Alternately called typhoons, hurricanes, and tropical depressions, met

D seems to be concise. Modifier error only b c D are left. C change of meaning factors recognized by ppl. B wrong ppl didnt recognize the cyclones but how they formed. So d is best.

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In option D, meteorologists recognize is the S-V pair, placed within commas. Can anyone enlighten me on how to differentiate between the run-ons and the non-essential modifiers such as these(A complete S-V clause)?

What we need to realize here first is that this is a classic Modifier question. Once you have that down, the key to solving it is to understand that the dependent clause beginning with ‘Alternately’ contains a list.

Now, you need to figure out two things:
1. What is the subject that should be modified
2. Is the right subject being modified

In the sentence, the subject is ‘cyclones’ which does not come after the dependent clause.
Based on this we can now look at the options

A – Alternately called A, B, and C, meteorologists generally… Eliminate
E – Wrong subject is modified … Eliminate

Now, let’s look at B, C, and D

B – wrong verb form is used … Eliminate
C – the issue with the verb remains. Plus, there is a change in the intended meaning: this option suggests that meteorologists recognized only six different factors … Eliminate
D – This is the correct answer. The subject comes after the modifier and the correct verb form ‘are formed’ is used.

Hope this helps!

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-



Choice A: In this answer choice, the phrase "Alternately called typhoons, hurricanes, and tropical depressions" is incorrectly modifying the noun "meteorologists" rather than "cyclones". Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice B: In this answer choice, the active voice is incorrectly used; as cyclones do not form of their own accord, the sentence must utilize the passive voice. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice C: This answer choice repeats the active voice error found in Option B. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice D: This answer choice correctly utilizes the passive voice and avoids modifier errors. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Choice E: This answer choice repeats the same error found in Option A. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Hence, D is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Alternately called typhoons, hurricanes, and tropical depressions, meteorologists generally recognize, six different factors contributing to cyclone formation.

Here typhoons, hurricanes and tropical depressions are synonymous to cyclones,
So why not B

Every answer choice here is pretty bad, and I don't think this would fly on the GMAT. A cyclone can't form or be formed from contributions. It might be formed BY contributions or AS A RESULT of contributions or IN RESPONSE TO contributions, but it can't be MADE of contributions.

Arindamad I'm not quite following your question about B. The version you're quoting is an altered form of A. Without the commas, A is saying that meteorologists are called typhoons, etc. With the commas you've added, the six different factors are called typhoons, etc. Neither version correctly places the initial noun modifier next to "cyclones." B does fix that problem, so it's much better than A, but as others have pointed out, it makes more sense to say that these factors form the cyclones, rather than that the cyclones form themselves. In any case, I'd throw out all five and study a better question.

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