In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement

Meaning: after adopting the agreement, ratifying nations have seen emissions increase by %, an increase less than half as great as that in non-ratifying nations.

First, who adopted the agreement? a nation(s)… so, (A), (B) and (C) out;
Second, "that" must refer to "an increase", to clear ambiguity, so (E) out.

Answer (D).

Checking errors in every option-

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
Wrong modification- Sentence means Ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions adopted the Paris Agreement.

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
Wrong modification- Sentence means emissions adopted the Paris Agreement.

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Wrong modification- Sentence means average emissions adopted the Paris Agreement. In addition, 3.4% is less than half as great as average emissions, and not an increase of 3.4%.

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
Look good, hold.

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Same error as (C) in the second part.

Answer D

This one is so confusing!! Here is my thought process, but I may be wrong..

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.



STRUCTURE ANALYSIS (short version):
In 5 Years...., ratifying nations avg emissions increased, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify.


X (A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
>> Increased (VERB) is compared with increase (NOUN). It should be noun compared with noun. Also, INCREASED is in simple past. But, in my opinion, present perfect makes more sense. ... so this is most likely discarded. But I am not sure, so lets review further..

X (B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
>> increase half as great as in nations... as what in??? I think there should be another increase after AS. Also tense issue as described in A.

X (C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
>> half as great as THAT in.... THAT what?? also INCREASED (verb) is compared with THAT (possibly referring to noun increase). cant copare verb with noun. Also tense issue as described in A.

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
>> THIS SEEMS CORRECT. Confused between D and E. Tense looks correct (Have Seen). Also, increase is compared with increase correctly. I prefer this over E because, THAT clearly refers to to increase in this option. so increase less than half as great as that (increase) in .......

X (E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
>> I was confused betwwen D and E. In this option, It is not clear what THAT is referring to? increase? emissions?? So I will go with option D.


ANSWER: D

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase (INCORRECT - It refers to the greenhouse gas as what the first sentence is modifying which is wrong)

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as (INCORRECT - This referred to emissions of greenhouse gases instead of the nations that made the agreement)

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that (INCORRECT - This also refers to the emissions of greenhouse gases instead of the nations that made the agreement)

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that (CORRECT - This correctly refers to the ratifying nations and at the it started the last clause with the right words using "an increase less than...")

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that (INCORRECT - This correctly refers to the nations but the difference with D is the beginning of the last clause where it started after the comma with "less than half as great as...")

Hence answer choice D.

Thank you for the kudos.

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase --- here the parallelism is wrong
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as --- misplaced modifier, this distorts the meaning
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that ---what does "that" refer to?
(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that - CORRECT
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that --- this is not parallel

IMO D

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

After the comma, we need a subject who adopted the Paris Agreement.
So, A, B & C are out.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that

The only difference between D & E is that D has an increase after the comma. That makes the idea clearer. So, it should be (D)

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, [ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase] in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

=> First, the subject for this sentence is the one that can adopt the Paris Agreement

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase --> this is WRONG as greenhouse gas EMISSIONS cannot adopt the Paris Agreement.

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as --> same as A, the greenhouse GASES cannot adopt the Paris Agreement --> WRONG.

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that --> WRONG for same reason as A and B.

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that --> ratifying NATIONS can adopt the Agreement --> correct. The phrase "an increase less than half..." correctly modifies the "increase" before it. CORRECT

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that --> "ratifying nations" is correct as D, but the phrase "less than half as great as that..." when putting back to the sentence: "less than half as great as that in nations that..." seems to be a bit ambiguous as we are not sure what it modifies (the gas emissions? the increase? the 3.4%?)

So I'll go with D.

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase --> "adopting the Paris Agreement" should modify "ratifying nations"
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as --> same as A
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that --> same as A
(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that --> correct
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that --> no reference for "that"?

Structure - Prepositional modifier (must refer to the clause) + Clause + Noun (An increase) + Noun Modifier

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase - 3.4% is not less than...but the increase is
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as - "in ratifying nations" wrong placement
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - 3.4% is not less than...but the increase is
(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that - Correct (SV agrees + structure as mentioned above)
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - 3.4% is not less than...but the increase is

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
The modifier In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is modifying ratifying nations and NOT modifying ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions. Incorrect

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
The modifier In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is modifying ratifying nations and NOT modifying emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations. Incorrect

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
The modifier In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is modifying ratifying nations and NOT modifying average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations. Incorrect

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that in nations that did not ratify the treaty. The meaning is correct, modifiers are used correctly and an increase removes ambiguity. Correct

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Use of an increase in D makes the sentence unambiguous and is necessary. Incorrect

IMO D

C IMO.

