While all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predomina

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Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:
Understanding the intended meaning of this sentence is key to solving the question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that all states face similar industrial waste problems, but the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal.

Concepts tested here: Subject-Verb Agreement + Meaning + Grammatical Constructions + Pronouns

• Commas are used to join dependent clauses to independent clauses, and colons are used to join two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.

A: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines".

B: This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error, as the plural pronoun "their" lacks a clear and logical referent. Further, Option B alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "each state faces a similar industrial waste problem"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that there is one similar industrial waste problem that all states face; the intended meaning is that all states face multiple, similar industrial waste problems.

C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "their predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines". Further, Option C alters the meaning of the sentence through the clause "all states face a similar industrial waste problem"; the construction of this clause incorrectly implies that there is one similar industrial waste problem that all states face; the intended meaning is that all states face multiple, similar industrial waste problems. Additionally, Option C incorrectly uses a colon to join the dependent clause "While all states face a similar industrial waste problem" to the independent clause "their predominating industries and regulatory environment obviously determines the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal"; remember, commas are used to join dependent clauses to independent clauses, and colons are used to join two independent clauses when the second explains or illustrates the first.

D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominating industries and regulatory environment" with the singular verb "determines".

E: Correct. This answer choice correctly refers to the plural noun phrase "the predominant industries and the regulatory environment" with the plural verb "determine". Further, Option E uses the clause "all states face similar industrial waste problems", conveying the intended meaning - that all states face multiple, similar industrial waste problems. Additionally, Option E correctly uses a comma to join the dependent clause "While all states face similar industrial waste problems" to the independent clause "the predominant industries and the regulatory environment of each state obviously determine the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal". Besides, Option E avoids the pronoun error seen in Options B and C, as it uses no pronouns.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

To understand the use of punctuations on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~9 minutes):



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Experts' Global Team

While all states face similar industrial waste problems, the predominating industries and regulatory environment of the states obviously determines the types and amounts of waste produced, as well as the cost of disposal.

predominating industries AND regulatory environment.... determine
Therefore, ACD are wrong.

B is wrong in that their refers back to each state.each state is singular and their is plural.

Therefore, E is correct.

Two - step solution; 1. ‘Determines’ is wrong- ACD are gone. In B, each state and the pronoun ‘their’ do not tally. Hence, E is correct

I have chosen E for the answer:

The main point of this sentence is to compare the industrial problems that "ALL STATES" have with the industries and regulatory environment of "EACH STATE."

A. There is SV agreement error here. The subject of the sentence is the compound subject "The predominating industries and the regulatory environment." Therefore, the plural verb "determine" must be used for agreement. Also, the answer has omitted "each state." This leads to some confusion because we are trying to compare what occurs in "all states" to what occurs in "each state."

B. The pronoun "their" does not have an antecedent because "each state" is singular.

C. There is subject verb agreement error here - the plural subject and singular "determines" do not agree. Also, the use of the semicolon creates a fragment because "while" introduces a subordinate clause, which must be connected to an independent clause.

D. Again, we have subject verb agreement error here.

E. This sentence accurately describes the contrast between "all states" and "each state." Also, the plural subject and plural verb are in agreement.

IMO ‘problems’ should be ok with similar

Similar is a comparison marker. Similar to what is the question. There must be more than one factor if one wants to use similar.

If there was only one problem, then it would be more appropriate to use the term ‘the same’ as in “all the states or each state faces the same problem”.

Please note that the article ‘the’ refers to a single item.

hi,

is choice D right answer, without subject-verb error?

Just a quick doubt, what is the subject in 'their predominating industries and regulatory environment obviously determines'.

A quick word would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Hi jjindal, predominating industries and regulatory environment is the subject, and it is a plural subject.

any expert can help me solve the SVA problem

IMO, I can understand that compound subject need a plural verb,
eg: Lin and Guy drive to work, (MANHATTAN P 43),
but this case,
although compound subject is connect by "and", I view "the predominant industries and the regulatory environment " as a singular subject, because it is a group , "of each state" is modifier, it means each state has the group issue, so the subject is singular noun, that's why I pick up D rather than E.

please point out my fault

thanks in advance
have a nice day
>_~

Each state has multiple predominant industries. Each state has one regulatory environment as well. Although each state is singular, the industries within the state is plural. Moreover when you add "environment" to the already plural "industries", it becomes even more plural . Consider this way: The industries and the environment of state X .... this is a plural subject.

In E, is there a subject-Verb Error between 'All states' and 'problems' ??
Shouldn't it be 'problem' ?? :/

Where am i wrong??

Hi sthakur24,

Problems is a noun, not a verb.

... all states face similar industrial waste problems...

Here face is the verb for all states.

C - Why is it unnecessary semicolon. Both the clauses are independent and it is correct to join them using a semicolon right? Only the verb usage is wrong here.
Can anyone tell me if i am correct?

anbk
cool. cool, please. The problem is the haste with which you are handling the problem. Please see the original script and you will find that you have ignored the word 'while' in the non-underlined part, which is common for all the choices That is the reason you feel both are independent clauses. However, the first is a dependent clause. Therefore the use of a semicolon is ungrammatical in C.
I hope you can see the point.

Hello sayantanc2k
Option D has an S-V error in the latter part of the underlined portion - "determines" is a singular verb for the plural subject "the predominant industries and regulatory environment" .

"the predominant industries and regulatory environment of each state obviously determines" in option D does presence of each before determines makes it correct? or the subject is still p and r?

Hello TBT,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, in Option D the subject is still the plural noun phrase "the predominant industries and regulatory environment", making the use of the singular verb "determines" incorrect.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team