shenwenlim wrote:
MartyTargetTestPrep whats your take on this one? What do you see wrong in answer choice A and B? Specifically around the phrase "so as to"
"So as to" has to introduce an action that someone or something takes to engage in another action.
For example:
John swims every day so as to stay fit.
"Stay fit" is an action that is made possible for John by "swims every day." In other words, John swims for the purpose of staying fit.
So, when we see "so as to" in a sentence, it should be associated with an action taken by a person or thing for the purpose of that person or thing engaging in another action.
Let's now consider the (A) version and the (B) version of the sentence in this question.
Here's the (A) version:
Congress is debating a bill requiring certain employers provide workers with unpaid leave so as to care for sick or newborn children.We see that "so as to" is followed by "care for sick or newborn children." So, there should be earlier in the sentence another action that makes it possible for someone or something to care for sick or newborn children.
The first action we see is "debating." If we decide that "debating" is the action that goes with "so as to," then the sentence conveys the nonsensical meaning that congress is debating so that congress cares for sick or newborn children.
The second action we see is "requiring." If we decide that "requiring" is the action that goes with "so as to," then the sentence conveys the nonsensical meaning that a bill is meant to require something so that a bill cares for sick or newborn children.
The third action we see is "provide." If we decide that "provide" is the action that goes with "so as to," then the sentence conveys the nonsensical meaning that employers provide employees with leave so that employers care for sick or newborn children.
Since there are no other actions to go with "so as to," the (A) version can convey only nonsensical meanings.
Let's now consider the (B) version.
Congress is debating a bill requiring certain employers to provide workers with unpaid leave so as to care for sick or newborn children.We can see that the (B) version mentions the same actions that the (A) version mentions. So, "so as to" does not work in the (B) version either.
Thus, both the (A) version and the (B) version convey nonsensical meanings.