Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 06:07 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 06:07
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
555-605 Level|   Modifiers|   Pronouns|      
User avatar
vyassaptarashi
User avatar
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Last visit: 20 Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Own Kudos:
367
 [20]
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 102
Kudos: 367
 [20]
The regents of the University of California system have recently Updated on: 03 Aug 2018, 10:49
Originally posted by vyassaptarashi on 06 Dec 2010, 11:45.
Last edited by Bunuel on 03 Aug 2018, 10:49, edited 2 times in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
15
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

69% (01:05) correct 31% (01:18) wrong based on 746 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The regents of the University of California system have recently acted on plans to add two new universities, which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools.

(A) universities, which increases to ten the number
(B) universities which increase the number to ten
(C) universities, increasing to ten the number
(D) universities, a plan which will have increased to ten the number
(E) universities to increase to ten the number
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
C
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
VeritasPrepBrian
User avatar
Veritas Prep Representative
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Last visit: 02 Mar 2022
Posts: 416
Own Kudos:
3,219
 [5]
Given Kudos: 63
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 416
Kudos: 3,219
 [5]
The regents of the University of California system have recently 06 Dec 2010, 12:19
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.
General Discussion
User avatar
vyassaptarashi
User avatar
Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Last visit: 20 Jan 2018
Posts: 102
Own Kudos:
367
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 102
Kudos: 367
The regents of the University of California system have recently 06 Dec 2010, 21:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepBrian
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.
Show more


Brian ...you are right about "WHICH" modifier, .. but thats relatively an easy task... most difficult is to choose between C and E
User avatar
USCTrojan2006
User avatar
Joined: 17 Sep 2010
Last visit: 29 Jul 2013
Posts: 147
Own Kudos:
24
Given Kudos: 33
Concentration: General Management, Finance
Schools: Anderson FEMBA '15 (M) Marshall PM '15
GPA: 3.59
WE:Corporate Finance (Media/Entertainment)
Schools: Anderson FEMBA '15 (M) Marshall PM '15
Posts: 147
Kudos: 24
The regents of the University of California system have recently 06 Dec 2010, 22:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Had it down to C and E because of which, since it refers to University of California System and not Universities.

Picked C because present continuous sounded best.

vyassaptarashi
VeritasPrepBrian
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.


Brian ...you are right about "WHICH" modifier, .. but thats relatively an easy task... most difficult is to choose between C and E
Show more
avatar
gmatwarrior
avatar
Joined: 15 Jan 2010
Last visit: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 2
Schools:Rotman,LSB
Posts: 4
Kudos: 1
The regents of the University of California system have recently 06 Dec 2010, 23:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The regents of the University of California system have recently acted on plans to add two new universities, which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools.

(A) universities, which increases to ten the number - which is modifying universities but that is not causing the increase
(B) universities which increase the number to ten - same as above A
(C) universities, increasing to ten the number - this is followed from cause and effect rule with 'ing' form is used to express effect after cause and correct option(D) universities, a plan which will have increased to ten the number - run on sentence
(E) universities to increase to ten the number - need to use cause and effect rule to use 'ing'form but not infinitive
User avatar
mariyea
User avatar
Joined: 30 Nov 2010
Last visit: 06 Dec 2011
Posts: 185
Own Kudos:
277
Given Kudos: 66
Schools:UC Berkley, UCLA
Posts: 185
Kudos: 277
The regents of the University of California system have recently 07 Dec 2010, 08:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasPrepBrian
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.
Show more

This is a very helpful post, Thanks! But what about the relative pronoun that. How should it be used? And if the sentence were constructed like this - ...., a plan that increases to ten the number... - Would the construction be correct?
Geronimo
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Last visit: -
Kudos: 0
The regents of the University of California system have recently 07 Dec 2010, 10:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vyassaptarashi
VeritasPrepBrian
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.


Brian ...you are right about "WHICH" modifier, .. but thats relatively an easy task... most difficult is to choose between C and E
Show more


This is true. These were my last 2 choices. But since E modifies the meaning of the sentence, I chose C.
User avatar
Raths
User avatar
Joined: 19 Sep 2010
Last visit: 24 Oct 2013
Posts: 103
Own Kudos:
267
 [1]
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 103
Kudos: 267
 [1]
The regents of the University of California system have recently 07 Dec 2010, 11:48
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO...its C.

A . As Brian has mentioned , "Which" here refers to "universities" and universities does not increase to ten , its the plan which increases it.

B. Same reason as A , although they have modified "increases" to "increase".

C. Here , the participial phrase "increasing to ten the number" is modifying the first sentence . Specifying the consequence of the plan.

