In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breed

To control "their" spread, whose spread? Weather? Locusts ? Or anything else? Not clear.
Eliminate B and C

In A and E, which/and is ambiguous, who is creating surge? Locusts or weather? the word create after which/and, is separating the cause and its effect. There are two possible meaning of the sentence ,

1) weather creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread.
2) Locusts creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread.
No one specific meaning. Eliminate A and E

D is better choice

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In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts, which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread.

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

which represents locusts which causes error in meaning locusts dont create a surge in population its breeding conditions. eliminated option A, B, C (use of whose is incorrect)

Use of singular verb creates is incorrect in option E.

IMO D use of modifier correct also eliminates meaning, pronoun and S-V error.

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread

=> Modifier error: The modifier 'which' incorrectly modifies locusts. Rather the result of producing ideal situations is creating a surge in population

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread

=> Same modifier error exists as in A

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities

=> Meaning Error: What does influence surge in population? Nothing is here
=> Whose ability are we talking about?

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

=> Yes, the result of producing ideal situations is creating a surge in population.(verb-ing modifier properly shows the result of immediate clause)

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

=> Meaning changed. No cause-effect presents here
=> SV error: mild and rainy winters ...creates

'Which' is a noun modifier and it typically modifies the noun closest to it, in this case 'locusts'. Logically though it makes no sense, locusts don't create a surge in their population, rather the breeding conditions create a surge in locust population. Quickly eliminate A and B.

In E, the underlined portion starts with 'and creates' but there is nothing that it can be parallel to. The only logical verb it can be parallel to is 'produce' but again 'creates' doesn't agree in number.

Between C and D:
D is more clear in meaning, 'comma-ing' modifier correctly modifies the entire preceding clause. I don't think there is a whole lot wrong with C either, except a really subtle meaning difference.

I'll pick D and move forward.
generis please give some clarity between C and D

imo D


In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts, which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread.

Meaning : In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts. These ideal breeding conditions are resulting a surge in population . The population outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread .

Error Analysis :

1. which seems to refer to locusts . Ideally it should refer to breeding conditions .
2. Meaning issue. The way the original choice is structured , it is not showing the result of the clause - mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts .


A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread
-- Error mentioned as above

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread
-- same error as choice A

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities


1. Meaning error as discussed above. The way the original choice is structured , it is not showing the result of the clause - mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts .


D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread
--Correct ,creating modifier .. correctly fixed the meaning issue by presenting the result of the previous clause .

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread[/quote]


1.SV error .. mild and rainy winters is plural . So creates is wrong .
2. Meaning error as discussed above


So D is the best ans .

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread
-- Incorrect: which modifies locusts, however it should modify breeding conditions. Also S-V error with creates.

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread
breeding conditions
-- Incorrect: which modifies locusts, however it should modify breeding conditions. Also S-V error with creates. and use of their is ambiguous.

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities
-- S-V error with creates; use of their is ambiguous; "of the ability to control their spread by authorities" is passive.

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread
-- Correctly conveys cause effect relation.

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread
-- S-V error with creates

"which" is referring back to locusts.it locusts aren't creating a surge,weather conditions are.Hence A and B are out.
E,SV agreement ."creates" is wrong in use.
between C and D,C is in passive voice. So,D is better choice.
Answer D

In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts, which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread.

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread

SV error

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread

SV error

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities

SV error , awakward construction and passive form

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

correct

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

parallel error

In my opinion, D is the correct answer.

1. The verb in modifier should support for the noun before "which", which is "locusts"
--> Eliminate A, B, E because "creates" is in single form while "locusts" is plural form

2. In option C, not clear in meaning which create the surge and who has the ability to control
--> Eliminate C because of meaning error

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts, which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread.

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread[/quote]
• Meaning?
Ideal breeding conditions for locusts create a population surge that grows faster than the authorities' ability to control the insects' spread.

• Split #1: The Missing Antecedent for which

The word which in options A and B has no referent.

→ Logically, the word which should refer to the creation of ideal breeding conditions by mild and rainy winters, but the noun creation is not actually stated.
The word which cannot refer to an idea expressed in the previous clause but not actually stated as a noun.

