Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters

Question

Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways .

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways.

C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways.

D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

So the way it's structured right now, the modifier is incorrectly placed (as many of you have noticed). It's not the "fight over the speed limit" that's meddlesome or a conserver of life and energy, it's the speed limit itself. We need to find the answer choice that correctly attaches the modifier ("Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy") to its correct noun ("speed limit"). This way, we can eliminate A for sure. D is also wrong because of the same reason: incorrectly placed modifier.

C is wrong because there's no parallelism between "ineffective meddling" (verb) and "the conservation of life and energy" (noun). Also, the use of "the" in bold is unnecessary. "The" suggests that the speed limit is "the one and only" (to quote a song Very Happy) saver of energy and life, which is obviously not the case - I can think of a million other things that can save more lives and energy Smile

Now, you guys have successfully narrowed it down to B and E... E is better here because of the use of the passive voice in B. In general, you should avoid the passive voice in the GMAT, because it's considered wordy. "To be fought over" is also pretty vague - who fights over it? The official explanation also cites "a pile-up of prepositions" in "to be fought over in".

daagh · Accepted Answer

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. ---  What is regarded? The speed limit is regarded, not the fight—wrong modification

B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. ---T he modification is ok, but what continues to be fought? It is not the speed limit but the fight. So out. 
 
C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. –  1.same error as in B;2. in addition conservation is wrong diction. It should be ‘conserver’. 3. Ineffective and meddlesome and not ineffective meddling. This choice is nowhere near a contender

D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. --;  The question is: What does the ed-participle ‘regarded’ modify. Must be the speed limit. But the speed limit does not continue in our legislatures. Some unclear meaning here.  
E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. –  The confusion is sorted out by the appositive modifier a measure, which clearly stands for the speed limit; The fight with an appropriate verb ‘continues’ sets the picture in the right perspective. The best choice

PUNEETSCHDV · Answer

The key to this question is deciding whether Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy is modifying speed limit or fight over the speed limit.

I am of the opinion that the aforesaid modifier is modifying speed limit. (Or else, it would mean that the fight over speed limit is a conserver of life and energy. This doesn't make much sense to me.)

Consequently, A and D are ruled out because of the misplaced modifier.

Option C has ineffective meddling as its bane. (Meddling is not ineffective, having a speed limit is. Ineffective wrongly modifies meddling)

B eliminates the modifier error correctly, but its construction of continues to be fought over in our legislatures is awkward.

E is the best choice. It correctly uses a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy as an appositive for speed limit and the core of the sentence - The fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. is loud and clear in its delivery.

anshunadir · Answer

Can someone please explain - what exactly is the problem with option D ?

Marcab · Answer

Hii anshunadir,
Note that in D, the modifier "regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy" incorrectly points to "the fight over the speed limit". Now you may argue that in E also the modifier is modifying "the fight over the speed limit". No! its not. Here we have used an appositive "a measure" which clearly tells what "fight over speed limit" is.
Hope that helps.
-s

jtyee · Answer

In the correct answer, we have "Regarded by opponents as ineffective... and by supporters as a conserver.." Can someone explain why "Regarded by opponents as ADJECTIVE and by supporters as NOUN" is appropriate? Why do these not have to be parallel?

iPen · Answer

D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

This one's good. I basically boiled it down to D & E above. In D, "regarded" modifies "speed limit" instead of "the fight over" the speed limit. In E, adding "a measure" clarifies what "regarded by" is referring to. Proximity of the modified noun is important. The answer is (E).

mvictor · Answer

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.
As explained, it is not the fight that is regarded as ineffective/meddlesome/conserver of life and energy - eliminated

B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways.
hold, although passive voice makes it wordy, and it is not clear who fights over...

C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways.
changes meaning - ineffective meddling (adverb that is modifying the adjective) is not the same as ineffective and meddlesome (2 adjectives)
as in B, to be fought over is suspicious. Passive voice makes the sentence unnecessary wordy.
 
D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.
over the speed limit is a prepositional phrase, the head of the prepositional phrase is the fight. The fight is regarded...this has the same modifier/meaning error as in A.

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.
same prepositional phrase as in D, but wait! noun+noun modifier!!! a measure clearly refers to speed limit. Active voice..looks way better than any other choices.

