The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times. (A) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing (B) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed (C) which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing (D) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed (E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

No, it modifies 'local times'. A modifier such as 'determined' (or any 'verb-ed' modifier) in the middle of a sentence (as in this question) usually modifies what it touches. When the modifier is at the end of a sentence, it behaves more like a 'verb-ing' modifiers and usually modifies the subject of the preceding clause. In this sentence, 'differing' is in a parallel structure with 'determined', so 'determined' and 'differing' have to modify the same thing. Anyway, it doesn't make sense to say that growth of the railways was determined by the position of the sun or that the growth of the railways differed from city to city. Posted from my mobile device

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The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which

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Hi egmat,

(D) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed: Incorrect. ???determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian??? (a verb-ed modifier) is not parallel to ???differed from city to city??? (a verb phrase). Notice here that ???determined??? is not a verb here. It is a verb-ed modifier that is modifying ???local times???. If it were a verb, ther would be no comma before it and the subject and the verb would be connected properly.

As we rightly pointed out determined is a verb ed modifier. However, this verb ed modifier is after clause+comma. It modifies the subject "the growth of rail roads" and its non sensical.

When can be sure that verb-ed modifier after comma is modifying the closest entity but not the subject of previous clause ?

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when we see v-ing and v-ed as post adjective we should remember the original verb is transitive or intransitive, since there is no passive form for intransitive verb, in this case "differ".

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The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

(A) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

Singular - OUT

(B) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed

Singular - OUT

(C) which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

"which were determined" not parallel to "differing"

"which were determined" illogical with "which were differing" - the correct change is to "which were different"

(D) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed

"determined by" "differed" not parallel. Try putting "differing" as the first marker. "local times, differed from city to city" is not parallel to "local times, determined by X"

(E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing

Correct parallelism. Try placing "differing" as the first marker. "local times, differing from city to city"

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The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

Test: Modifier, Parallelism
(A) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
-> which incorrectly modify "the abolition..."
(B) which was determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which differed
-> which incorrectly modify "the abolition..."
(C) which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing
-> which incorrectly modify "the abolition..."
(D) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differed
-> Parallel: determined - past participle (adj) + differed - past participle (adj)
(E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing[/quote]
-> Parallel: determined - past participle (adj) + differing - present participle (adj) . Differing since the verb is Active, not Passive
=> correct!

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Hi GMATNinja DmitryFarber EducationAisle AjiteshArun MartyTargetTestPrep GMATGuruNY RonTargetTestPrep - question on (C)

I have a car, which is red and old.

Here, "which is" is applicable to both a) red
b) old

Why cant option (C) be interpreted in a similar way. Please let me know why the following interpretation is invalid.

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which were a) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and b) differing from city to city,, and to the establishment of regional times.

So,
(a) local times, which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian
and
(b) local times, which were differing from city to city

(a) past tense (passive)
(b) past tense continous (active)

Now passive voice CAN BE parallel to active voice

If you interepret (C) this way, both elements (a) and (b) seem parallel to each other.

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jabhatta2

Hi - question on (C)

I have a car, which is red and old.

Here, "which is" is applicable to both a) red
b) old

Why cant option (C) be interpreted in a similar way. Please let me know why the following interpretation is invalid.

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which were a) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and b) differing from city to city,, and to the establishment of regional times.

So,
(a) local times, which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian
and
(b) local times, which were differing from city to city

(a) past tense (passive)
(b) past tense continous (active)

Now passive voice CAN BE parallel to active voice

If you interepret (C) this way, both elements (a) and (b) seem parallel to each other.

Yes, the two elements could be considered parallel. So, there's not, strictly speaking an issue with parallism.

The issue is with the tense of "were differing."

To see this issue more clearly, consider this version of the (C) version of the sentence.

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which were ... differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

We see that the sentence illogically uses the past continuous "were differing" when the simple past "differed" would make more sense,

The meaning conveyed by the past continuous suggest the illogical idea that "local times" had the ability to start and stop "differing." On the other hand, the simple past "differed" serves to communicate the logical idea that a characteristic of "local times" was that they "differed from city to city."

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Updated on: 17 Oct 2022, 06:12

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 16 Sep 2022, 13:01.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 17 Oct 2022, 06:12, edited 1 time in total.

