meanings are not self-evident.
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