→ Most of the time, because the "Touch Rule" requires that noun modifiers be as close as possible to the noun they modify, which refers to the immediately preceding noun—in this case, locusts.
That reference is illogical.
True, locusts did indeed surge in population.
But locusts did not themselves create the conditions for that surge; the creation of ideal breeding grounds did so.
(You could also argue that which refers to breeding grounds or weather conditions. Either way, which needs a plural verb._

Furthermore, grammatically, which cannot refer to locusts because the singular verb creates requires a singular antecedent, and the word locusts is plural.
There is no singular noun to which creates could plausibly refer; the Southern Hemisphere does not create a surge in the locust population.

Eliminate A and B

• Split #2: Subject/verb agreement

In option E, the singular verb creates does not agree with the plural subject winters.
Nor is creates parallel to produce.

Finally, the words which and that are not interchangeable.
→ that introduces essential material and is almost never preceded or flanked by commas.
→ which introduces nonessential material and must be preceded or flank by commas.
If you see a sentence with the word which functions as it does here and is not preceded by a comma, look at that sentence again.

In British English, which and that are interchangeable. Not so on the GMAT.

Eliminate E

• Split #3: Clearer Meaning and construction

We have narrowed the choices to (C) and (D).
If you are reading 10-20 minutes every day, choosing between those two should take very little time.
→ Option C is inferior to D.
This phrase in C is tortured prose: outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities
That phrase is also slightly ridiculous.
Read carefully. It suggests that the authorities themselves are facilitating the locusts' spread.

DeepakKumar24 , you are spot on to be pulled between options C and D.
Then you did the right thing: you trusted your instincts.
Option C may be grammatical. It may not suggest the nonsensical. (I think it does so).
But (C) is not as clear or logical as D, full stop.

Eliminate C

The correct answer is D.
The participle creating joins the two clauses in which it is clear that authorities are responsible for controlling the insects' spread.

Notes

GMAC really likes to test [comma + which] against [comma + ____ING]
The relative pronoun which must modify a noun.

A participle (verbING) can modify the entire preceding clause.
Fairly often, the participial phrase (the verbING phrase) will present the result or outcome of the previous clause.
The verbING phrase is not required to present a result, though.

(I cannot tell from the tone in some posts whether people believe that an ___ING word like that in (D) must present a result of the previous clause.
The answer is no: although that construction is fairly common, __ING modifiers are not confined merely to expressing results. I'm just being sure.)

Finally, keep your eye on the verb after the word which.
Because which must refer to a previous noun, if there is doubt and two nouns are different in number, let the verb that accompanies which tell you whether the antecedent is singular or plural.

COMMENTS

HoneyLemon and Urika5 , welcome to SC Butler.

I am glad to see others here whom I have not seen for quite a while.
Of course, I am happy to see all participants.

I am also happy to be listening to the news. (Generally, I cannot stand to write while I can hear other people speaking.)
A granddaughter of Chennai and of Jamaica just made history in my country.

Well-explained correct answers get kudos.

IMO D

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread - WHICH ? ( X )

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread - WHich iscreating the sentence Ambiguous. ( X )

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities - WHOSE ? ( X )

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread - Creating = which makes it ' Ing ' is correctly used. ( ✔ )

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread - Wrong ( X )

My best Guess is C for Two reason:
Idiom- ability to is correct
not ability of
So eliminating-D,E
In A and B- Use of Which is wrong.


In the Southern Hemisphere, mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding conditions for locusts, which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread.

A) which creates a surge in population outpacing the authorities’ ability to control the insects’ spread

B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread

C) whose surge in population creates an outpacing of the ability to control their spread by authorities
Whose and their- referring correctly to Locust

D) creating a surge in population that outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread
Incorrect Idiom

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread[/quote]
Incorrect Idiom

Please correct me if i am wrong

A. Which - not a good option to modify sentence

B. Same as B

C. Creates and outpacing using both is redundant furthermore usage of whose makes it little awkward giving passive tone

D. Correct

E. "Ability of"- awkward usage

So Answer Would Be D

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B) which creates a surge in population that outpaces the authorities’ ability to control their spread


1. A noun form of verb is always wrong.
2. By authorities is passive and placement is improper as well.

Perfect use of verbing and verb outpaces.

E) and creates a surge in population which outpaces the ability of authorities to control the insects’ spread

and changes meaning, creates "x" is the result of mild and rainy winters produce ideal breeding, hence Verbing is correct.

D

The official explanation is here.

An easy way to eliminate E is to notice that there is a comma before the “and”. This means that what follows the conjunction needs to be an independent clause. In the choice, what follows the “and” is NOT an independent clause.

IMO D.

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