Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
HKD1710 wrote:
Though swamp-like, Florida's Everglades are actually a 60-mile-wide river, the waters of which can take months to reach their final destination in Florida Bay.
(A) the waters of which can take months to reach their
(B) whose waters do take months to reach their
(C) whose waters can take months to reach its
(D) the waters of which can take months to reach its
(E) and they can take months to reach their
Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of the crucial part of this sentence is that the waters of Florida's Everglades can take months to reach their final destination in Florida Bay.
Concepts tested here: Meaning + PronounsA: Correct. This answer choice uses the phrase "can take", conveying the intended meaning - that it is
possible for the waters of Florida's Everglades to take months to reach their final destination in Florida Bay. Further, Option A avoids the pronoun error seen in Option E, as it includes the noun "waters" for the pronoun "their" to refer to. Additionally, Option A correctly refers to the plural noun "waters" with the plural pronoun "their".
B: This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "do take"; the omission of the word "can" incorrectly implies that the waters of Florida's Everglades
definitely take months to reach their final destination in Florida Bay; the intended meaning is that it is
possible for the waters of Florida's Everglades to take months to reach their final destination in Florida Bay.
C: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "waters" with the singular pronoun "its".
D: This answer choice incorrectly refers to the plural noun "waters" with the singular pronoun "its".
E: This answer choice suffers from a pronoun error, as the pronouns "they" and "their" have no logical referent.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.All the best!
Experts' Global Team