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

can someone explain the sentence by its meaning. 
I believe fight over speed limit is ineffective not that speed limit is ineffective.

daagh · Answer

The Govt has brought in a speed limit for driving on the fast highways (called freeways because these driveways have fewer hindrances such as speed breaks and signals and allow an unhindered drive for long stretches. The supporters are arguing that the speed limit is a conserver of life and energy; the opponents are saying that such a speed limit as an ineffective and meddlesome step.

This feud is carried between the supporting and opposing MPS and MLAs through debates in the legislatures and between aggressive drivers and passive drivers on the freeways 
The essence of the argument is that whether a freeway should be riddled with a cap on the speed limit, which is antithetical to its name that it is a restriction - free drive.

sytabish · Answer

Hi,

I think 'D' and 'E' are equally correct.
In 'D' , " regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy " modifies  speed limit . I don't think there should be any doubt about that one as 'verb-ed' modifies preceding noun and  speed limit  totally qualifies.
Use of noun + noun modifier ,' a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy', seems to be unnecessary. 
Tough call between 'D' and 'E'.

souvik101990  waiting for official explanation.

Thanks!

daagh · Answer

Not always, I suppose. In some circumstances, an ed - modifier may not modify the noun in front. Look at the following sentence. 
The Brazilians watched their team losing 7 -1 to Germans, dismayed by their players’ ineptitude. 
Here the past participle 'dismayed' modifies the subject name the Brazilians aptly rather than Germans.

sytabish · Answer

Hi  daagh ,
 
 In that case, wouldn't following be the right way to write it.
 Dismayed by their players’ ineptitude, the Brazilians watched their team losing 7 -1 to Germans. 
 
 What I'm trying to say is that in the given question, we have eligible noun 'speed limit' just before Verb-ed modifier " regarded by opponents as..." . Why would I think otherwise ? I'm sure there has to be a better explanation.

Thanks!

daagh · Answer

Well; please look into this solid GMAT OG question (Diabetes, Together With its Serious Complications: OG13- Q6)

Diabetes, together with its serious complications,  ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only  by heart disease and cancer

(a) ranks as the nation's third leading cause of death, surpassed only
(b) rank as the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(c) has the rank of the nation's third leading cause of death, only surpassed
(d) are the nation's third leading causes of death, surpassed only
(e) have been ranked as the nation's third leading causes of death, only surpassed

The text uses - third leading cause of death, surpassed only - Now what is ‘surpassed’ modifying. There is a solid noun in front as ‘death’ and would it be correct to say that death is surpassed only by heart disease and cancer?

The next eligible noun is ‘the leading cause’ and therefore, that is the one ‘surpassed’ is modifying.

The OA is A, and the OE given by OG does not even touch about this point. Can you see how context is trumping over convention

shekyonline · Answer

Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

the fight over the speed limit  - is  NOT  the agenda here.

B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit   continues to be fought over  in our legislatures and  on our freeways . 
C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit  continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. 
D. The fight over the  speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome  and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

'speed limit ' is  NOT  regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

'speed limit ' as a  measure  - is regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome

E correct.

naturalimproviser · Answer

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. -  The fight is not regarded as anything by the opponents or the supporters.  Incorrect  
B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways.  The speed limit itself is not regarded as ineffective and meddlesome, or as a conserver of life and energy.  Incorrect   
C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. The speed limit is not regarded as ineffective meddling.  Incorrect  
D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.  The speed limit itself is not regarded as ineffective and meddlesome, or as a conserver of life and energy.  Incorrect   
E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.  The speed limit and the fight over it is reffered as a "measure"  Correct

ravigupta2912 · Answer

A. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the fight over the speed limit continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. — modifier error. Eliminate.

B. Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. — prima facie this looked passive to me if you cut out the opening modifier. But I was wrong. I think the issue here is as daagh described - “speed limit continues to be..” no “the fight continues to be..”

C. Regarded by opponents as ineffective meddling and by supporters as the conservation of life and energy, the speed limit continues to be fought over in our legislatures and on our freeways. — “ineffective meddling” and “conservation of” jumped out to me here. I’m not able to pin point errors here but just doesn’t sound right. “Ineffective meddling” is a gerund while conservation of is a noun phrase. It’s not structurally parallel. “Regarded by X as sth and by Y as sth”

D. The fight over the speed limit, regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways.

This one's good. I basically boiled it down to D & E above. In D, "regarded" modifies "speed limit" instead of "the fight over" the speed limit. In E, adding "a measure" clarifies what "regarded by" is referring to. Proximity of the modified noun is important. The answer is (E).

