Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
ykaiim wrote:
In an effort to improve the quality of patient care, Dr. Lydia Temoscho is directing one of several clinical research projects that seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement the medical treatment of serious disease.
(A) seek to determine the extent that psychological counseling helps to supplement
(B) seek to determine how helpful psychological counseling is in supplementing
(C) seeks to determine how helpful psychological counseling is to supplement
(D) seeks to determine to what extent psychological counseling is a help in supplementing
(E) seeks to determine the extent that psychological counseling is helpful in supplementing
Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy• “extent of” is used to refer to the degree of noun or the size of a physical area and “extent to which” is used to refer to the degree of an action; for example, “the extent of his bravery” and “the extent to which he has acted bravely” are each correct usages.
A: Trap.
1/ This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "extent + that" to refer to the degree of an action - helping supplement the medical treatment of serious disease; remember, “extent to which” is used to refer to the degree of an action.
B: Correct.1/ This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun "projects" with the plural verb "seek".
2/ Option B avoids the idiomatic error seen in Options A and E, as it uses the phrase "how helpful psychological counseling is" rather than a construction with the term "extent".
3/ Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
C:1/ This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "projects" with the singular verb "seeks".
D:1/ This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "projects" with the singular verb "seeks".
2/ Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrase "to what extent psychological counseling is a help", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
E:1/ This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "projects" with the singular verb "seeks".
2/ Option E incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "extent + that" to refer to the degree of an action - helping supplement the medical treatment of serious disease; remember, “extent to which” is used to refer to the degree of an action.
Hence, B is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team