Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
noboru wrote:
Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi, in the form of carbon dioxide, and converting it to energy-rich sugars.
(A) Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than are fungi
(B) Plants are more efficient at acquiring carbon than fungi
(C) Plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon
(D) Plants, more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon
(E) Plants acquire carbon more efficiently than fungi
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the carbon involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Grammatical Construction + Parallelism + Comparison• In a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.
• A comparison must always be made between similar things.
• Any elements linked by conjunction ("and" in this case) must be parallel.
A: This answer choice incorrectly modifies "fungi" with "in the form of carbon dioxide", illogically implying that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
fungi involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; the intended meaning is that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
carbon involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun.
B: This answer choice incorrectly modifies "fungi" with "in the form of carbon dioxide", illogically implying that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
fungi involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; the intended meaning is that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
carbon involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option B incorrectly compares "carbon" to "fungi"; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar things.
C: Correct.This answer choice acts upon the independent subject "Plants" with the independent verb phrase "are more efficient" to form a complete thought, leading to a complete sentence. Further, Option C correctly modifies "carbon" with "in the form of carbon dioxide", conveying the intended meaning - that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
carbon involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide. Additionally, Option C correctly compares "Plants" and "fungi". Besides, Option C correctly maintains parallelism between "acquiring" and "converting".
D: This answer choice fails to form a complete sentence; as "more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon" and "converting it to energy-rich sugars" are modifiers, there is no active verb to act upon the subject "Plants".
E: This answer choice incorrectly modifies "fungi" with "in the form of carbon dioxide", illogically implying that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
fungi involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; the intended meaning is that plants are more efficient than fungi at acquiring carbon, and the
carbon involved in this process is in the form of carbon dioxide; remember, in a “noun + comma + phrase” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option E fails to maintain parallelism between "acquire" and "converting"; please remember, any elements linked by conjunction ("and" in this case) must be parallel.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1minute):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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