By shifting the setting of the film to the desert, the directors cine

Experts' Global Official Explanation:

Modifiers + Meaning + Redundancy/Awkwardness

Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the dessert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography.

• In the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.

A. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses “By shifting the setting of the film to the desert” to modify “the directors’ cinematography”, illogically implying that the cinematography has the capacity to shift the setting of the film to the dessert to enhance itself through the region’s harsh environment; the intended meaning of this sentence is that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the desert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography; please remember that in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Additionally, Option A utilizes the passive voice construction “the… cinematography could be enhanced”, rendering it needlessly indirect.

B. This answer choice incorrectly uses “By shifting the setting of the film to the desert” to modify “the region’s harsh environment”, incorrectly implying that the environment has the capacity to shift the setting of the film to the desert; the intended meaning of this sentence is that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the desert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography; please remember that in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Additionally, Option B utilizes the passive voice construction “harsh environment could be used …”, rendering it needlessly indirect.

C. Trap. This answer choice incorrectly uses “By shifting the setting of the film to the desert” to modify “one writer suggests…”, incorrectly implying that the writer suggests a use for the desert’s harsh environment by shifting the setting of the film to the desert; the intended meaning of this sentence is that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the desert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography; please remember that in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.

D. This answer choice incorrectly uses “By shifting the setting of the film to the desert” to modify “one writer suggests…”, incorrectly implying that the writer suggests a use for the desert’s harsh environment by shifting the setting of the film to the desert; the intended meaning of this sentence is that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the desert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography; please remember that in the “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Additionally, Option D utilizes the passive voice construction “the directors’ cinematography could be enhanced through…”, rendering it needlessly indirect.

E. Correct. This answer choice correctly uses “By shifting the setting of the film to the desert” to modify “the directors”, conveying the intended meaning of the sentence- that according to one writer, by shifting the setting of the film to the dessert, the directors could use the region’s harsh environment to enhance their cinematography. Further, Option E is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

E is the best answer choice.

Experts' Global Video Explanation: