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09 Oct 2021, 23:09
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
71% (00:56) correct
29%
(01:09)
wrong
based on 392
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Mars, which was originally named after the Roman god of war, has been nicknamed the red planet because the iron oxide molecules prevalent on its surface gives them a reddish appearance.
A) prevalent on its surface gives them a reddish appearance
B) prevalent on their surface gives them a reddish appearance
C) prevalent on its surface give it a reddish appearance
D) prevailing on its surface give it a reddish appearance
E) prevailing on its surface gives them a reddish appearance
09 Oct 2021, 23:11
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
• Strategy tip
Especially when the answers are short and easy to scan vertically, do scan the options vertically before you try to figure out whether option A contains error.
Obviously, if an error in (A) jumps out at you, note it. Glance at the options anyway. There might be an issue that is easier to assess or more prevalent that only a quick scan of the options can provide.
A quick scan reveals four easy-to-spot differences among the options.
1) prevalent or prevailing is at the beginning of the option
2) the first pronoun is split between its and them
3) the verb is split between give and gives
4) the second pronoun is split between them and it
I would leave the first split alone for a while: analyzing diction (i.e., which is the better-chosen word) is harder than analyzing subject/verb agreement or noun/pronoun agreement.
I would pursue subject verb agreement first, but because this question tests two pronouns, for the sake of the OE I will start with pronouns.
• Split #1 Noun-pronoun disagreement #1
Iron oxide molecules are present on _____ surface. Its or theirs?
The surface must refer to Mars, singular. (The only surface at issue is the surface of the planet Mars.)
The first pronoun should be its.
Option B incorrectly uses their.
ELIMINATE B
• Split #1 Noun-pronoun disagreement #2
What about the second pronoun?
Iron oxide molecules prevalent on the surface of Mars give what a reddish appearance?
Logically, this pronoun must also refer to Mars, the “red planet.”
The pronoun them would imply that iron oxide molecules give themselves a red appearance, a meaning that is illogical—even absurd.
So the second pronoun must also be singular and should be it.
Options A and E incorrectly use them.
Eliminate A and E.
• Split #3 – Diction: prevalent or prevailing?
Diction essentially refers to choosing the right word and putting it in the right place.
If you read a decent bit (as in, 30 minutes a day, six days a week), you will easily choose prevalent over prevailing.
Prevalent means widespread in a particular area at a particular time.
→ Malaria is prevalent in warm climates such as those found in tropical and subtropical countries.
→ PTSD is prevalent among U.S. veterans who served abroad.
Oxford online dictionary, here.
Prevailing means existing at a particular time; current; or having the most influence or appeal.
→ the prevailing market price, prevailing winds in the atmosphere, or a prevailing ideology
Oxford online dictionary, here.
The iron oxide molecules are not "current," as in "subject to change." The molecules are present in abundance on the surface of Mars—they are prevalent.
Option D is not as good as option C because the former uses prevailing whereas the latter uses prevalent.
ELIMINATE D
• Another error
→ Subject/verb
The subject of the because-clause is molecules, plural.
Those iron oxide molecules give the surface a reddish appearance.
Answers A, B, and E incorrectly pair the singular verb gives with the plural subject molecules.
The correct answer is C..
COMMENTS
Rainman91 , welcome to SC Butler.
I’ll keep these comments brief because I am posting a few OEs tonight.
These answers are very good and explain well.
Explanation is key; if you can explain a concept, you are well on your way to having mastered it.
Rainman91 , I am bumping you to Best Community Reply.
Nice work, everyone.
Quote:
• Strategy tip
Especially when the answers are short and easy to scan vertically, do scan the options vertically before you try to figure out whether option A contains error.
Obviously, if an error in (A) jumps out at you, note it. Glance at the options anyway. There might be an issue that is easier to assess or more prevalent that only a quick scan of the options can provide.
A quick scan reveals four easy-to-spot differences among the options.
1) prevalent or prevailing is at the beginning of the option
2) the first pronoun is split between its and them
3) the verb is split between give and gives
4) the second pronoun is split between them and it
I would leave the first split alone for a while: analyzing diction (i.e., which is the better-chosen word) is harder than analyzing subject/verb agreement or noun/pronoun agreement.
I would pursue subject verb agreement first, but because this question tests two pronouns, for the sake of the OE I will start with pronouns.
• Split #1 Noun-pronoun disagreement #1
Iron oxide molecules are present on _____ surface. Its or theirs?
The surface must refer to Mars, singular. (The only surface at issue is the surface of the planet Mars.)
The first pronoun should be its.
Option B incorrectly uses their.
ELIMINATE B
• Split #1 Noun-pronoun disagreement #2
What about the second pronoun?
Iron oxide molecules prevalent on the surface of Mars give what a reddish appearance?
Logically, this pronoun must also refer to Mars, the “red planet.”
The pronoun them would imply that iron oxide molecules give themselves a red appearance, a meaning that is illogical—even absurd.
So the second pronoun must also be singular and should be it.
Options A and E incorrectly use them.
Eliminate A and E.
• Split #3 – Diction: prevalent or prevailing?
Diction essentially refers to choosing the right word and putting it in the right place.
If you read a decent bit (as in, 30 minutes a day, six days a week), you will easily choose prevalent over prevailing.
Prevalent means widespread in a particular area at a particular time.
→ Malaria is prevalent in warm climates such as those found in tropical and subtropical countries.
→ PTSD is prevalent among U.S. veterans who served abroad.
Oxford online dictionary, here.
Prevailing means existing at a particular time; current; or having the most influence or appeal.
→ the prevailing market price, prevailing winds in the atmosphere, or a prevailing ideology
Oxford online dictionary, here.
The iron oxide molecules are not "current," as in "subject to change." The molecules are present in abundance on the surface of Mars—they are prevalent.
Option D is not as good as option C because the former uses prevailing whereas the latter uses prevalent.
ELIMINATE D
• Another error
→ Subject/verb
The subject of the because-clause is molecules, plural.
Those iron oxide molecules give the surface a reddish appearance.
Answers A, B, and E incorrectly pair the singular verb gives with the plural subject molecules.
The correct answer is C..
COMMENTS
Rainman91 , welcome to SC Butler.
I’ll keep these comments brief because I am posting a few OEs tonight.
These answers are very good and explain well.
Explanation is key; if you can explain a concept, you are well on your way to having mastered it.
Rainman91 , I am bumping you to Best Community Reply.
Nice work, everyone.
10 Oct 2021, 19:22
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generis
Step 1: Understand the sentence as a whole.
Mars was given a nickname the red planet. Why? Because there are some molecules on the surface that gives it a reddish color.
Step 2: Identify the problem with the original sentence
Prevalent on its surface (Preposition modifying molecules), GIVES (Red alert, because molecules is singular)
THEM? Them as in the molecules gives the molecules? Another pronoun mistake.
Eliminate (On test day 1 bullet is enough to discard the choice)
Step 3: Eliminate 4 wrong answers
B: Prevalent on "their"? What does their refer to? If you can't eliminate here, you can do so because you see gives again.
C: Prevalent on its surface give it... its is singular with Mars. Give is also plural verb with Molecules. Another it. If you are confused about so many pronoun "it", keep this answer for now.
D: Have to eliminate this based on a meaning approach. Prevailing is continuous tense. Is it necessary? We are just stating facts. When we state facts, simple tenses suffice. This makes C slightly better.
(Remember non Native English speakers, idioms should be the last reason to eliminate an answer. There will always be something else that is also a mistake)
E: Gives them (SV and pronoun error regarding Molecules and Mars. Out)
Answer C.
