An analysis of tree bark all over the globe shows that chemical insect

Analysis of tree bark showed something about chemical insecticides. It did not show 'chemical insecticides'. C, D and E are out.

From A and B

A. that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used. Correct choice

B. that chemical insecticides have spread, often thousands of miles from their original use.'have spread, often' has different meaning from 'have often spread'
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An analysis of tree bark all over the globe shows that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used.

Issues: Modifier | Meaning

Analysis:
1. First split is around "globe shows that chemical.." vs "globe shows chemical..". Without "that", the second version becomes a fragment, eliminating (C), (D) and (E).
2. Between (A) and (B), (B) has issues as highlighted below

A. that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used

B. that chemical insecticides have spread, often thousands of miles from their original use
- "their original use" is not a place and saying thousands of miles from their original use is illogical.

C. chemical insecticides, having often spread thousands of miles from where they were used originally - fragment

D. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where their original use - fragment

E. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where they were originally used - fragment

Answer: A

A. that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Correct

B. that chemical insecticides have spread, often thousands of miles from their original use - Incorrect - Changes Meaning

C. chemical insecticides, having often spread thousands of miles from where they were used originally - Incorrect - Fragment

D. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where their original use - Incorrect - Fragment

E. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Incorrect - Modifier error

Answer: A

in b,
insecticides have spread thoussand of miles from their orriginal use

is not logic.
from should be follow by a place, where, not by an abstract noun like "use". using our common sense of this world, we realize the illogicness.

Is it always necessary that 'that' comes after verb 'shows' ?

I know that 'that' should come after reporting verbs but like in this sentence is it necessary ?

An analysis of tree bark all over the globe shows that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used.

A. that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Correct answer
B. that chemical insecticides have spread, often thousands of miles from their original use - meaning change
C. chemical insecticides, having often spread thousands of miles from where they were used originally - Analysis does not show chemical insecticides - illogical meaning
D. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where their original use - Analysis does not show chemical insecticides - illogical meaning
E. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Analysis does not show chemical insecticides - illogical meaning

Answer A
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C,D and E are fragments

A -> Correct Answer

B ->Changes Meaning (have spread, often' has different meaning from 'have often spread' ).

A. that chemical insecticides have often spread thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Correct

B. that chemical insecticides have spread, often thousands of miles from their original use - Incorrect - Changes Meaning

C. chemical insecticides, having often spread thousands of miles from where they were used originally - Incorrect - Fragment, having is not a verb

D. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where their original use - Incorrect - Fragment

E. chemical insecticides, often spreading thousands of miles from where they were originally used - Incorrect - Modifier error

Dear colleagues,
I absolutely agree that questions b-e are wrong and I also have chosen A.

BUT, why can we use "have + often + spread" ?
I think that "often" is a market of "present simple" and for my ear it is weird to hear have + often construction.

I know that I am wrong somewhere, please help me to find that spot ))

@mikemcgarry,@egmat

Though I got this question correct. I need some clarity on the official answer of this question-

Official Solution says -"To express the intended meaning, shows can be followed by a clause beginning with that. Another option would be to use the special clause type show + noun phrase + ing verb form, such as show chemical insecticides spreading many miles—but there should be no pause in the middle of a construction of this latter type. If there is such a pause, then chemical insecticides becomes the direct object of show, and the following verb-ing phrase is an awkward attempt at a modifier of this object".

Please help me to understand the discussed another option with examples

In formal English the verb "show" is followed by "that" i.e. "show that" is the correct phrase in formal English (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/gramma ... hat-clause). So, C, D, AND E are canceled. Between A and B, B has awkward construction with a meaning error. It means chemical goes to thousands mile often. But the intent of the sentence is that the chemical spread often. A is the correct answer.

KarishmaB AjiteshArun GMATNinjaTwo GMATWhizTeam ExpertsGlobal5

Doubt – I am not sure about errors in option B. As per my understanding, from their original use is incorrect it should be from where they were originally used because we want to show location[from where they spread]. Is there anything else incorrect in this option?

Is it correct to say that ''often'' is an ''adverb of frequency'' and thus should be only placed before the main verb and after the auxiliary verb? This construction is correctly presented in option A, whereas in option B, adverb comes after the verb, and thus wrong.

Regards
Vighnesh

Hello waytowharton,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, there are no other concrete errors in Option B, but Option B does have one stylistic demerit; it uses the inferior construction "have spread often" rather than the superior construction "have often spread" - seen in Option A; please remember, the "adverb + verb" construction is preferred over the "verb + adverb" construction.

We hope this helps.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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Hello VIGHNESHKAMATH,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, you are correct in that the "adverb + verb" construction is preferred over the "verb + adverb" construction, but this is merely a stylistic issue, not a concrete error.

We hope this helps.
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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