In preparation for the prediction of a major earthquake that will hit

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-



Choice A: Option A distorts the meaning of the sentence, with the phrase "prediction of a major earthquake that will hit the state"; Due to the construction of this phrase, the sentence seems to imply that the California Office of Emergency Services is taking action to prepare for the prediction rather than preparing for the earthquake. Thus, Option A is correct.

Choice B: Option B repeats the meaning-related error that Option A displays. Moreover, "that will identify" is a noun phrase and does not parallel the verb phrase "to identify". Thus, Option B is incorrect.

Choice C: Option C maintains parallelism, throughout the sentence and conveys the intended meaning of the sentence. Thus, Option C is correct.

Choice D: Option D repeats the same meaning-based error that Options A and B display. Thus, Option D is incorrect.

Choice E: Option E repeats the parallelism error displayed by Option B. Thus, Option E is incorrect.

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

would someone mind explaining why E is incorrect?

that will identify is not parallel -- to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event

Hi, In option D is there a modifier error too? To prepare ------- , do we need to have California Office of Emergency Service just after comma?
Thanks

Yes, California Office of ES is preparing for earthquake, not a satellite

"To prepare for the prediction of a major earthquake hitting the state" is not a noun modifier but an adverbial phrase modifying the verb. Hence placing "a satellite-based computer network" immediately after it is not a problem. The problem with D is another modifier "hitting the state", which wrongly changes the meaning.

In preparation for the prediction of a major earthquake that will hit the state, a satellite-based computer network is being built by the California Office of Emergency Services for identifying earthquake damage and to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event.

(A) In preparation for the prediction of a major earthquake that will hit the state, a satellite-based computer network is being built by the California Office of Emergency Services for identifying -- Modifier error -- In preparation incorrectly modifies a satellite-based computer network ; parallelism issue - The construction used to convey the first purpose for identifying is not grammatically parallel to that of the second purpose to pinpoint ; In preparation for the prediction of seems to suggest that the preparation is for the prediction of earthquake and not for the earthquake itself. This meaning makes little sense and is illogical.

(B) In preparing for the prediction that a major earthquake will hit the state, the California Office of Emergency Services is building a satellite-based computer network that will identify --parallelism error. The clause that will identify… is grammatically not parallel to pinpoint…

(C) In preparing for a major earthquake that is predicted to hit the state, the California Office of Emergency Services is building a satellite-based computer network to identify - Correct

(D) To prepare for the prediction of a major earthquake hitting the state, a satellite-based computer network is being built by the California Office of Emergency Services to identify-
to prepare… adds another purpose for building the said network, a purpose not conveyed in the original sentence.

(E) To prepare for a major earthquake that is predicted to hit the state, the California Office of Emergency Services is building a satellite-based computer network that will identify-- parallelism error - Also to prepare… adds another purpose for building the said network, a purpose not conveyed in the original sentence.

Answer C

Split: Parallelism to identify .... to pinpoint.

We can eliminate A, B, E.

D -> Changes the meaning of the sentence.
D means that they are preparing for a prediction to happen.
But, the original sentence means that preparations are happening after a prediction was made.
We can eliminate D.

Correct choice C.

Hi sayantanc2k, would you please elaborate further how wrongly change the meaning, i have not yet gotten it.
the original sentence means that the earthquake hits the state, in Choice D, "hitting" means it is earthquake to hit the state.
I must miss something , please point out.

Another problem really confuses me is that which meaning is logical, prepare the predication or prepare earthquake?
i did not choice C because i thought people can prepare predication by building something, while can prepare earthquake by enhancing protection. in this case, i thought prepare prediction is more logical because i read "building" in the later part.

Please clarify.

mikemcgarry, GMATNinjaTwo, GMATNinja, MagooshExpert Carolyn,
VeritasPrepKarishma

Hope you experts join.

Thanks in advance

Have a nice day.
>_~

Dear zoezhuyan,

I would try to help you with my 2 cents of inputs here.

The change of meaning in D.

hitting used here in place of to hit conveys a meaning as if the earthquake is hitting the state presently i.e. the action is on going.
The sentence uses the present progressive tense, which conveys the ongoing action.
Hence distorts the meaning of the sentence. which conveys that the earthquake is yet to hit....
D also goes out because of the wrong modification of the noun. Who is preparing for the prediction of major earthquake, is it a satellite-based computer or the California office of emergency.

For your second query regarding the logical meaning.
One way to go about this question is POE. Only 2 sentence which have the correct parallel structure i.e. to identify.... and to pinpoint.... are C and D.
D goes out because of the above mentioned reason, and left is C which apparently is the best answer option available.
Second: I believe there isn't any wrong in both of the intended meanings of "to prepare for the prediction..." or "to prepare for a major earthquake..." and this isn't the distinction here. May be the California office emergency services are preparing protection OR X,Y,Z... stuff to combat earthquake or minimise its loses.
Well, though we know what they are doing, because the sentence elaborates that stuff.

Team GMATNinja daagh: Aren't these 2 sentences parallel if we write them like this:

- California Office of Emergency Services is building a satellite-based computer network

- that will identify earthquake damage
- to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event

Shivan

If you are saying that the computer network is doing just one work - i.e. "computer network that will identify earthquake damage to pinpoint the most affected areas within two hours of the event", then you are digressing from the core of the GMAT vibe. The prompt says clearly that the network is doing two things namely 1. to identify and to pinpoint. ( the second one in the non-underlined part). We have no permission to deviate from that.

Nevertheless, is there any compelling reason to try various permutation combinations in GMAT SC?

"In preparing for a major earthquake that is predicted to hit the state"

How do we determine if its an adjectival prep phrase or adverbial prep phrase? I don't really get an answer when I ask which one or what kind to say that In preparing ... is an adjectivial prepositional phrase and needs to modify a noun.

Kindly advise

Is it right to say - " To prepare for the prediction / In preparing for the prediction" ?

How can we prepare for prediction ?

Not sure I understand your question. According to the question, a major earthquake is predicted to hit California.

In anticipation of the earthquake, the California Office of Emergency Services is taking some steps (building a satellite-based computer network).

Hello EducationAisle, I would like to extend this discussion.

Option CIn preparing for a major earthquake that is predicted to hit the state, the California Office of Emergency Services is building a satellite-based computer network to identify

In option C - is the usage of "In preparing ...." correct with "the California Office of Emergency Services"?

It seems awkward even if we rephrase this : The California Office of Emergency Services, in preparing for a major earthquake .....state, is building .....

Please suggest.

Well, since the California Office of Emergency Services is the agent for preparing for a major earthquake that is predicted to hit the state, it is correct usage.