Of all the possible disasters that threaten American agriculture, the

Question

Of all the possible disasters that threaten American agriculture, the possibility of an adverse change in climate  is maybe the more difficult for analysis .

(A) is maybe the more difficult for analysis
(B) is probably the most difficult to analyze
(C) is maybe the most difficult for analysis
(D) is probably the more difficult to analyze
(E) is, it may be, the analysis that is most difficult

daagh · Accepted Answer

-  Difficult to analyse  - is the proper idiom. - Is may be  - is a colloquial and informal expression compared to the more impressive -  probable  -. So B it is

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

AliciaSierra

"For analysis" is definitely the main problem here. The short explanation is "it's an idiom," but we could also say that "difficult for analysis" doesn't have a coherent meaning. If we add "for X" to an adjective, then that modifier should indicate a purpose for which the modifier is true. For instance, if I say that a pair of pants is "great for skiing," it means that the pants are great for the purpose of skiing, and if I say that a tablet is "useful for note-taking," then it is useful for the purpose of note-taking. So we have an item used in a situation, but the adjective applies to the item itself. The pants are great and the table is useful, at least in those specific situations.

However, we can't apply the adjective "difficult" directly to the possibility of climate change. The possibility isn't difficult; analyzing it is. We also aren't  using  the possibility of climate change  for the purpose  of analysis, the way we use a tablet for the purpose of note-taking. Rather, we are trying to analyze something and finding that analysis difficult to do. This meaning is made clear by the infinitive "to analyze," which becomes the true target of difficult. Think about an example such as "The meal was hard to prepare" or "The movie was enjoyable to criticize." The meal wasn't hard and the movie wasn't enjoyable. Rather, the acts of preparing and criticizing were hard and enjoyable. Does that help?

As for other differences, there's not much left to look at! However, we generally use "maybe" to modify whole clauses ("Maybe it will rain today") rather than individual verbs or adjectives. We don't say "She maybe hates me" or "It is maybe the best restaurant in town." This is distinct from the correct use of "may" as a helping verb, followed by the verb "be": "It may be the best restaurant in town."

1022lapog · Answer

"the' in "is maybe the more difficult for analysis" indicates that we need a superlative there. So "A" & "D" are out.

may be is not the term to say some thing with some degree of certainty. So "C" and "E" are out.

So the right answer is "B"

paidlukkha · Answer

Sir  daagh

Can you touch base on more & most for these 2 options keeping in mind the probability? Also in general sentences.

(B) is probably the  most  difficult to analyze
(D) is probably the  more  difficult to analyze

daagh · Answer

The word ‘all’ refers to more than two and several in general; if there are only two factors involved then we must call them as ‘both’ rather than 'all'. 
Point 2 is that, ‘more’ is used only when two factors are involved. ‘The most' is used when more than two are involved. I do not think the adverb ‘probably’ plays a role in choosing between ‘the more’ and ‘the most’.

AliciaSierra · Answer

Hello  DmitryFarber ,
Is C option wrong because of "For analysis" ? Can you please suggest- except "FOR ANALYSIS" is there any other difference between B and C

Ccccc1111111 · Answer

tov/for ving
101.3 the most difficult to

tov/for ving
468
Under a provision of the Constitution that was never applied, Congress has been required to call a convention for considering possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do it by the legislatures of two-thirds of the states.

(A) was never applied, Congress has been required to call a convention for considering possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do it

(B) was never applied, there has been a requirement that Congress call a convention for consideration of possible amendments to the document when asked to do it formally

(C) was never applied, whereby Congress is required to call a convention for considering possible amendments to the document when asked to do it formally

(D) has never been applied, whereby Congress is required to call a convention to consider possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do so

(E) has never been applied, Congress is required to call a convention to consider possible amendments to the document when formally asked to do so

VerbalBot · Answer

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Of all the possible disasters that threaten American agriculture, the

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Of all the possible disasters that threaten American agriculture, the

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