Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average

Question

Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore.  

A.Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore. 

B.Over the course of the eighteenth century a tripling in the average output of ironwork was due to the replacement of charcoal by coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, in addition to several improvements in blowing machinery. 

C.With charcoalâ€™s being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century. 

D.The replacement of charcoal with coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century. 

E.Charcoal being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, and several improvements in blowing machinery, which tripled the average output of ironwork over the course of the eighteenth century.

christoph · Answer

A)...

B) modifier problem: the last phrase modifies what ?
C) use of prossessive "charcoalâ€™s" is wrong
D) run-on-sentence
E) modifier problem: the relative clause modifies what ?

automan · Answer

Agree with christoph. I choose A using the same reasoning that he uses.

vivek123 · Answer

'A' is the best of the rest.

In 'A', as a result of X & because Y --> doesn't it sound fishy?

andy_gr8 · Answer

Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore. 

A.Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average output of ironwork tripled as a result of several improvements in blowing machinery and because coal replaced charcoal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore. 

B.Over the course of the eighteenth century a tripling in the average output of ironwork was due to the replacement of charcoal by coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, in addition to several improvements in blowing machinery. 

C.With charcoalâ€™s being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century. 

D.The replacement of charcoal with coal for the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore and several improvements in blowing machinery, the average output of ironwork tripled over the eighteenth century. 

E.Charcoal being replaced by coal as the fuel used in the smelting of iron ore, and several improvements in blowing machinery, which tripled the average output of ironwork over the course of the eighteenth century.


Difficult one
Looks like C. 
A: Dangling Modifier
B: tripling is making the sentence awkward
C:
D & E: modifers looks like in wrong positions..

GMATT73 · Answer

(A) isn`t a perfect sentence, but it`s definately the lesser of the evils.

desiguy · Answer

Clear A. I think we can quickly eliminate C, D, E because of the reference/modifier.

Over the course of the eighteenth century, the average

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