Computerization and modern methods of managing voter registration have

Hi,

I am not sure if there is any pronoun error in A and C. Since "they can only refer to METHODS". Nouns/noun phrases in the sentence are "integrity of election results", "Computerization and modern methods". The integrity is singular so "they" can not refer to integrity.

I think it is because of the modifiers that we can eliminate A and C.

Thanks!!

Consider Kudos if I am right.. That shall motivate me..

Official Explanation

Answer: B The main problem with the sentence as written is the modifier at the end of the sentence. What has been ignored by the mainstream press is "a few private corporations," but starting the modifier with "having" means it should refer all the way to "they"--modern methods of voter registration. The mistake is repeated in (E), so we're left with the middle three choices. While the wording is different, the same mistake occurs in (C). "and have" turns "been ignored..." into the second part of a list, the first part is "placed ... trust." Again, the grammar indicates that the modern methods have been ignored by the press. That leaves (B) and (D). Choice (D) is an incomplete sentence. "placing unprecedented trust..." is a modifier of something that should come after it. However, there is no subject that corresponds with it. That leaves only (B), a complete sentence that correctly indicates that the private corporations are what has been ignored by the press. (B) is correct.

Isn't while-at the same time redundant here?

Cheers
J

The while is a Coordinating Conjunction. A coordinating conjunction connect words, phrases or clauses that are of equal importance or have the same grammatical structure within a sentence.

"Computerization and modern methods of managing voter registration have improved the integrity of election results ..." is an independent clause and while connects that clause to the dependent clause "at the same time placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations that have been ignored by the mainstream press since their nearly silent rise to power more than a decade ago."

Hi GmatNinja, Daagh

While is a subordinator, so after while there should be a clause. But in Option B there is no clause following while.

my train of thought.

first, eliminated A, B and C because they use while and at the same time together, both means the same thing actually.

then looked at D and E and neither of those are okay.

D) this is not a complete sentence. definitely eliminate.

E) parallelism error and having been doesn't modify corporations. again, definitely eliminate.

now we have to go back to A, B and C.

A) having. same mistake with E. definitely eliminate.

B) would not favor for it but it seems okay for now. let's have a look at C.

C) last part should modify corporations and that is not satisfied again. it changes the meaning. definitely eliminate.

stuck with B.

There are two things happening simultaneously, that is the point of the sentence. So there is no need to show contrast, meaning that ‘but’ is not needed. Thus, D and E can be discarded. In option A ‘having been ignores’ modifies the trust in the corporations, rather than the corporations themselves. Option C makes the same error with the phrase ‘have placed’. Thus, since it is the only possibility left, B is the correct option.

I did not quite understand the meaning of the sentence, what has been ignored?

Moreover, isn’t the usage of *while* and *at the same time* redundant???

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Computerization and modern methods of managing voter registration have improved the integrity of election results while at the same time they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having been ignored by the mainstream press since their nearly silent rise to power more than a decade ago.


(A) while at the same time they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having - COMMA + V-ING does not go with the subject

(B) while at the same time placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations that have - correct

(C) while they have placed unprecedented trust in a few private corporations at the same time, and have - ",and have" started another clause without a subject

(D) but placing unprecedented trust in a few private corporations at the same time that have - "that have" modifies incorrectly

(E) but at the same time place unprecedented trust in a few private corporations, having - same as A

there is a really huge modifier error in the sentence ,verb-ing modifiers are only used to modify the preceding clause but as per the sentence the modifier is modifying a plural noun "few private corporations" therefore we need to remove the "," comma and use a noun-modifier (ex: that) that refers to the specific corporations and hence

B is correct!

I feel option b is an Incomplete clause after while at the same time placing corporations that have.....

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