Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town

Question

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its  Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

A. Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research
C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade, consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

goodyear2013 · Accepted Answer

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its  Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

A. Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research
C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade, consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

OE
 The problem with (A) is a common misuse of the pronoun "which". In formal English, the pronoun "which" must refer to a specific and simple antecedent (a noun), not to a general idea. Here, "which" refers to the general phenomenon of an increased scientific presence at the Parade. Therefore (A) is incorrect. Look for an answer choice that solves this problem, either by replacing the pronoun "which" with a noun, or by providing a specific and simple antecedent (a noun) for "which".
A quick scan of the first few words of each choice allows us to eliminate (E), which uses the redundant "parade known as the Twins Days Parade".
(B) ambiguously uses the pronoun "its" with no clear antecedent. The antecedent appears to be the "Twins Day Parade". Therefore, the meaning of the sentence would be changed. (B) is incorrect.
(C) attempts to fix the problem, but fails to do so. (C) changes the pronoun "which" to "this" but does not add a specific antecedent. Therefore, (C) is incorrect.
(D) fixes the problem by replacing "which" with "this increased scientific presence". Note that in (D), the word "this" is used as an adjective to describe the noun phrase "increased scientific presence". (Which increased scientific presence? This increased scientific presence.) Since "this" functions as an adjective (not a pronoun) here, no antecedent is necessary. Thus (D) is correct.

Hi, I want to know if we have two choices between "noun, …." and "noun; pronoun" what are we looking to find that continuing sentence is the correct one, please. I have also found hard to pick the noun phrase as well.

daagh · Answer

A. Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research---  Twins Days Parade is not consistent with a growing appreciation; it is the increased scientific presence that is in line with the growing importance  
 
B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research ---  The pronoun its is a problem. What does its stand for? Town, community, or parade? Highly unclear.  
C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research------- The demonstrative pronoun this is an adjective and is standing bare without its noun. In addition, this has no referent  
D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research –  Though verbose, still the best answer.  
E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade, consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research – What is consistent is not clear. Same type of problem as in B and C

narangvaibhav · Answer

Good Q, thanks for the detailed explanation

semwal · Answer

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its Twins Days Parade,  which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

INCORRECT PORTIONS HIGHLIGHTED.....

A. Twins Days Parade,  which is consistent  with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.... WHAT DOES  WHICH  MEAN?... 
B. Twins Days Parade,  a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research..... IS  increasingly descending  A PHENOMENA?/color]
C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research... WHAT IS  THIS ? 
D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research  CORRECT... . 
E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade,  consistent with a growing appreciation  in the scientific community for twin research.... RUN ON .....WHAT IS  consistent

KUDOS IF YOU PLEASE....

manhattan · Answer

I think that the reason you gave for rejecting A is incorrect. Since  which  follows a comma, we  do  know what  which  is being used for.
In this case it was used for the parade.

But what the sentence should mean is that the  increasing descendance of the scientists upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its Twins Days Parade  is a proof. The parade itself is not a proof. Hence, A can be rejected.

@Experts : Please weigh in.

semwal · Answer

manhattan
Intern

yes what i meant was that "which " logically was not intended to amplify "parade" as in sentence...........hence INCORRECT......

manhattan · Answer

You wrote WHAT DOES WHICH MEAN? , but we do know what which has been used for. & contrary to what you wrote, it has been used for the parade, whereas it should have been used for increasing descendance of the scientists upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its Twins Days Parade . Anyway, let's focus on other problems.

semwal · Answer

manhattan
Intern

THANKS BUDY......

PiyushK · Answer

What is wrong with B ?
Why can't we say "Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg," is a phenomenon.

B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its (Twinsburg's) growing appreciation for twin research

As per my understanding phenomenon is something which we can see but its cause is complex to understand.
Here Scientists are descending upon a small town that we can see but underlying cause is complex to explain.

Experts please help to understand in depth why one should reject B and what phenomenon means exactly ?

prasi55 · Answer

In B, "a phenomenon" refers to "scientists descending upon the town". The modifier (I think it's called a resumptive modifier) is added to eliminate the ambiguity that simple relative pronouns such as "which" create (as these pronouns have limited scope).

In B, the antecedent of "its" is unclear. The scientific community should be the antecedent.

--Prasad
EnterMBA.in

In B, the antecedent of "its" is unclear. The scientific community should be the antecedent.

