shruthiarvindh wrote:
Hello,
I have a problem in understanding the meaning of the sentence here. Down to C and E. I chose E reason below.
Most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature to borrow money, with their objectives being to protect taxpayers and the credit of the state government.
(C) to borrow money, limitations intended to protect
States impose limitations to borrow money. So the "purpose or intent" should be denoted here.
But, I felt it is logical for states to impose limitations in order to borrow money.
(E) for borrowing money, limitations with the intent of protecting
What for states imposed limitations? For borrowing money
This seemed slightly better than above. Second part - I did not find any major error here for me to eliminate it.
So chose E on PoE.
GMATNinjaTwo egmat GMATNinja - Please help.
I apologize for joining the party so late!
Let's start with choice (C):
Quote:
(C) Most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature to borrow money, limitations intended to protect taxpayers and the credit of the state government.
Ignoring the modifier "of the legislature", we have, "... limitations on the authority to borrow money...". The phrase "to borrow money" modifies "authority", NOT the verb "impose". What kind of authority? The authority to borrow money. This is similar to the following examples:
- "You have the right to remain silent." - What kind of right? The right to remain silent.
- "I have a tendency to eat sweets after dinner." - What kind of tendency? The tendency to eat sweets.
The phrase "to borrow money" is NOT there to tell us the purpose or intent of
imposing limitations. Instead, it is there to modify "authority", and that usage is totally fine.
Quote:
(E) Most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature for borrowing money, limitations with the intent of protecting taxpayers and the credit of the state government.
In choice (E), it seems like the "intentions" themselves are a conscious entity -- one that is motivated by a desire to protect taxpayers and the credit of the state government. But "limitations" themselves do not
have "intent".
The correct meaning is clearer in choice (C): the limitations are
meant to protect taxpayers and the credit of the state government.
Also, you can have the authority TO DO something, not the authority FOR DOING something:
- "The mall security guard has the authority to arrest shoplifters." - Correct idiom.
- "The mall security guard has the authority for arresting shoplifters." - Incorrect idiom.
(C) is the better choice!
As usual, your explanations let one realize how most of the other explanations are completely wrong. Thanks Charles.
Just one question, how do we correctly identify what the construction "...to verb" is modifying?, for example, if I say "I impose limitations to borrow money" do I mean that I impose limitations so I can borrow money or that my limitations apply to the act of borrowing money?. Using the reasoning you exemplified I guess the answer is the latter: what kind of limitations? the limitations to borrow money. That would make one think that "..to verb" modifies the closest noun that is not followed by a preposition?. For example, in "most states impose limitations on the authority of the legislature to borrow money" we are basically ignoring "of the legislature" to determine that "to borrow" is modifying "authority".