Below are my reasons to eliminate each option.

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
Possessive form of nouns that are inanimate such as "nations" is not correct. Also, there's a llism issue, the increase in emissions in "ratifying nations" is compared with that of "in nations that did not ratify". This comparison is also missing.

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
"average" is misplaced here. We are comparing "average emissions" both sides.

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Correct. "average emissions" are compared "in ratifying nations" with that "in nations that did not ratify the treaty"

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
"have" is incorrect, since sentence intends to discuss a fact in the past.

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Same as above

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

This is Sentence Correction (SC) question. Let us identify which option fits the best:
(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase - Increase in nations is not logical and should have the word "that" after the word "increase". Also, there is no noun before the word "less" what makes the structure grammatically incorrect. Incorrect
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as - Again, the same mistake as in the previous option. Here it incorrectly can be thought that the increase is in nations, not in the greenhouse gas emissions. Incorrect
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - Even though this option correctly uses the word "that" after increase, it does not have the noun modifier before the word "less". Incorrect
(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that - This option is concise and clear, and no evident mistakes can be noted here. Correct
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - Here, there is no noun modifier before the word "less". Incorrect

Answer: D

In the first part of the sentence, "adopting the Paris Agreement " is modifying the noun after the comma i.e start of the underlined portion.
POE:
(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase Incorrect --> ratifying nation's should be used as an active noun. Here, the subject is "ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions" which is incorrect as emissions didnt adopt the Paris agreement.
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as : Incorrect --> same as A, emissions didnt adopt paris agreement.
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that : Incorrect : Same as A and B, average emissions didnt adopt the paris agreement.
(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that : Correct : here ratifying nations is correctly used also " an increase" correctly modifies the percentage.
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that : Incorrect: even though ratifying nations is correct but the modifier "less than" incorrectly modifies the percentage as it doesnt talk about the increase.

Option D is the correct option.

In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty.

Meaning:
1. In the five years after adopting the Paris Agreement (smth or smb adopted, so need to keep in mind this)
2. Adopted the Paris Agreement as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
3. ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions (seems shaky, most probably ratifying nations adopted)
4. average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%
5. this increase or this number less than half as great as the increase in nations that did not ratify the treaty (so again shaky meaning, less that great, most probably comparison between the numbers of ratifying nations that adopted and not adopted treaty).

After all, the meaning is not so clear, but we know what to look for:
1. who or what did the action of adoption?
2. clear comparison of numbers between?

Errors:

Opening v-ing modifier need to modify the doer of this action.
Gas emissions cannot adopt Paris agreement. This is the 100% error as we noticed from meaning analysis.
Moreover comparison is also shaky, heart of the comparison most probably between 3.4% increase of greenhouse gases increase in nations that ratify treaty and X% increase of greenhouse gases increase in nations that DID NOT ratify treaty. So we need answer choice that makes it clear.

POE

(A), (B) and (C) can be eliminated because of opening modifier error.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that

Between (D) and (E) --> (D) is much more clear and concise in comparison with (E).
(E) stull has unclear comparison.

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that


D is the answer.

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase
1) I would like to say that I dont like plurals possessive "nations’ average", but this is not a 100% rule
2) modifier is wrong "less than half as great as the increase", comparison is wrong

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as
1) "on average" now modifies 3.4%, should modify "emissions of greenhouse gases"
2) comparison still wrong, "an increase" compared to "in nations"

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
1) "average emissions" "increased", where is the helping verb?
2) still comparison issue as above

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that
I like this one
I dont see a problem with "have seen"
"that refers to "an increase", so we are comparing increase to increase, and thats fair

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that
Comparison error again

IMO
Ans: D

IMO D

(A) ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as the increase - The first sentence “In the five…adopting the Paris Agreement…change” is modifying whoever is adopting the treaty, that should be the “ratifying nations”, NOT the “ratifying nations’ average greenhouse gas emissions” (ratifying nations’ is possessive noun). Also what is “less” is not clear

