The coal strike reduced Indiana's energy reserves, which

plus, a fact that... gmat dislikes that particular phrase

ABE all wrong b/c improper use of which.

D: a fact that, this is a no no on the gmat most of the time. Also a circumstance better describes what actually happened. The coal strike is a fact, but its better described as a circumstance.

Clear C

Agree with Gmatblackbelt on D, while rest are wrong for using incorrect modifiers.

Amar

For some reason I thought "Which" over here was referring to the previous clause.

totally missed this one!!

On target. OA is C

Lately I have been confusing myself more and more with the usage of "Which" - I guess I have been too many sources.

1. Which can be used as a relative pronoun referring back to the closest noun and always preceded by a comma - I agree with this one its easy.

2. But sometimes which behaves like an absolute phrase and refers back to the previous sentence as a whole.

Why cant the usage of which above be the latter of the two??

Is the which in the options above a restrictive or non-restrictive clause


can someone please please help me out here.....

This is how I see it...

In the above sentence:
The coal strike reduced Indian's energy reserves, which...

The coal strike - Subject
reduced - verb
Indiana's energy reserves - object

which - modifier . Modifies the object with this clause 'caused unemployment among the workers'
Here which rightly points to a noun but the whole sentence is illogical.

Absolute phrases are made of nouns or pronouns followed by a participle and any modifiers of the noun or pronoun. Absolute phrases contain a subject (unlike participial phrases), and no predicate. They serve to modify an entire sentence.

Where as the relative pronoun which refers to inanimate things and to animals: in their noun or pronoun form

As the first clause can stand by itself and also, as there is a comma , before which - non-restrictive clause[/b]

If I modify the sentencse (d) like below
d)a fact that resulted in unemployment

Which one you will chose? c or d please explain your answers.

C. Which in A, B, and E refers to wrong noun. in D, it is wrong to say that "The coal strike reduced Indiana's energy reserves" created unemplyoed workers.

Both (C) and (D) will be redundant..which means you will have 2 right answer choices.

a fact that resulted in unemployment

or

a circumstance that resulted in unemployment

Beyond700 - Thank you for taking out time for the explanation.

I see in this case the which clause is modifying the noun and is a non-essential modifier.

Hi Beyond700,

I am still not clear on the usage of the relative pronoun which. Can you please explain to me with the aid of sentences the use of which-

1. To modifer an inanimate thing

2. To modifer a sentence

Don.

As it is quite elaborate, I thought I would share with you some of my notes on this. Kindly have a go at it and feel free to discuss on the same.