Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
GMAT TIGER wrote:
The agreement, the first to formally require industrialized countries to cut emissions of gases linked to global warming, is a formal protocol by which 38 industrialized countries must reduce emissions of these gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
(A) by which
(B) for which
(C) under which
(D) such that
(E) wherein
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning of this sentence is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the agreement is a formal protocol that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
Concepts tested here: MeaningA: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “by which”; the use of “by” incorrectly implies that the agreement is a formal protocol that 38 industrialized countries
must use to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties; the intended meaning is that the agreement is a formal protocol
that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “for which”; the use of “for” incorrectly implies that the agreement is a formal protocol
on whose behalf 38 industrialized countries must reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties; the intended meaning is that the agreement is a formal protocol
that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
C: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase “under which”, conveying the intended meaning – that the agreement is a formal protocol
that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
D: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase “such that”; the construction of this phrase incorrectly implies that the agreement is a formal protocol
in such a manner that 38 industrialized countries must reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties; the intended meaning is that the agreement is a formal protocol
that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
E: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the preposition “wherein”; the use of “wherein” illogically implies that the agreement is a formal protocol, and
inside this protocol 38 industrialized countries must reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties; the intended meaning is that the agreement is a formal protocol
that requires 38 industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain gases by 2012 or face heavy penalties.
Hence, C is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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