When adjusted for body weight, children of various age groups in the

E ?

The modified entity should not be Children and geography should be common to both, children and adult.

I think the answer is B

"When adjusted for body weight" this should logically describe caffeine. Hence, A.C.D are out.
E mistakenly put by average adult, it should be the average amount intake by adult.
I will go with B

"When adjusted for body weight" should modify caffeine intake, so A,C,D out.
E Children vs the average adult, leave me with B.

Similar sentence:
When adjusted for body weight, the concentration of urinary As species excreted in children was 1.5 1.9 times that of adults.

LOl. We dont have an average adult. we have average comsumption of adults.

Official Explanation

Logical predication; Rhetorical construction

In a study quantifying caffeine intake averages among children in the United States, an adjustment in the children's caffeine-intake averages was made for body weight, which varies with age group.

A. In this choice, the modifying phrase adjusted for body weight is incorrectly applied to children.

B. Correct. The modifying phrase adjusted for body weight correctly applies to the caffeine intake of children of various age groups. Furthermore, the caffeine intake of children is correctly compared with the average amount consumed by adults.

C. In this choice, the modifying phrase adjusted for body weight is incorrectly applied to various age groups of children.

D. In this choice, the modifying phrase adjusted for body weight is incorrectly applied to children of various age groups.

E. The word that in the phrase of that consumed by the average adult actually refers to caffeine intake. This creates a nonsensical redundancy suggesting that the caffeine intake itself is what is consumed.

The correct answer is B.

A, C and D are incorrect because of the opening modifier incorrectly modifying "children" instead of caffeine intake

B When adjusted for body weight, in the united states, the caffeine intake of children in various age groups ranges from x to y of that (intake) consumed by the average adult

E is incorrect because of "that" - i.e.e "the caffeine intake of children...ranges from 36-58% of that (caffeine intake) consumed by the average adult"

I saw this and thought this was why it was wrong, but then I actually eliminated E because I also saw that E doesn't restrict the caffeine or children to the united states as well as B does.


B is Correct- compares that amount consumed specifically by children in the united states

Hie I have one question here . We are rejecting children (plural) comparison with singular just on basis of logic right? otherwise I dont think there exists a rule that prohibits comparison of an adult's intake with children's intake .

Hello Everyone!

Let's tackle this question, one thing at a time, and narrow down our options quickly so we know how to answer questions like this when they pop up on the GMAT! To begin, let's take a quick look at the question and highlight any major differences between the options in orange:

When adjusted for body weight, children of various age groups in the United States have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults.

(A) children of various age groups in the United States have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults
(B) the caffeine intake of children of various age groups in the United States ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults
(C) various age groups of children in the United States range in caffeine intake from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult
(D) in the United States, children of various age groups have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average adult’s consumption
(E) in the United States, the caffeine intake of children in various age groups ranges from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult

After a quick glance at the options, we have a couple places we can focus on to eliminate wrong options:

1. "children of various age groups" / "the caffeine intake of children of various age groups" / "various age groups of children" (Modifier-Antecedent Agreement)
2. "of the average amount consumed by adults" / "of that consumed by the average adult" / "of the average adult's consumption" (Meaning & Pronouns)

Let's start with #1 on our list: modifier-antecedent agreement. We need to make sure that whatever comes directly after the modifier "When adjusted for body weight" makes logical sense. WHAT was adjusted for body weight? Let's take a closer look at each option to decide what makes the most sense:

(A) children of various age groups in the United States have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults
This is INCORRECT because the children are not adjusted for weight - their weight stays the same. The caffeine intake IS, in fact, adjusted based on the weight of children in each age group.

(B) the caffeine intake of children of various age groups in the United States ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults
This is OKAY for now. It makes sense to say that the caffeine intake was adjusted for weight, not the children themselves.

(C) various age groups of children in the United States range in caffeine intake from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult
This is INCORRECT because you don't want to adjust the age groups for weight - you want to adjust the caffeine intake based on a child's weight.

(D) in the United States, children of various age groups have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average adult’s consumption
Again, this is INCORRECT because we aren't trying to adjust the children for weight. That doesn't really make sense here.

(E) in the United States, the caffeine intake of children in various age groups ranges from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult
This is OKAY for now because "the caffeine intake" is being adjusted for weight, which makes sense.

We can eliminate options A, C, & D because the antecedent doesn't logically match up with the modifier. Now that we have it narrowed down to only 2 options, let's take a closer look at each one and determine which one is better. To make problems easier to spot, let's also add in the non-underlined portion:

(B) When adjusted for body weight, the caffeine intake of children of various age groups in the United States ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults.

This is our CORRECT choice. The modifier and antecedent are located directly next to each other for clarity. The comparison at the end also makes logical sense (comparing the caffeine intake of children to the average caffeine intake of adults).