--Prasad
EnterMBA.in

kinjiGC · Answer

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its  Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

A. Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

which can only refer to noun. which can refer to "Twins Days Parade" and the meaning doesn't make sense. -Incorrect

B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research

A phenomenon is a noun and can only modify closest nouns. The meaning per the original sentence is increase in number of scientists in the city is consistent with the growing appreciation in the scientific community. A phenomenon cannot modify the whole phrase. In this we case we require noun + noun modifier.

"A phenomenon that" would make a better sense.Incorrect

"A phenomenon that" would make a better sense.Incorrect

C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

it is not clear what "this" refers to. - Incorrect

D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

conveys the proper meaning and is correct.

E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade, consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research

sounds like Twins Days Parade is consistent -> Meaning changes - Incorrect

DesiGmat · Answer

Meaning of the sentence is..

Increasing number of scientists visiting the Twins Day Parade is consistent with the growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research....

Option A - Though grammatically correct, it implies that the parade is consistent with growing appreciation. (Wrong)

Option B - phenomenon is used to indicate a process, so ruled out. (Wrong)

Option c - meaning is not clear.... this is consistent??? what's this? (Wrong)

Option D - clearly states the meaning and grammatically correct (Correct)

Option E - parade known as Twins Days Parade??

Consider this example...
 James, known as a genius, is brilliant in mathematics.
 Genius James is brilliant in mathematics.
 Did you get the difference in above two statements?

Morever option E distorts the meaning as well by referring the growing appreciation to parade.

Hope the post is clear.

leanhdung · Answer

Hi bro! in B, i think "a phenomenon" is a noun and "consistent with.." is a noun modifier (modifies "a phenomenon"), so is "a phenomenon consistent with..." noun + noun modifier, and therefore "a phenomenon consistent with..." can modifies the preceding clause? I find a sentence that seems similar to the one in B from a post of E-Gmat (https://gmatclub.com/forum/noun-noun-mo ... l#p1112971) "James created a magnificent design by using latest graphic design tools, expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration" and here is the explanation from E-Gmat: This sentence means that James created an excellent design by using latest design tools. Then the modifier explains what kind of tool they are. They are expensive but helpful devices that are especially created for certain specific tasks. In this sentence, “expensive but super helpful devices developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration” is the noun + noun modifier. Here, expensive but super helpful devices = noun entity developed especially for minute detailing and elaboration = noun modifier. Please clarify my doubt

Many thanks!

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

A. Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research 
The twins Days parade has done the twin research?

B. Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent with its growing appreciation for twin research 
Twins Days parade is a phenomenon?

C. Twins Days Parade; this is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
 This?

D. Twins Days Parade; this increased scientific presence is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research 
Correct meaning

E. parade known as the Twins Days Parade, consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research 
parade is consistent with appreciation?

leanhdung · Answer

According to your explanation, in B, a phenomenon consistent with... correctly modifies the clause Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg... . The only problem in B is the ambiguity of the possessive pronoun its . Is my understanding right? Please clarify my doubt! Many thanks

leanhdung · Answer

In my opinion, in B, a phenomenon consistent with... correctly modifies the clause Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg.... The only problem in B is the ambiguity of the possessive pronoun its. Is my understanding right?

Please clarify my doubt!

Many thanks

sayantanc2k · Answer

Yes, the modifier in B is alright, but the pronoun "its" in "its appreciation" wrongly refers to "town".

(The pronoun is not ambiguous as you mentioned - it clearly refers to "town" because the previous "its" in the same sentence refers to "town". The problem with the pronoun is not ambiguity, but wrong reference.)

shekyonline · Answer

Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town of Twinsburg, Ohio once a year for its Twins Days Parade, which is consistent with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research.

A.  Twins Days Parade,  which is  consistent  with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
 wrong.
 B.  Twins Days Parade, a phenomenon consistent  with its growing appreciation for twin research
 wrong .
C.  Twins Days Parade ; this is  consistent  with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
 wrong .
D. Twins Days Parade;  this increased scientific presence is consistent  with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
 this makes sense. Correct
 
E. parade known as the  Twins Days Parade ,  consistent  with a growing appreciation in the scientific community for twin research
 wrong .

sallysea · Answer

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Scientists are increasingly descending upon the small town

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