kyatin wrote:
Since taking control of the capital, the BBC reporter says security forces have arrested about 40 insurgents of the majority political group, killing one of them.
A. Since taking control of the capital, the BBC reporter says security forces have arrested
B. The BBC reporter says that, since taking control of the capital, security forces have arrested
C. The BBC reporter, since taking control of the capital, says security forces
D. Security forces, since taking control of the capital, have, the BBC reporter says, arrested
E. Security forces have arrested the BBC reporter since taking control of the capital
V06-17
Official Solution: Since taking control of the capital, the BBC reporter says security forces have arrested about 40 insurgents of the majority political group, killing one of them.
A. Since taking control of the capital, the BBC reporter says security forces have arrested
B. The BBC reporter says that, since taking control of the capital, security forces have arrested
C. The BBC reporter, since taking control of the capital, says security forces
D. Security forces, since taking control of the capital, have, the BBC reporter says, arrested
E. Security forces have arrested the BBC reporter since taking control of the capital
This question requires clarification as to who took control of the capital. In the original sentence, it seems as if the BBC reporter took control; to fix the sentence, the acting party –
security forces – must be clarified.
- This option splits the acting party, security forces, from the action, taking control of the capital.
- This option places the BBC reporter at the beginning of the sentence as the observing party and makes it clear that security forces have taken the capital.
- This option resolves the ambiguity of the original sentence, but incorrectly credits the BBC reporter with taking control of the capital.
- This option is unnecessarily wordy and even more confusing than the original.
- Insurgents, not the BBC reporter, were arrested by security forces.
Answer: B