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MartyTargetTestPrep

......

Yes, the two elements could be considered parallel. So, there's not, strictly speaking an issue with parallism.

The issue is with the tense of "were differing."

To see this issue more clearly, consider this version of the (C) version of the sentence.

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which were ... differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

We see that the sentence illogically uses the past continuous "were differing" when the simple past "differed" would make more sense,

The meaning conveyed by the past continuous suggest the illogical idea that "local times" had the ability to start and stop "differing." On the other hand, the simple past "differed" serves to communicate the logical idea that a characteristic of "local times" was that they "differed from city to city."

Hi MartyTargetTestPrep -
Thank you so much - i am struggling to understand the bit in yellow.

Could you provide a simpler example ?

let me try a simple example

Quote:

(a) The dogs, which were killing hyenas, are pink
vs
(b) The dogs, which killed hyenas, are pink

Too me - (A) and (B) are the same. I know there is a difference but struggling to enunciate.

In my 2nd example - (b) - the red indicates a general characteristic about EVERY pink dogs. Every pink dog killed hyenas (in the past)

(a) is NOT a general characteristic ? so there are pink dogs THAT DONT kill hyenas and there are pink dogs THAT DO kill hyenas ...

Is that whats going on ...

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Will "(E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing" not be a modifier and modify the subject of. the proceeding clause?

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Updated on: 16 Oct 2022, 19:21

Originally posted by vv65 on 18 Sep 2022, 08:28.
Last edited by vv65 on 16 Oct 2022, 19:21, edited 2 times in total.

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PrakritiRoy

Will "(E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing" not be a modifier and modify the subject of. the proceeding clause?

No, it modifies 'local times'.

[Edited on 17-Oct-2022, to correct and clarify]
A modifier such as 'determined' (or any 'verb-ed' modifier) in the middle of a sentence (as in this question) usually modifies what it touches.
When the modifier is at the end of a sentence, it behaves more like a 'verb-ing' modifiers and usually modifies the subject of the preceding clause.
[End of edit]

In this sentence, 'differing' is in a parallel structure with 'determined', so 'determined' and 'differing' have to modify the same thing.

Anyway, it doesn't make sense to say that growth of the railways was determined by the position of the sun or that the growth of the railways differed from city to city.

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PrakritiRoy

Will "(E) determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and differing" not be a modifier and modify the subject of. the proceeding clause?

Hello PrakritiRoy,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, unlike the "comma + present participle ("verb+ing")" construction, the "comma + past participle ("determined" in this case)" construction does not modify the entirety of the preceding clause, rather it functions as any other noun modifier does, modifying the noun just before the comma.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
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topmbaseeker

Can someone please explain how this question tests pronouns?

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DesiMozart

Can someone please explain how this question tests pronouns?

The question is mostly about meaning, parallelism, and modifiers. But 'WHICH' is a pronoun, so the question tests pronouns too.

Posted from my mobile device

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MartyTargetTestPrep

Hi MartyTargetTestPrep -
Thank you so much - i am struggling to understand the bit in yellow.

Could you provide a simpler example ?

let me try a simple example

Quote:

(a) The dogs, which were killing hyenas, are pink
vs
(b) The dogs, which killed hyenas, are pink

Hi.

Your examples don't work because both sentences convey logical meanings.

Here are two examples that illustrate the key contrast.

Sharks, which differ from other fish in many ways, can be found in all oceans.

Sharks, which are differing from other fish in many ways, can be found in all oceans.

The first one is correct. The second suggests the illogical meaning that sharks are currently choosing to differ from other fish but may not do so at all time.

The verb "differ" is fairly unique in that, when things differ, they often differ intrinsically or permanently. So, saying "are differing," which suggests that the things don't differ all the time, is often illogical.

In contrast, something can choose to kill sometimes and not other times. So, "are killing" is logical.

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MartyTargetTestPrep

Hi.

Here are two examples that illustrate the key contrast.

Sharks, which differ from other fish in many ways, can be found in all oceans.

Sharks, which are differing from other fish in many ways, can be found in all oceans.

The first one is correct. The second suggests the illogical meaning that sharks are currently choosing to differ from other fish but may not do so at all time.

The verb "differ" is fairly unique in that, when things differ, they often differ intrinsically or permanently. So, saying "are differing," which suggests that the things don't differ all the time, is often illogical.