(E) When adjusted for body weight, in the United States, the caffeine intake of children in various age groups ranges from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult.

This is INCORRECT for a couple reasons. First, moving the phrase "in the United States" to where it is and placing it between commas changes the meaning a bit. It almost suggests that the body weight adjustments take place in the United States, which is odd. This sentence is also saying that the fact that these children are in the United States is NOT important information - which is absolutely is! We're only comparing children in the United States, not children from all over the world. Second, the addition of the pronoun "that" at the end is problematic. The pronoun "that" is replacing "caffeine intake" here - which isn't what's being consumed by the average adult. This creates a redundancy that doesn't make sense - people consume caffeine, they don't consume caffeine intake.


There you have it - option B is the most logical and clear choice!


Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

A primer:
When a sentence starts with a subordinate clause, it should modifying the subject of the sentence - In this sentence the modifier is 'When...body weight'. If you get to this pretty early while solving more than half the work is done in this question.

So, three errors that i found:
1. Modifier issue - illogical subject modification
2. Comparison issue - average of children intake to that of adult, though not a real comparison.
3. Prepositional phrase - in D and E.

What can be adjusted for body weight? Can it be United states, Children or age groups of children or caffeine intake of children?
Not knowing what modifier is modifying i thought of whether it was sort of BMI(Body Mass Index) parameter - size of body of someone as per mass compared to someone else's. Though it is external knowledge but it helps to understand.

United States can't be the subject for two reasons - one that it is in prepositional phrase and second it being an illogical fit. Also, I don't know whether the preposition phrase 'ín the United States' in D and E or in general is wrong. But here it suggests the modification in the United States, however, was it just meant to be there. Logical it is meant that caffeine intake of children is adjusted for body weight relative to that of adult to give a range.
Similarly, age groups and children can't be the subjects for they make illogical argument.
Thus, we are left with caffeine intake of children which totally makes sense.

Hence, only B is left.

However, D and E is wrong for one more reason. The comparison of average caffeine intake of children with average caffeine intake of adult. 'Average adult’s consumption' OR 'that consumed by the average adult' is different in meaning than 'average caffeine intake of adult'. Finally, 'that' in C and E refer to 'caffeine intake' when it should refer to 'çaffeine' only.

I got this one right second time and that too in 1:21 compared to 2:13(incorrect) first time. Redoing Manhattan SC Guide seems to be helping.

Note: On reversing the sentence, we get "The caffeine intake of children of various age groups in the United States ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults, when adjusted for body weight". IC, DC. But this is just to understand because the B's structure is superior to this modified one.

Answer B.

When adjusted for body weight, children of various age groups in the United States have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults.


(A) children of various age groups in the United States have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults

Children is not the correct antecedent -- caffeine intake should be.

(B) the caffeine intake of children of various age groups in the United States ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average amount consumed by adults

Looks good -- keep.

(C) various age groups of children in the United States range in caffeine intake from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult

Various age groups is not the correct antecedent -- caffeine intake should be.

(D) in the United States, children of various age groups have a caffeine intake that ranges from 36 to 58 percent of the average adult’s consumption

Children is not the correct antecedent -- caffeine intake should be.

(E) in the United States, the caffeine intake of children in various age groups ranges from 36 to 58 percent of that consumed by the average adult

'In the United States' is incorrectly placed. 'that' refers to 'the caffeine intake', creating an illogical comparison.

Answer is B.

Please let me know if I am wrong. I could see a simple split here: Since caffeine intake, not children, United States or age groups, could be adjusted by body weight, we need "Caffeine intake" after the first comma. There is only one option that has it, and that is (B)

You can not reject E on basis of this split. in the US is non essential modifier, not the main subject.
E is wrong because of presence of that that makes nonsensical meaning caffeine intake consumed . ii. children vs average adult: wrong comparison

mSKR Yes! Realised that now! Thankyou!

i keep reading that the initial modifer (a prepositional phrase) necessitates the noun - caffeine intake

If so -- how come when i make up some sentences with a prepositional phrase as an initial modofier

-- Both the active voice and Passive voice are okay ?

Or

is the passive voice wrong in this structure?

When Poisoned, Sam had high levels of Carcinogen in his blood
When Poisoned, high levels of Carcinogen were seen in Sam's bloodstream

The underline is the prepositional phrase
Both the active and passive voice is okay (i think)

The subject is different in active vs passive voice obviously.

If the suj

Hello jabhatta2,

We hope this finds you well.

Having gone through the question and your query, we believe we can resolve your doubt.

Prepositions and prepositional phrases must always be followed by a noun, but it is not necessary that the noun be the subject of the sentence. So, both passive and active voices are correct.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team