(B) emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than half as great as - The first sentence “In the five…adopting the Paris Agreement…change” is modifying whoever is adopting the treaty, that should be the “ratifying nations”, NOT the “emissions”. Also “an increase less than half as great as” should be followed by “the increase” or a pronoun “that”

(C) average emissions of greenhouse gases in ratifying nations increased by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - The first sentence “In the five…adopting the Paris Agreement…change” is modifying whoever is adopting the treaty, that should be the “ratifying nations”, NOT the “average emissions”. Also what is “less” is not clear

(D) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half as great as that - Correct, opening sentence correctly modifies “ratifying nations”. Also “an increase less than half as great as that” is clear and complete

(E) ratifying nations have seen average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half as great as that - Though opening sentence correctly modifies “ratifying nations”, what is “less” is not clear

Let’s begin from the correct answer choice because it hugely helps figure out what errors other choices contain.

D. after adopting…, ratifying nations have seen average... increase by 3.4%, an increase less than...

1. Modifiers starting with preposition+ing at the beginning of a sentence talk about the subject of the following sentence. In other words, the subject of the following sentence is a doer (performer) of the action of preposition+ing:

I. After adopting the Paris Agreement, ratifying nations...

Here after adopting correctly refers to ratifying nations. Who adopted the agreement? Ratifying nations adopted. Correct modification.

II. After adopting the Paris Agreement, emissions of...

The subject of the following sentence is emissions, so after adopting incorrectly refers to emissions, because emissions can’t adopt any agreement. Incorrect modification.


2. Appositives are noun forms that appear side-by-side, with the second serving to explain or define the first:

I. ...average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, an increase less than half...

Two nouns that appear side-by-side are increase by 3.4% and an increase. The first noun is heavily camouflaged by noun modifiers (in blue) in order to make it tough to be discovered - average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%. The second noun an increase describes what kind increase is the first noun increase by 3.4%. So increase by 3.4 is less than half... Correct modification.

II. ...emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half...

Here less is an adverb describing the nearest action increased and its subject emissions in the preceding clause. So, how much did emissions increase? Emissions increased less than half. Correct modification.

III. ...emissions increased by 3.4%, an increase less than half...

This structure is the incorrect mix of I and II. Here an increase less than half... is an appositive (noun modifier), so it should refer to another logically similar noun in the preceding clause (as that in I). However, increased in the preceding clause is not a noun, but a verb. Incorrect modification.

IV. ...average greenhouse gas emissions increase by 3.4%, less than half...

Another Frankenstein’s monster that incorrectly combines I and II. increase by 3.4 is a noun, so we need a noun modifier (for example an appositive as that in I) to describe it. However, less than half… is an adverbial modifier and thus can’t refer to noun increase by 3.4. Incorrect modification.


3. While describing an action that started in the past and that continues up until now, Present Perfect is preferred to Past Simple.

I. In the five years after adopting..., have seen… is the correct tense to convey the continuity of the action. Preferred.

II. In the five years after adopting..., increased… is not preferred to convey the continuity of the action. Not preferred.


With all those above in mind, let’s begin to analyze the answer choice.

A. After adopting…, ratifying nations’... emissions increased by 3.4%, less than half...

Since the subject of the sentence is emissions, A has incorrect modification as that in 1-II.
A also has less preferred tense as that in 3-II.

B. After adopting…, emissions... increased by 3.4% on average, an increase less than...

Since the subject of the sentence is emissions, B has an incorrect modification as that in 1-II.
B also has incorrect modification as that in 2-III and less preferred tense as that in 3-II.

C. After adopting…, average emissions... increased by 3.4%, less than half...

Since the subject of the sentence is emissions, C has incorrect modification as that in 1-II.
C also has less preferred tense as that in 3-II.

E. ratifying nations... increase by 3.4%, less than half...

Finally our Frankenstein’s monster has incorrect modification as that in 2-IV.
Since less than half... is adverbial modifier, it illogically refers to the previous action have seen.
Thus the sentence becomes nonsensical nations have seen less than half…

D. ratifying nations... increase by 3.4%, an increase less than...

This one is the correct answer choice with preferred verb tense and a couple of correct modifications as those in 1-I, 2-I, and 3-I.

Hence D