In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked

Question

In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked from a ruptured storage tank into the Elk River,  an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called  for immediate action from the authorities.

A. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called

B. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling

C. interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution and called

D. which interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling

E. which, interrupting water supply for days because of water pollution, called

goaltop30mba · Answer

b is the answer..

what is the source of this question??

hiranmay · Answer

In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked from a ruptured storage tank into the Elk River,  an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called  for immediate action from the authorities.

A. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution,  and this called  --> "calling for action"is the result of "the interruption"

B. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling -->  correct

C.  interrupted  water supply for days because of water pollution and called --> "the chemical leaking into the Elk River" interrupted water supply

D.  which  interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling --> "which" can't refer a clause ( the chemical leaking into the Elk River)

E.  which , interrupting water supply for days because of water pollution, called --> same as D

geeti · Answer

In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked from a ruptured storage tank into the Elk River, an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called for immediate action from the authorities.

A. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called

B. an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling

C. interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution and called

D. which interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, calling

E. which, interrupting water supply for days because of water pollution, called

i got C option can you explain me y c is not correct

Aashutoshkumar · Answer

Why can't the answer be A, in option B, there is a presence of verb-ing word after comma which means that it modifies the preceding clause and doesn't necessarily mean that the accident leads to the authorities coming into action.. whereas the causal relationship is much more defined in option A.

And regarding the timing of the events..it may also be assumed that the action was completed in the past.. so "called" can also be right..
Anyone please help regarding this.

Posted from my mobile device

NeverEverGiveUp11 · Answer

Verb-ing modifiers are used in following ways.
1. verb-ing modifier (with comma before it) modifies the preceding clause
2. Without comma when verb-ing modifier is used then it modifies the immediate noun before it.
3. verb-ing modifier with comma (befor verb-ing modifier) conveys the result of the action in the preceding clause. Its equivalent ti saying 'as a result of'

In option A, ',and this...' is a separate clause. Here, 'this' doesn't have clear referent as to what is causing the calling action.

Experts correct me if i am wrong. ?

tejaswym95 · Answer

Can you please explain the construction of the sentence?

NeverEverGiveUp11 · Answer

In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked from a ruptured storage tank into the Elk River,  an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution, and this called  for immediate action from the authorities.

Meaning: 
A chemical was leaked from a ruptured storage tank. 
This event of rupturing the tank interrupted the supply of water. 
This interruption of supply in turn caused immediate action from the authorities.

These are the sequence of events that happened. 
Now in  an accident that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution  this is a noun+noun modifier, which describes the event and its effect. noun:- an accident, noun modifier:- that interrupted water supply for days because of water pollution.

Further, "calling" (in a correct answer) is a verb-ing modifier that modifies the previous clause presenting the result.

Hope it helps

yipmewmew · Answer

Hi, I got this question right but still have a doubt.

Can an expert please explain to me what exactly in option C is the "interrupted water supply..." phrase before "and called" modifying? Is the the noun Elk river?

Also I eliminated this choice using the logic that "and called" is parallel to "used", hence its illogical. Is this ok?
Kindly write back on these two things.

Jainam24 · Answer

Hey  sv2023  hope you are doing fine. I'm no expert but I am fairly confident that I can answer your question

Doubt #1: I'm afraid to say that interrupted and called are not modifiers but verbs
Doubt #2: Here too I'm afraid to say that this method of elimination is not the right way this is because used is a modifier not a verb. I presume eliminated it thinking that used is verb whereas called is modifier thus incorrect

To understand both your doubts let us understand the meaning of it. 
Meaning: I'm stripping everything else other than the essential for better understanding. Things in bracket is the stripped non-essential stuff
(In Jan this year)A chemical(used in the processing of coal) leaked from a ruptured storage tank into the Elk River, interrupted water supply for days(because of water pollution) and called for immediate action from the authorities.

This might bring you to the question even after your doubt is clear that why is C incorrect then? 
I eliminated C because chemical is the subject and it performs 3 actions. It leaked, interrupted and called. The last one of which is illogical meaning wise. The chemical can't call for immediate action. The subject verb pair here don't make sense

Hope this post helped. If you have any questions  sv2023  please feel free to ask. 
All the best with GMAT

TithiMarodia · Answer

I got the answer right, but can someone please help me to know when do we use "which" in a sentence? 
I've seen various explanations and its a lot confusing.

Jainam24 · Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VbhTC4UpKM The link above could be useful. GMAT Ninja is a legend in Verbal. Hope it helps

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In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked

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In January this year, a chemical used in the processing of coal leaked

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