D. I first fell for this option . But cudn't find any strong reason to discard it as well.

E. This option suggests that the purpose of the plan was to increase the number of schools to ten which is not really the case here.
User avatar
VeritasPrepBrian
User avatar
Veritas Prep Representative
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Last visit: 02 Mar 2022
Posts: 416
Own Kudos:
3,219
 [1]
Given Kudos: 63
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 416
Kudos: 3,219
 [1]
The regents of the University of California system have recently 07 Dec 2010, 15:18
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Great explanation, Raths - E does change the meaning to make it look like the intent of the regents was to simply increase the number, so C is the correct choice.

Great work here, everyone - and, yes, I know I ducked out for a little bit...the teacher in me is reluctant to just dive in with the correct answer right away sometimes...I like seeing the debate among the group on questions like these!
User avatar
saurabhgoel
User avatar
Joined: 31 May 2010
Last visit: 04 Dec 2014
Posts: 43
Own Kudos:
242
Given Kudos: 25
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 43
Kudos: 242
The regents of the University of California system have recently 15 Dec 2010, 19:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Its 'C'

We can eliminate A / B due to 'Which' . As per grammar 'which' should modify 'Universities' as it is placed next to it. But the clause is modifying the 'Plan'.
User avatar
garimavyas
User avatar
Joined: 21 Dec 2010
Last visit: 01 Feb 2012
Posts: 260
Own Kudos:
1,552
Given Kudos: 51
Posts: 260
Kudos: 1,552
The regents of the University of California system have recently 08 Mar 2011, 04:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vyassaptarashi
VeritasPrepBrian
I've seen this exact same setup before just with different subject-matter/context, so I'd presume that this is a replica of an official question from one of the Official Guides.

I'll let everyone try their hand at it before I throw down the correct answer, but let me give one pretty strong hint: they're testing the concept of the relative pronoun modifier "which". The word "which", when used to begin a modifier, must accurately replace/describe the word immediately adjacent to it, and if that's not the case you can eliminate that answer choice.


Brian ...you are right about "WHICH" modifier, .. but thats relatively an easy task... most difficult is to choose between C and E
Show more


is that MOST difficult task :D , i think it is fairly easy to pick C as the answer, E has an altered meaning because of the usage of 'to....'

is this a 700 level q ?
User avatar
gmat1220
User avatar
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Last visit: 17 Feb 2020
Posts: 466
Own Kudos:
987
Given Kudos: 123
Status:Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing.
Affiliations: University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 466
Kudos: 987
The regents of the University of California system have recently 08 Mar 2011, 06:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Brian
Reopening the pandora box.
D looks like the resumptive modifier setup. How did you avoid the trap? I fell for it.

VeritasPrepBrian
Great explanation, Raths - E does change the meaning to make it look like the intent of the regents was to simply increase the number, so C is the correct choice.

Great work here, everyone - and, yes, I know I ducked out for a little bit...the teacher in me is reluctant to just dive in with the correct answer right away sometimes...I like seeing the debate among the group on questions like these!
Show more
User avatar
VeritasPrepBrian
User avatar
Veritas Prep Representative
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Last visit: 02 Mar 2022
Posts: 416
Own Kudos:
3,219
 [4]
Given Kudos: 63
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 416
Kudos: 3,219
 [4]
The regents of the University of California system have recently 08 Mar 2011, 10:05
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey gmat1220,

Even if that modifier in D is okay (and just knowing the GMAT I'd pick the more-clear modifier from C every time if that were my last decision point), the verb tense in choice D doesn't work.

The only time you'd really get away with using that combination of tense ("will have increased...") is if you're clearly putting a time limit in there to mark that point in the future at which you're using the past progressive. So you could say:

By the time the new laws take place, the amount of pollution will have already doubled.

But you can't say:

The new law ensures that the amount of pollution will have doubled.

So in the case of D, without that designated future point at which we use the past progressive ("have increased"), the verb tense doesn't work.
User avatar
gmat1220
User avatar
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Last visit: 17 Feb 2020
Posts: 466
Own Kudos:
987
Given Kudos: 123
Status:Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. It's a dare. Impossible is nothing.
Affiliations: University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 466
Kudos: 987
The regents of the University of California system have recently 08 Mar 2011, 10:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks !!! I got it.

Brian,
"a plan....." is next to "universities". Hence we need "ing" modifier to modify the previous clause. Am I correct?

thanks
VeritasPrepBrian
Hey gmat1220,

Even if that modifier in D is okay (and just knowing the GMAT I'd pick the more-clear modifier from C every time if that were my last decision point), the verb tense in choice D doesn't work.

The only time you'd really get away with using that combination of tense ("will have increased...") is if you're clearly putting a time limit in there to mark that point in the future at which you're using the past progressive. So you could say:

By the time the new laws take place, the amount of pollution will have already doubled.

But you can't say:

The new law ensures that the amount of pollution will have doubled.

