These restrictions put a strain on the hospital's generators and

Question

These restrictions put a strain on the hospital's  generators and the water supply and sewage system, which both depend  on electric pumps.

A. generators and the water supply and sewage system, which both depend
B. generators and on the water supply as well as the sewage system, which depend
C. generators; the water supply and the sewage system, both depend
D. generators, the water supply and the sewage system, both depending
E. generators as well as on the water supply and the sewage system, both depend

cchen679 · Answer

Unsure why E is wrong.

Also, for A, why can which be used to refer to both water supply and sewage system?

Gowtham006 · Answer

Option C isn't grammatically wrong . This question comes down to logic, I guess.

digvijayk1 · Answer

A. generators and the water supply and sewage system, which  both  depend,

Here the usage of  both  . creates confusion.

Sharmashina · Answer

Can someone please explain why d is not correct and why a is correct?

Posted from my mobile device

Sayantan1604 · Answer

I chose E because the clause at the end of the sentence refers to 2 things/groups ('both')
In that option, the two groups are explicit ie generators & water supply and sewage system. 
Please explain how this option is trumped by A

EducationAisle · Answer

Hi  Sayantan1604 , while I agree that option A is perhaps not articulated in the best possible manner, E is definitely  not  correct because E is (what's called) a  run-on  sentence: Two Independent clauses connected by  just  a  comma .

In E, following are the two Independent clauses connected by just a comma:

i) These restrictions put a strain on the hospital's generators as well as on the water supply and the sewage system

ii) Both depend on electric pumps

Kindly note that this is an important concept, and is quite frequently tested on GMAT. Hence, a robust understanding of run-on sentences is crucial.

p.s. Our book    EducationAisle Sentence Correction Nirvana    discusses  run-on sentences , their application and examples in significant detail. If you or someone is interested, PM me your email-id; I can mail the corresponding section.

sydqur · Answer

Does anyone know why C is wrong?

petrichor · Answer

Though I am not fully convinced, I picked A based on elimination of other choices.

A. generators and the water supply and sewage system, which both depend

here "the generators" and "the water and sewage system" are parallel - so 'which' points to both. 
but I still wonder how generators depend on electric pumps.

B. generators and on the water supply as well as the sewage system, which depend

here the splitting of water supply and sewage system makes the 'which part' to only point the sewage system.

C. generators; the water supply and the sewage system, both depend

Making "the water supply and the sewage system, both depend" as a separate clause distorts the meaning as if strain is only on the generators.

D. generators, the water supply and the sewage system, both depending

here the '-ing phrase' is placed as if "putting the strain depends on the electric pump"

E. generators as well as on the water supply and the sewage system, both depend

"both depend on electric pumps" is a run on.

kamal4622 · Answer

A. generators and the water supply and sewage system, which both depend

B. generators and on the water supply as well as the sewage system, which depend

C. generators; the water supply and the sewage system, both depend

D. generators, the water supply and the sewage system, both depending

E. generators as well as on the water supply and the sewage system, both depend

anshsaurabh447 · Answer

IMO, the correct answer should be C.

The use of semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses but i'm not sure about the comma(,) used before 'both depend'.

Harsh9676 · Answer

You are correct in applying the rule, but here the intended meaning changes plus the two elements become unrelated. Hence Option C is incorrect. - Don't just go by the rules, Hard GMAT SC Qs test meaning changes.

C changes the meaning to restrictions put a strain on only generators, while the original meaning is that these restrictions impact generators, Water and Sewage systems as these systems depend on electricity.

Hope its clear.

VerbalBot · Answer

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These restrictions put a strain on the hospital's generators and

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These restrictions put a strain on the hospital's generators and

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