In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induc

In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant
(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant
(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it
(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

Important lesson for GMAT: : avoid gerund(e.g. trying) with possessive noun(e.g. organism's)

So A & B are out!!
C & D are out because of "attempt to try" as use attempt or try i.e. redundant error

so we are left with Correct choice E

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of the grammatical usage of or, AjiteshArun, and whether my own view is correct or incorrect, I would like the entire community to understand the logic behind why I would say so. According to Dictionary.com, an admittedly American source, there are six ways in which or may be used as a conjunction. When it is used to introduce another option, that second option is not contained within commas. The double commas make all the difference in intended meaning. Consider the following examples:

1) The police are trying to ascertain whether Tony or the magician committed the crime.
In this sentence, there are two suspects, Tony or the magician. The magician is the other option, fitting the first definition of or from the source I cited.

2) The police are trying to ascertain whether Tony, or the magician, committed the crime.
In this sentence, there is a single suspect, Tony, who may have been dressed as a magician (for whatever reason) or known as a magician. The magician is not another option, unless the sentence is going back against itself, but is instead an alternative form of the same noun, fitting the second definition of or.

Getting to the point, in the sentence at hand, or render harmless is contained within double commas in every answer choice, so we cannot even suggest that one version is better than another on those grounds. If or were being used to introduce another option, then I would expect the answer to read,

(E) attempt to metabolize or render harmless the chemical irritant

I would have no qualms about such a sentence, nor would any grammarian or linguist I know. Now, like you, I am not an expert in biochemistry, and dioxins and such are beyond my ken, nor would I make the argument that metabolism and the act of rendering an irritant harmless were synonymous. But in terms of the grammatical structure of the sentence at hand, since the double commas are compulsory, I can only stand behind two potential uses of or, per the definitions I have been referring to all along:

"2 used to connect alternative terms for the same thing
the Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands.

"4 used to correct or rephrase what was previously said
His autobiography, or rather memoirs, will soon be ready for publication."

There is one more possibility that I should consider. There could be a difference between American and British English that I am unaware of that could account for the different perspectives. If so, would you please make me aware of some source material (perhaps the OED) that would back up your interpretation?

Thank you. As I like to say, this is all in the interest of helping the community better understand this test. My quarrel is not with you--I respect what you have to say, end of story--but I do take issue with unsubstantiated opinions when they come from Experts, since such opinions can lead readers astray.

- Andrew
_________________

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that dioxin induces the production of those enzymes that are the organism’s attempt to metabolize the chemical irritant.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Pronouns + Idioms + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• “to try to” is a correct idiomatic usage.
• "attempt + to" is the correct idiomatic construction

A: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "organism’s trying"; the construction of this phrase produces an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that dioxin induces the production of those enzymes that are the organism’s attempt to metabolize the chemical irritant. Further, Option A uses the needlessly wordy phrase "the chemical that is irritating it", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

B: The sentence formed by this answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "organism’s trying"; the construction of this phrase produces an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that dioxin induces the production of those enzymes that are the organism’s attempt to metabolize the chemical irritant.

C: This answer choice suffers from pronoun error, as the pronoun phrase "such a chemical irritant" lacks a clear and logical referent. Further, Option C redundantly uses "attempt to" alongside "try to", rendering it awkward and needlessly wordy.

D: This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction “to try and” rather than the idiomatic construction “to try to”; please remember, “to try to” is a correct idiomatic usage. Further, Option D uses the needlessly wordy phrases "attempt to try" and "the chemical irritating it", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E: Correct. The sentence formed by this answer choice uses the phrase "organism's attempt", conveying the intended meaning - that dioxin induces the production of those enzymes that are the organism’s attempt to metabolize the chemical irritant. Further, Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Option C, as it uses no pronouns. Additionally, Option E correctly uses the idiomatic construction "attempt to", avoiding the idiom error seen in Option D; remember, "attempt + to" is the correct idiomatic construction. Besides, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
_________________

The basic structure of the sentence is this:

... dioxin induces the production of enzymes (that clause modifying enzymes).
that clause - that (enzymes) are the organism’s attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant.

Since we have organism's before the start of the underlined part, we are looking for a noun right after it. Hence, we use attempt.
If we use 'attempt', we don't need to use 'try'. Attempt already means try.

Further, the parallel elements are: attempt to metabolize, or render harmless the chemical irritant
So these two are in parallel:
- attempt to metabolise the chemical irritant
- attempt to render harmless the chemical irritant

Answer (E)
_________________

In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant
(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant
(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it
(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

So first of all it does not sound good . If it were like

"enzymes are trying...." or like then it would have need our consideration. SO A, B are wrong and we have to use attempt.

(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant (Wordy as attempt to try to...its like saying repeating again )
(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it (Wordy)
(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

E is clear winner and it has to be the OA.

(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it - Awkward

(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant - Awkward

(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant - Redundant

(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it - Redundant

(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant - Correct. the noun 'attempt' replaces the gerund 'trying'
_________________

Hi there,

You are correct in saying that the plural verb "are" indicates that "that" refers to enzymes. The meaning is that dioxin induces something: what does it induce? It induces the production of enzymes. These enzymes are the organism's attempt to metabolize the chemical or render it harmless. I agree that it would be more logical to infer that the production of the enzymes should be the entity being modified, but from the intended meaning of the sentence, it is clear that "that are" refers to enzymes since this part is not underlined.

I hope this helps!

Regards,
Meghna
_________________

In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant
(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant
(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it
(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant

ANS - OA is E .

Lets eliminate incorrect option .

A. organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.
Possesive + participle is always wrong .
It is a strict NO NO. Never choose a choice that has this formation. For example, "organism’s trying" is wrong .

B. organism’s trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant .
Possesive + participle is always wrong .
It is a strict NO NO. Never choose a choice that has this formation. For example, "organism’s trying" is wrong .
" Trying " will always take "to"
this answer has 2 mistakes .

C. organism’s attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant .
It is redundant and awkward . either it should be attempt to metabolize or try to metabolize.
both "try and attempt " at a same time redunt .

D. organism’s attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it .
Incorrect idomatic . To try and metabolize is wrong . to try to is right .

E. organism’s attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant .
Correct .

Hello, adkikani. Thank you for tagging me. This or phrase is a non-essential part of the sentence that is interrupting the embedded clause, namely that are the organism's attempt to metabolize the chemical irritant. It is acting to describe the process in different terms, nothing more. Notice that you could just as easily create an embedded clause that ran, that are the organism's attempt to render harmless the chemical irritant. The double commas in the answer choice indicate that the or phrase is simply redefining or describing the same process that was mentioned just before. Hence, the two verbs are parallel to each other and no noun. As for your question about what is performing the functions, it is the organism that is trying to render harmless a chemical irritant. How does it do this? It, the organism, produces enzymes through a dioxin pathway in its tissues.

I hope that helps. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

- Andrew
_________________

Hi adkikani,

We can read the sentence that option E leads to like this:
...dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant.

I don't know anything about dioxins (or enzymes, or metabolism... ), but I read that or as introducing another option. That is, it is not the same thing, but an alternative. The enzymes are an attempt to (a) metabolize or (b) render harmless {something}.
_________________

A) Trying is wrong : -ing here working as noun, which is not desirable
B) Same as A
C) Attempt and Try means same thing, thus redundancy
D) Same as C. Also we cannot use pronoun "it" for possesive noun
E) Correct

Hi thangvietnam,

Adopting in answer choice (C) is correct.

In the question you mentioned correct answer is (C)

Option (B) has meaning error-- As per the sentence the imposition is on

1) Truck
2) Bus Engine's polution

Actually the imposition is on pollution by engines of both truck and bus, making (B) incorrect

Both of the modified options below are correct

(B) to impose new controls on pollution from truck and bus engines by the joint adoption of
(C) to impose new controls on pollution from truck and bus engines by jointly adopting

joint adoption and jointly adopting -- both are correct;

Hope it helps.

Vercules
_________________

'Attempt' and 'to try' mean the same thing hence, redundant.
_________________

The use of participles with possessive nouns end up as awkward sentences.

In the options, we see that ‘attempt to’ makes better sense when used with the possessive organism’s.

Eliminate Options A and B.

The use of ‘attempt to try’ although informal/colloquial is redundant.
We need only ‘attempt’ here.

Eliminate Options C and D.

Option E is the best choice.

Hope this helps!
_________________

My attempt:
In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, dioxin induces the production of enzymes that are the organism’s trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it.


(A) trying to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical that is irritating it the use of trying to is wrong and the use of pronoun it is not claer

(B) trying that it metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant the use of training that is wrong

(C) attempt to try to metabolize, or render harmless, such a chemical irritant the use of attempt to and try to is redundant

(D) attempt to try and metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritating it the use of attempt to and try to is redundant and the use of pronoun it is not clear

(E) attempt to metabolize, or render harmless, the chemical irritant this is my answer.

I was stuck between D and E. Picked D
Could you explain the issues in D? As in, which part is redundant?

VeritasKarishma MentorTutoring Abhi077 AjiteshArun

Can you confirm sentence structure and parallel list here:
In virtually all types of tissue in every animal species, (opening modifer that modifies dioxin)
dioxin induces the production of enzymes (independent clause -1)
that
are the organism’s trying to

• attempt to metabolize,
• or render harmless,
• the chemical irritant

I can not understand how attempt to metabolize (infinitive form of verb) , render harmless (verb) is
||el to chemical irritant (a noun)? Is the list functions performed by enzymes or organisms?

Furthermore, if OR is a ||el marker. why we do not have OR before RENDER in (E)?
_________________

Hi AndrewN,

I respect your opinion as well, and I thank you for removing the word “dangerous” (to describe my opinions) from your reply, which was uncalled for. I don't think that people looking to take the GMAT need to worry about the point we're discussing, but to be very clear: I maintain my position that there is no one way to read that phrase without using outside knowledge.

For anyone else who may have found this (experts taking opposite positions) confusing:
1. Generally speaking, with a few exceptions, the usage of commas is not something governed by very strong rules. Most such “rules” are in fact guidelines, and there is plenty of disagreement over how commas can, or should, be used.

2. I don’t believe that an or within a pair of commas can be used in only one way. To assert that there is only one way to use “, or… ,” in the English language is, to me, absurd.

3. Normally, the opinion that matters the most is the GMAT’s, but we just don’t see the GMAT asking us to take decisions on the basis of anything this nuanced. Apart from a few issues (like comma splices), test takers should be able to ignore overly prescriptive advice about commas.
_________________

An odd time to return to this old post, AjiteshArun. From what I can tell, I have not edited my earlier posts, but regardless, I would like to publicly apologize for prompting such a response nine months after the fact. To be clear, I agree with all three points you have listed above; in fact, speaking to the second, I cited more than one way to interpret the or within commas and opened the door to other possibilities. Ever since writing that post, however, I have thought that I could have aimed to make a point with a bit more tact.

I hope all is well on your end, and I look forward to reading more of your posts in the forum.

- Andrew
_________________