So in the case of D, without that designated future point at which we use the past progressive ("have increased"), the verb tense doesn't work.
Show more
User avatar
VeritasPrepBrian
User avatar
Veritas Prep Representative
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Last visit: 02 Mar 2022
Posts: 416
Own Kudos:
3,219
Given Kudos: 63
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 416
Kudos: 3,219
The regents of the University of California system have recently 08 Mar 2011, 17:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hey gmat1220 - you know, I don't want to guarantee that we NEED that -ing modifier, but:

-As Baten80 mentioned, the singular modifier "a plan" doesn't really work with "acted on plans (plural)"
-The -ing modifier is definitely correct in this case, as it modifies the entire preceding clause and isn't limited just to the word or phrase immediately adjacent to the comma. Because of that, I mentioned before that I'd tend toward that modifier if I were at all unclear about the validity of the "resumptive modifier" you mentioned and whether it would apply.

So it's not that the situation can only call for exactly one type of modifier...I just know that the modifier in C is clearly allowable, and that D introduces a few doubts (at best) and contains a fatal verb tense flaw. And since one fatal flaw dooms an answer, and I found one in D and can't find any in C, there are a few reasons to make that choice.

I hope that helps - I'd be careful about limiting yourself to exactly one type of phrasing that you think you NEED...Sentence Correction is much more about eliminating flaws.
User avatar
thangvietname
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Last visit: 28 Jun 2017
Posts: 522
Own Kudos:
561
Given Kudos: 916
Posts: 522
Kudos: 561
The regents of the University of California system have recently 27 Aug 2015, 03:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vyassaptarashi
Try this question ... it will be very good for your health ... :lol:

The regents of the University of California system have recently acted on plans to add two new universities, which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools.

(A) universities, which increases to ten the number
(B) universities which increase the number to ten
(C) universities, increasing to ten the number
(D) universities, a plan which will have increased to ten the number
(E) universities to increase to ten the number


Show Spoiler
C
Show more

which in A and B have no antecedent so, they are wrong.
a plan in D , is not logic to sumarize the main clause. the main clause is not a plan at all but an action happen already

both e and c are correct
User avatar
Dinkar1910
User avatar
Joined: 03 Aug 2018
Last visit: 02 Aug 2020
Posts: 14
Own Kudos:
11
Given Kudos: 11
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, General Management
Schools: UC Davis '21 (A$) ESADE '21 IIMA PGPX"20 CBS '21 Tepper '21 (S) Arizona State'21 (D) Kenan-Flagler '21 (D) Smith '21 (A$) Carlson '21 (A$) Broad '21 (A$) Mendoza '21 (A$) ISB '20 (I) Jones '21 (I) Simon '21 (I)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
GPA: 3.69
WE:Consulting (Energy)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: UC Davis '21 (A$) ESADE '21 IIMA PGPX"20 CBS '21 Tepper '21 (S) Arizona State'21 (D) Kenan-Flagler '21 (D) Smith '21 (A$) Carlson '21 (A$) Broad '21 (A$) Mendoza '21 (A$) ISB '20 (I) Jones '21 (I) Simon '21 (I)
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
Posts: 14
Kudos: 11
The regents of the University of California system have recently 03 Aug 2018, 10:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Try this question ... it will be very good for your health ... :lol:

The regents of the University of California system have recently acted on plans to add two new universities, which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools.

(A) universities, which increases to ten the number
(B) universities which increase the number to ten
(C) universities, increasing to ten the number
(D) universities, a plan which will have increased to ten the number
(E) universities to increase to ten the number


Answer choice : C
, + verbing is used as a modifier to show the result of the plans.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,388
Own Kudos:
778,218
 [1]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,388
Kudos: 778,218
 [1]
The regents of the University of California system have recently 14 Aug 2018, 01:53
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
vyassaptarashi
The regents of the University of California system have recently acted on plans to add two new universities, which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools.

(A) universities, which increases to ten the number
(B) universities which increase the number to ten
(C) universities, increasing to ten the number
(D) universities, a plan which will have increased to ten the number
(E) universities to increase to ten the number
Show more

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:



The final phrase (which increases to ten the number of U.C. schools) describes the plan. Answer choice (D) reintroduces the object (the plan) that's being described, but the certainly awkward expression will have increased, as well as the general wordiness of the choice, eliminates it from consideration. If you read (B) into the sentence, you'll notice that the sentence suddenly becomes even more awkward. Eliminate (B). And, while we're looking at the sentence as a whole, consider (E). It distorts the original meaning of the sentence, suggesting that the purpose of the plan was not to add two universities per se but to up the total number of universities to ten. That may be true, but it's not what the original sentence said and unnecessarily changes the sentence's meaning. Eliminate (E). Look at (A) and (С). (C) is the better choice because it's more direct, because it eliminates the unnecessary which, and because increasing makes the final phrase into a modifier as, for optimal clarity, it should be.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,832
Own Kudos:
986
Posts: 18,832
Kudos: 986
The regents of the University of California system have recently 13 May 2023, 06:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
188 posts