E. The fight over the speed limit, a measure regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters as a conserver of life and energy, continues in our legislatures and on our freeways. — same as D except the Ed modifier is now an appositive modifier. Sorta prefer this over D.

Hello  AndrewN   IanStewart   generis  - request you guys to please give your opinion on this one as well as my POE. Though I got the right one but took 4 mins and that was primarily because I wasn’t very confident of my PoE.

Posted from my mobile device

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  ravigupta2912 . I agree with your analysis of the question, and congratulations on arriving at the correct conclusion. (I myself took 1:50 to answer it correctly, a long time for me on SC.) Some additional notes:

Answer choices (A) through (C) are all left-branching sentences, starting off with a two-pronged modifier that is baseless until we jump across the comma to qualify it. I write sometimes about this very issue in my responses, often to more challenging SC questions. To be clear, the GMAT™ prefers right-branching sentences to their left-branching counterparts. It is not as though you should read every line and get rid of anything that has an introductory phrase or clause, but just keep in the back of your mind that a straightforward   +   sentence is easier to follow, and that the correct answer is based on the clear and concise expression of vital meaning. Among (A), (B), and (C), the original sentence is the worst, for the very reason you outlined. Choice (C) smashes  ineffective and meddlesome  together to yield  ineffective meddling , and that gerund places the focus on some unseen agent doing the meddling. Although I did not eliminate (B) for the reason as  daagh , I let it be while I sought a clearer alternative.

Between (D) and (E), the former does indeed leave itself open to interpretation, since a modifier can either modify the previous noun, prior to the comma, or jump over the prepositional phrase to modify a different noun. As long as both interpretations are sensible, they can each be considered valid. I agree that the  speed limit  itself seems to make  more  sense as to what is being modified, but I cannot dismiss the other interpretation outright. Could a  fight  about some issue be seen as  ineffective and meddlesome ? Certainly. Could that same fight be viewed as  a conserver of life and energy ? Although this one is more debatable, it would be in keeping with the saying,  fight the good fight . Perhaps some people could view the fight for a worthy cause as itself contributing to an improved quality of life. However, choice (E) removes the ambiguity and also adopts a more direct (right-branching) framework. Since we are looking for the best answer of the five presented, we should go with the safest option in (E).

I hope that helps. Thank you for thinking to ask me about this one.

- Andrew

IanStewart · Answer

Answer B is passive, everywhere:

• "(the speed limit is) regarded by opponents as ineffective" is passive. An active construction would say "Opponents regard the speed limit as ineffective";

• "the speed limit continues to be fought over" is passive. An active construction would say "Supporters and opponents continue to fight over the speed limit"

That a construction is passive doesn't make it wrong, though. A sentence like "Unlike parking tickets, speeding tickets are often challenged in court" is passive, but if the point of the sentence is to compare parking and speeding tickets, it's the clearest wording one could use. There's no reason to mention the people who challenge speeding tickets if those people aren't relevant to the point the sentence is making, and a sentence like "People who get speeding tickets often challenge them in court while people who get parking tickets do not often challenge them", or whatever active construction you might instead try, is going to be a much less efficient way to express the same idea.

As for the question overall, it's barely in English anyway, so I don't think it deserves much attention. No one who knows what words mean would ever describe speed limits as "meddlesome", for example. Nor would anyone use the phrase "conserver of life and energy" when there are parallel constructions available ("life-saving" is both more idiomatic than "conserver of life" and is parallel to "ineffective"), and more precise wordings available (I don't even know what "conserver of energy" means - what kind of energy? Are we talking about conserving fuel?). And "opponents" are not a group of people out of context, so the sentence should say "its opponents" (to mean the opponents of speed limits specifically). With writing like this, no answer is ever going to seem good. If forced to choose, I'd prefer E to B, because B uses two separate passive constructions (as I explained above), and that's a very awkward way to write. E eliminates one of the passive constructions -- "The fight continues" is active. But really, I'd choose answer F if that were available, because there isn't a well-written sentence among the choices.

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Regarded by opponents as ineffective and meddlesome and by supporters

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