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17. Scientists calculated that the asteroid, traveling at 46,000 miles an hour, is on an elliptical path that orbits the Sun once a year and regularly brings it back toward Earth.
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(A) hour, is on an elliptical path that orbits the Sun once a year and regularly brings it
Wrong here... path does not orbit the sun. the asteroid does.
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(C) hour, once a year orbits the Sun, regularly bringing it on an elliptical path
-- I would like to see ...orbits the Sun once a year.
-- The orbiting does not bring it on an elliptical path. the path itself is elliptical. and this elliptical path brings the asteriod toward the earth
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(D) hour and orbiting the Sun once a year on an elliptical path, regularly bringing it
A good example of a run on sentence. Clearly Incorrect.
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(E) hour, orbits the Sun on an elliptical path once a year and that regularly brings it
this is not right.
Unless we want the statement to mean that the scientists found two things, we dont need a conjuction before "that".
for example, the conjunction would be correct in this case.
Scientists said that there exists another planet and that other planets might exist.
So here scientists said TWO things... 1. existence of another planet.
2. other planets might exist.
Here, this is not at all what we want.
The "that" should clearly refer to elliptical path ..because the elliptical path is what brings the asteroid back to earth.
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(B) hour, is orbiting the Sun once a year on an elliptical path that regularly brings it
This is really the best answer.
Scientists calculated that the asteroid, xxxxxx, is orbiting the sun once a year on an elliptical path that brings it back to earth.
Here "that" clearly refers to the closest noun elliptical path.
Some might say "it" does not have a clear referent. but then what else can it refer to .... "the sun"??? nope.. put it in there and laugh your heart out .
B is indeed best.
regards
praetorian