In some species of cricket, the number of chirps per minute

Question

. In some species of cricket, the number of chirps per minute used by the male  for attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and they can in fact serve  as an approximate thermometer.
A. for attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and they can in fact serve.
B. for attracting females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, which can in fact serve
C. in attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, in fact possibly serving.
D. to attract females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and it can in fact serve.
E. to attract females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, in fact possibly

arorag · Answer

. In some species of cricket, the number of chirps per minute used by the male  for attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and they can in fact serve  as an approximate thermometer.
A. for attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and they can in fact serve.
B. for attracting females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, which can in fact serve
C. in attracting females rise and fall in accordance with the surrounding temperature, in fact possibly serving.
D. to attract females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and it can in fact serve.
E. to attract females rises and falls in accordance with the surrounding temperature, in fact possibly

the number of chirps----singular so A and C out

B and D-- which and it are used but they should be use only for nouns
 So only E left/

icandy · Answer

I agree that E is the answer. How ever your logic why B & D are wrong here is incorrect.

Which refers to temp and should be referring to the number of chirps. Same with it as can refer to both temp & number of C's

OTOH, the usage of word possibly in E clarifies the uncertainty, which was not in the original sentence

Nihit · Answer

OA is D , I have no clue how ?

icandy · Answer

I just read E again . Your original post is missing some thing in E (serve/serving)

neeshpal · Answer

in D "the number" is singular hence singular verb "rises and falls" should be used. also singular for singular "the number" "it" should be used.

priyankurml · Answer

OA must be D indeed. 
In some species of cricket,  the number of chirps  per minute used by the male for attracting females  rise  and  fall  in accordance with the surrounding temperature, and  they  can in fact serve as an approximate thermometer.

All blue texts will be in same form or refer to same pronoun.

1. The number of chirps = Singular so accepts 'rises' and 'falls'
2. 'They' is wrong reference pronoun while the noun is singular. 'it' will be the correct choice.

Only D uses all the above points correctly. E directly uses 'in fact that possibly serve...'. Now omit 'in fact that possibly' and you will find: ...temparature, serve as... = so here server wrongly modifies temparature that is incorrect. In B, which wrongly modifies temparature.

icandy · Answer

Why do you think that "it" in D does not refer to temperature and only number of chirps?

priyankurml · Answer

If it is 'temparature', the sentence stands 'temparature can serve as an approximate thermometer'. Isn't it weird? How temparature can serve as thermometer? temparature is not a device.

scthakur · Answer

I may be wrong here, but is "it" not a subjective pronoun and hence cannot refer to "temperature"?

jatinrai · Answer

It clearly refers to number of chirps. Temperature can be used as a thermometer.

Use of they was ambiguous as if reffering to species if cricket, but use of it makes it simple & clear.

x2suresh · Answer

D is the answer.

it --clearly refers to "the number of chirps ...."

nmohindru · Answer

IMO D)

the number of is singular so "it" is required.

KASSALMD · Answer

D should be the answer.
E changes the meaning by introducing "possibly", which is not what the author is saying. It can certainly be used as a thermometer; its just that the temp. it tells is not 100% accurate.

bigfernhead · Answer

Ahh, I have an interesting question: In this example: "It" is correct because it logically refers to the number of chirps (and it cannot refer to temperature because that would be illogical - therefore, "it" is not ambiguous). There is the sample rhino SC (11-p504573?t=68546&hilit=+rhino+rhino#p504573) that eliminates "their" because it is ambiguous. In the rhino example: answer B is incorrect because "their" can refer to tourists. But logically, tourists can't have horns, so therefore, "their" is not really ambiguous. So my question here, why can we apply one theory to one problem, but can't apply it to another? Or do you think these are completely unrelated problems?

spriya · Answer

A B C out because of issues as discussed above !!! D,E -> are close :shock:

I go for D ,some how E is not sounding corretc since in fact possibly after the main clause does not go well Whats the OA? Good question

noboru · Answer

I dont agree with you. You have to analyze the sentence always from a gramatical point of view, not from a logical point of view. Taking that into account, "it" is ambigous and can refer to "temperature".

noboru · Answer

Dont you think that "it" can refer to both temperature and "number"?

In some species of cricket, the number of chirps per minute

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