Pack 10 Q1: Utilizing focus panels created by market research...

Utilizing focus panels created by market research agencies and analysts, the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency.

A. the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
B. the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
C. SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency
D. information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency
E. the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency

I would go with B.

So its the agency that's utilizing the focus panels (possibly as a subject to educate the industry). Thus, utilizing must modify the agency.

Utilizing the focus panels, the agency educated the manufacturing industry.

Other options don't make sense wrt meaning.

Utilizing focus panels created by market research agencies and analysts, the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency.

A. the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency : Wrong
B. the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency : Correct
C. SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency: Wrong
D. information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency : Wrong
E. the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency : Wrong

Antecedent of the phrase before comma should I agree with it. Only B agrees with the phrase before comma properly.

A. the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency -- Incorrect. Modifier misplacement error. While the auto mfg industry sure can utilise the focus panels, it distorts the intended meaning of the sentence which is conveying that the agency utilised focus panels to educate auto mfg industry about SUVs and fuel efficiency.

B. the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency -- Correct. The error in A has been corrected and no other error seems to be there.

C. SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency -- Incorrect. Modifier misplacement error. Also after the modifier, is a dependent clause, while this is an independent clause having no link with the verb-ing modifier.

D. information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency -- Incorrect. Modifier misplacement error. The doer of verb-ing action noun needs to come immediately after the comma.

E. the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency -- Incorrect. Same error as A.

My choice is B option.

Area tested- Modifiers
1) Now Who utilize focus panels- Auto Manufacturing industry or Agency ? Obviously, Agency- Because by utilizing focus panels, Agency is educating the Auto manufacturing industry.
Eliminate A

C and D should be eliminated because it is clear cut illogical. How can SUVs or Information utilize something ?

E is eliminated- 1) Passive voice should be avoided
2) The industry of Auto manufacturing is out of Style

A. the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
B. the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency- Correct
C. SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency
D. information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency
E. the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency

Utilizing focus panels created by market research agencies and analysts, the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency.
Who is utilizing focus panels??? The subject should come immediately after comma.

A. the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
B. the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
C. SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency - SUVs and fuel efficiency can not utilize focus panels. So out
D. information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency - Information about SUVs and fuel efficiency can not utilize focus panels. So out
E. the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency - The sentence distorts the meaning of original sentence. So out

So, A and B are the contenders.
A) Utilizing focus panels......., the AMI was educated by the agency about rise of x and y. If AMI was educated then how can they utilize the focus panels? Still, let's park and check option B.
B) Utilizing focus panels......., the agency educated the AMI about the rise of x and y. Perfect. The agency utilized focus panels and it educated AMI. Perfect meaning.

IMO Ans. B

Official Explanation

Utilizing focus panels created by market research agencies and analysts, the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency.

A) the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
B) the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
C) SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency
D) information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency
E) the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency

This question addresses modifiers. The present participle “utilizing” needs to modify the independent clause found after the comma. The modifier should be placed directly in front of or after the noun it is modifying. In this case, “the agency” is being modified since it is creating the focus panels. Let’s see how each option stacks up:

A) the auto manufacturing industry was educated by the agency about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
This is INCORRECT. The auto manufacturing industry is not using the focus panels to be educated. The agencies are educating them. The placement is incorrect since agency should come directly after the modifier.

B) the agency educated the auto manufacturing industry about the rise of SUVs and fuel efficiency
This is the CORRECT. The modifier is right before the agency, making the placement correct.

C) SUVs and fuel efficiency information was given to the automotive manufacturing industry by the agency
This is INCORRECT. “Information” does not create focus panels. The placement is incorrect since agency should come directly after the modifier.

D) information about SUVs and fuel efficiency was given to the auto manufacturing industry by the agency
This is INCORRECT, same reasoning as C.

E) the industry of auto manufacturing was given SUVs and fuel efficiency information by the agency
This is INCORRECT, same reasoning as A.

There you have it - option B is the only one that puts the proper antecedent next to the modifier!


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Well done, shameekv1989! You cracked the code on this modifier question! Thanks for color-coding each option too - it makes it easier to read over! Kudos to you!
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Well done, srivapriyam! You cracked the code! Kudos to you!
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Well done, ravigupta2912! You cracked the code on this modifier question! Kudos to you!
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Well done, thenikhilseth! You cracked the code on this one, and we appreciate that you shared your thought process, not just the right/wrong answers! Kudos to you!
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Welcome back to the contests, Raxit85! Also - kudos to you for getting the question correct, and thank you for sharing your thought process too!
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Thanks EmpowerGMATVerbal. I have rejoined the contest with hope that I will win the contest in this season as I couldn't won in last year.

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i am not aware of this contest can you please explain and when new questions appear.

What is the prize and all?

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A: passive voice
B: most suitable answer
C,D,E: modifier error,