Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and

Question

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,  the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.

(A) the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
(B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
(C) energy and nuclear power information was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(D) information about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(E) the public of Sweden was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

OG 2017 New Question

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Accepted Answer

Hello Everyone!

This is a great example of a GMAT question that deals with  modifiers ! Let's start by taking a quick look at each option, and highlight the major differences between them in  orange :

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,  the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.

(A)  the Swedish public  was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
(B)  the government  informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
(C)  energy and nuclear power information  was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(D)  information about energy and nuclear power  was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(E)  the public of Sweden  was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

Whenever we see options that are all drastically different from one another, we have to ask: what's the bigger picture? For this question, it's clear that we're dealing with modifiers because the modifier isn't underlined, but the rest of the sentence is.

The most common mistake that writers make concerning modifiers is placement.  Modifiers should immediately precede or follow what they're modifying.  So, let's take a closer look at each option, and ask ourselves:

WHO/WHAT used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties?

It makes the most sense to say  the government  used study groups, and then told the public about their findings! Let's see which options place the government directly next to the modifier:

(A)  the Swedish public  was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
(B)  the government  informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
(C)  energy and nuclear power information  was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(D)  information about energy and nuclear power  was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(E)  the public of Sweden  was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

It's clear that the only option that places the modifier and antecedent next to each other is option B, which is the correct choice!  If you can identify the grammar concept you need to focus on, sometimes you can find the correct option rather quickly!

Don't study for the GMAT. Train for it.

Divyadisha · Answer

The government informed Swedish public by using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties.

Hence 'Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties' must modify 'the government'

B is the answer

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

Meaning is crucial to solving this problem: 
Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended meaning of this sentence is that the government used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties, and by doing so it informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power.

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Modifiers + Awkwardness/Redundancy

• In a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun; this is one of the most frequently tested concepts on GMAT sentence correction.

A:  This answer choice incorrectly uses “Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties” to modify “the Swedish public”, incorrectly implying that   the Swedish public    used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; the intended meaning is that   the government   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option A uses the passive construction "the Swedish public was informed", leading to awkwardness/redundancy.

B:   Correct.  This answer choice correctly uses “Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties” to modify “the government”, conveying the intended meaning – that   the government   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties. Further, Option B is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.

C:  This answer choice incorrectly uses “Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties” to modify “energy and nuclear power information”, incorrectly implying that   the information  used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; the intended meaning is that   the government   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option C uses the passive voice construction "energy and nuclear power information was given", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

D:  This answer choice incorrectly uses “Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties” to modify “information about energy and nuclear power”, incorrectly implying that   the information   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; the intended meaning is that   the government   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "information about energy and nuclear power was given", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.

E:  This answer choice incorrectly uses “Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties” to modify “the public of Sweden”, incorrectly implying that   the Swedish public    used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; the intended meaning is that   the government   used study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties; remember, in a “phrase + comma + noun” construction, the phrase must correctly modify the noun. Further, Option E uses the passive construction "the public of Sweden was given energy and nuclear power information", leading to awkwardness/redundancy.

Hence, B is the best answer choice.

To understand the concept of "Phrase Comma Subject" and "Subject Comma Phrase" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~1 minute):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqgMtdyK2D4

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

CounterSniper · Answer

It is the government which should be modified here so B

alpham · Answer

modifier question. Who is 'Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties'? the government

Answer choice B

keats · Answer

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,  the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power .

A) the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
C) energy and nuclear power information was given to the Swedish public by the government 
D) information about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government 
E) the public of Sweden was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

sayantanc2k

Can I say apart from the opening modifier error, options A,C,D, and E are passive and we should "avoid passive". Can that be one of the reasons not to totally eliminate but prefer B to A,C,D,and E?

sayantanc2k · Answer

If two sentences are identical in all respects except that one is in active voice and the other in passive, then probably the active could be preferred to the passive. However I am not aware of any instance in which GMAT requires one to distinguish a correct answer from a wrong only on the basis of this aspect; there are other issues with the wrong answer. In fact using passive in the correct answer can be a trap in some questions.

keats · Answer

Thanks again. So, this means I cannot give merit to option B for being *active in nature*. Right  sayantanc2k

Skywalker18 · Answer

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,  the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power. 
A) the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
C) energy and nuclear power information was given to the Swedish public by the government 
D) information about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government 
E) the public of Sweden was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

The opening modifier  Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties  should be immediately followed by the doer of the action . Here , the Government is the doer .
Answer B

Nunuboy1994 · Answer

How is this an idiom question? This appears to be an idiom question? Anyways the government is the agent using study groups to inform the Swedish public so "the government" should come directly after the comma.

HimanshuW11 · Answer

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties,  the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.

(A) the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
(B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
(C) energy and nuclear power information was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(D) information about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(E) the public of Sweden was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

This question tests the concept of dangling modifier.
The opening modifier should modify  the government , as the government informed Swedish public by using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties. 
Only option that fulfils the need is B

HasnainAfxal · Answer

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties, the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.

(A)  the Swedish public  was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power 
(B)  the government  informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power 
(C)  energy and nuclear power  information was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(D)  information  about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government 
(E)  the public of Sweden  was given energy and nuclear power information by the government

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

The first question you need to ask yourself here is,  who is using the study groups?  We need to ask this question because the sentence opens with a modifier.

We can make out that  the government  should be the subject of the clause here which means that it should come after the comma.

When you scan the options now, you’ll see that  Option B  is the only option that have the government in the right place.

All you need to do now is to read Option B to make sure that there are no other errors.

Here  Option B is the best choice.

Hope this helps!

CEdward · Answer

Principally, the introductory modifier 'using study groups...' should be modifying 'the government'. With this knowledge, we can quickly eliminate all of the wrong choices.

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties, the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power.

(A)  the Swedish public  was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power X
(B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power  CORRECT 
(C)  energy and nuclear power information  was given to the Swedish public by the government X
(D)  information  about energy and nuclear power was given to the Swedish public by the government X
(E)  the public of Sweden  was given energy and nuclear power information by the government X

ramlala · Answer

here modifier is  'Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and political parties' .
Question is who is using study groups...... the government 
As per rule, modifier + comma +  the government

Only choice B fulfills the required criteria

IMO B

avigutman · Answer

Video solution from Quant Reasoning starts at 00:06:10 Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/QuantReasoning? ... irmation=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MmFniFGem4

rahul2013 · Answer

A.using…, - modifier modifies the govt.

Per the rule, the opening verb-ing modifier can modify either the subject or the entire main clause. In both the cases, the action denoted by the modifier must make sense with the subject of the main clause.

B- Correct Ans
C. same as A
D. same as A
E. same as A

Sneha2021 · Answer

KarishmaB GMATNinja

(A) the Swedish public was informed by the government about energy and nuclear power
(B) the government informed the Swedish public about energy and nuclear power

Why starting modifier "using study groups" can't modify "the public"?
I think that groups were managed by political parties and parties are related to govt, so govt must be using the study groups.
Let me know if my reasoning is correct.
I want to understand how A is logically incorrect.

Thank you for your time

KarishmaB · Answer

Who informed whom?
The Govt informed the public.
Then in the process of informing, who used the study groups? The Govt. 
So 'using study groups' modifies the Govt. The Govt is the one that uses the study groups.

Using study groups..., the Govt informed the public ... (Correct)
Using study groups..., the public was informed by the Govt... (Not great)
The modifier should modify the subject that appears immediately after the comma. But the public is not using the study groups. The Govt. is but it is appearing later. 
We have a correct option in which this happens so we must prefer it.

Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and

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Using study groups managed by the principal popular organizations and

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