Thx MartyTargetTestPrep : i think my example [dogs] and the shark example may not be the best because Dogs and Sharks cannot "themselves choose" to differ obviously.

Lets try with an inanimate object for a more analagous example to understand the contast.

Quote:

(i) Eastern time, which differs from Greenwich mean time, is currently 7 pm
(ii) Eastern time, which is differing from Greenwich mean time, is currently 7 pm
(iii) Eastern time, which was differing from Greenwich mean time, is currently 7 pm

Here is the difference between the 3 sentences [Please let me know your thoughts !]

(i) Eastern Time is general characteristic that is true today and currently Eastern Time is different from GMT

(ii) Eastern Time is temporarily different from GMT – we can't say if Eastern Time is ALWAYS DIFFERENT from GMT (in the present tense). It's quite possible that ET is the same as GMT (in the present tense)

(iii) Eastern Time was temporarily different from GMT (in the past) – we don’t know if Eastern Time WAS AWALYS DIFFERENT from GMT (in the past tense) | we don’t know if Eastern Time IS DIFFERENT from GMT (in the present tense)

So going back to (C) - My interpretation of (C) was the following

The growth of the railroads led to the abolition of local times, which were differing from city to city, and to the establishment of regional times.

Past continous suggests that local times may not always differing from city to city (in the past).

Usage of past continous suggests that maybe there were instances when local times DID NOT DIFFER CITY TO CITY (in the past).

Whereas we wanted to say : LOCAL times ALWAYS DIFFERED FROM CITY TO CITY (in the past)

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jabhatta2

There you have it.

Also, "which were differing" seems to suggest that the times were actively choosing to differ at that time.

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ExpertsGlobal5

AlexGmat2017

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Dear Friends,

Choice A: This answer choice features a subject-verb disagreement between the verb "was" and the noun "local times". This answer choice also fails to maintain parallelism between the phrases "which was determined..." and "differing from city to city". Remember, all elements within a list must be parallel. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice B: This answer choice repeats the subject-verb disagreement seen in Option A. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice C: This answer choice repeats the parallelism error found in Option A. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice D: This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between the phrases “determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian” and "differed from city to city", as the former is a "verb+ed" modifier phrase and the latter is a verb phrase. Thus, this answer choice is incorrect.

Choice E: This answer choice maintains proper subject-verb agreement and parallelism; the phrase "determined by when..." and "differing from city to city" are verb-based modifying phrases that act upon the noun "local time", making them parallel. Thus, this answer choice is correct.

Hence, E is the best answer choice.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Can we slightly change option (C) to make it right?
For example, "which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which were differing..." ?

Reading the (C) option made me think that "which were" was related to both "determined by..." and "differing..."

Hello AlexGmat2017,

Hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the change you have mentioned here would not make the two phrases parallel, as they would be in two different tenses, the simple past and simple past continuous, respectively.
Hope this helps.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi ExpertsGlobal5 - what cant simple past be parallel to simple past continous ?

- if past tense can be parallel to future tense
or
- if past tense can be parallel to present tense

Surely - simple past tense can be parallel to simple past continous

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jabhatta2

Hello jabhatta2,

We hope this finds you well.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention; we appear to have committed a bit of oversight here.

Yes; "were determined" and "were differing" are actually parallel, as verbs need to be in the same tense to maintain parallelism.

Our apologies for this oversight, and thanks once more.

All the best!
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jabhatta2

Hi ExpertsGlobal5 - so if the following change was made to (c)

- (c-variant) : "which were determined by when the sun reached the observer's meridian and which were differing..."

What are your thoughts on (c-variant) ?

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jabhatta2

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Hello jabhatta2,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, Option C may be grammatically correct, but it is clearly inferior to Option E due to its needless wordiness, and the phrase "were differing" may even distort the meaning slightly.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

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ExpertsGlobal5

To answer your query, Option C-variant may be grammatically correct, but it is clearly inferior to Option E due to its needless wordiness, and the phrase "were differing" may even distort the meaning slightly.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team

Hi ExpertsGlobal5 - could you please help explain the yellow in a bit more detail please ? - how does the past-continous tense (were differing) change the meaning a bit ?

i have heard some other experts, say the same but not clear

thank you !