The agreement, the first to formally require industrialized

Dear Friends,

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 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: Meaning

A: 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

a. by which - whatever follows by will tell you the process...so A is out
b. for which - changes the meaning of the sentence
c. under which - correct
d. such that - I guess such that and such as is used for list
e. wherein - changes the meaning.

IMO C

1.wherein = in which

2. keep in mind that "protocol under which", so no matter whether it is "in, for or by which"

C is the best

weird one. Looks like an idiom test.
C sounds ok. "agreement is a protocol under which". I am not sure of the usage of wherein.

C/E. Would pick C since I am not sure of E.

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