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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in

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generis
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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   20 Apr 2021, 23:51
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E

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15% (low)

Question Stats:

80% (01:34) correct 20% (01:41) wrong based on 222 sessions
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Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)


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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.


A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times
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D
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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   20 Apr 2021, 23:54
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)



THE PROMPT
Quote:
While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.


• ENOUGH
→ enough is used to describe sufficiency whereas so that is used for causality
→ The use of durable enough to show causality is inappropriate.
So that is a better construction for that purpose.
Enough should be used to show sufficiency instead.

→ Idiom: for identifying is not idiomatic. To identify is idiomatic.

→ Idiom So X that Y is correct to show causality.

THE OPTIONS
Quote:
A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

• the case of the Missing Antecedent
→ to what does they refer? Answer: nothing or nonsense.
The noun scientists cannot be the antecedent for they.
The scientists were not growing plants in prehistoric times. No other people are mentioned.

• enough is for sufficiency whereas so that is for causality
→ The use of durable enough to show causality is inappropriate.
ELIMINATE A

Quote:
B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times

• durable enough should be used to describe sufficiency, not causality
• IDIOM -- for identifying should be to identify
ELIMINATE B

Quote:
C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

• the missing antecedent
→ Just as is the case in option A, they has no referent. The scientists were not growing things in prehistoric time

• idiom: So X as to Y can be used in this context, although GMAC has waffled on this idiomatic structure.

→ So X as to Y is used to emphasize that some intense or strong quality has a consequence.

→ A new question in OG 2020 tests this idiom. See OG 2020, SC # 791, which you can find HERE
ELIMINATE C

Quote:
D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

• I do not see any errors
• so that (or So X that Y) seems to be GMAC's preference to show causality.
KEEP
Quote:
E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

• the case of the Missing Verb-- we have a fragment
→ The insertion of who deprives the main clause of a verb.
Relative pronouns must be paired with a verb. In this case, who "eats up" the verb "examine."
Now the main clause has no verb, and we have a fragment.
ELIMINATE E

The answer is D.

COMMENTS

mlakshmi84 , yet again, welcome to SC Butler.

I am glad to see a couple of people whom I have not seen for awhile.

These answers range from very good to excellent.

TarunKumar1234 ,I am bumping you to Best Community Reply.

Keep up the good work, everyone.
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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 00:50
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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.

A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times -> they refers to whom. Incorrect.

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times -> "for identifying" is incorrect. We need "to identify".

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times -> so X as to Y idiom is incorrect. It is not intended meaning and we have "they", which doesn't have clear antecedent to refer. Please refer below link to understand the subtle difference.

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/foru ... 20measured.

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times -> It is better. Let's keep it.

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times -> We don't have Verb. Incorrect.

So, I think D. :)
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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 00:11
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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.


A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

D is right IMO
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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 00:15
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My answer is (D). It took me 01:07.

(A) In "what plants they grew", they may refer to ”scientists" or "fossilized pollen grains". Even if we accept that such ambiguity is highly unlikely, "what plants fossilized pollen grains grew" is still incorrect. "fossilized pollen grains" did not grow plants; they may germinate and grow into some plants.

Also, "durable enough that" is not as common as "durable enough to" or "so durable that". I am not sure if this alone is enough to eliminate (A).

(B) "for identifying" should be "to identify"

(C) See (A)
Also, "so durable as to" is incorrect. After "so durable", we really need "that..." clause.

(E) Not a sentence in that ... clause as, after the long relative clause ""who ... times", there is no main verb for the supposed subject "scientists".
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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 00:18
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A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times

"They" has no clear antecedent. Scientists couldn't have grown plants in prehistoric times. INCORRECT

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times
"to identify" gives motive of the scientists than "for identifying". INCORRECT

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times
Again usage of "they" without antecedent as in choice A. INCORRECT

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

Corrects all errors. RIGHT choice

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

that Scientists who examine x and identify y is not conveying the right meaning. INCORRECT

Ans:D

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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 00:22
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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.
"They" is not referred to any of the noun properly.Hence option A and C are wrong.option E is wrong because of too wordy like "as a result".Correct option may lie between option B and D.I go with option D because of key words like "so durable that.. and to identify "

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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 19:26
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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.

Pre-thinking: Usage of durable enough that v/s enough for v/s so durable that v/s so durable as to

A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times
"they" does not refer to a clear antecedent.

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times
since 'to examine ...' is used earlier in the sentence, it should be 'to identify' and not 'for identifying'

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times
'so durable that' is preferred to 'so durable durable as to'

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times

IMO answer should be option D.
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While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   21 Apr 2021, 23:25
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While usually unnoticeable, pollen is essentially ubiquitous in terrestrial habitats and is, in fact, durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times.


A) durable enough that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times Incorrect

enough uses wrong,
they refers to who?

B) durable enough for scientists to examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments for identifying what plants grew during prehistoric times Incorrect

enough uses wrong,
.......examine ............. to..... - correct idioms

C) so durable as to let scientists examine fossilized pollen grains of ancient sediments to identify what plants they grew during prehistoric times Incorrect

they refers to who?

D) so durable that scientists can examine fossilized pollen grains in ancient sediments to identify what plants grew during prehistoric times Correct

E) so durable that scientists who examine fossilized pollen grains from ancient sediments and, as a result, identify what plants grew during prehistoric times Incorrect

after that scientists what? - sentence fragment
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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink] New post   23 Apr 2021, 01:44
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The official explanation is here.
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Re: While usually unnoticeable pollen is essentially ubiquitous in [#permalink]
23 Apr 2021, 01:44
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