From Long Island to Buffalo, judges are sorting through duelling

Question

From Long Island to Buffalo,  judges are sorting through duelling claims of electoral wrongdoing and election workers are pouring over ballots trying to determine  the voters‘ intent.
A. judges are sorting through duelling claims of electoral wrongdoing and election workers are pouring over ballots trying to determine
B. judges were sorting in duelling claims of electoral wrongdoing and election workers pour over ballots trying to determine
C. judges are sorting from duelling claims of electoral wrongdoing and election workers are pouring over ballots trying in an effort for determining
D. judges are sorting through dual claims of electoral wrongdoing but election workers are pouring over ballots for trying to determine
E. judges sort through duelling claims of electoral wrongdoing and election workers are pouring over ballots determining

saswata4s · Answer

Nothing wrong with the original sentence. Hence, answer A.

Cheers.

sleepynut · Answer

Hi, Do we need comma before "trying to determine"? IMHO,"trying to determine something" should modifies the preceding sentence. Please share your thoughts Thanks :-)

sobby · Answer

My reasoning:

A- ok , keep it 
B-tense error , not intended as in question stem..
C-trying to determine is better than Trying in for determining , sorting through is correct..
D-changes meaning
E-same as B.

sayantanc2k · Answer

Yes, a comma is required in order that present participle "trying to..." refers to the subject of the previous clause "election workers". Without a comma, it seems that the ballots are trying.

bbhawini · Answer

Is "for trying to determine" a correct idiom here? Shouldn't it be just "trying to determine"?

rishabhdxt · Answer

Why dont we require a comma before "trying to determine" in option A

Experts pls. help

girishiyer · Answer

My reasoning:

A- Fine for now....go to other choices
B-Tense problem..Should be in present continous
C-Wrong idiom...Sorting from duelling claims
D-Meaning changed 
E-same as B.

kdk21 · Answer

What exactly do we mean by "dueling claims"? Are the claims "dueling" (fighting)?

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Hello  kdk21 ,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, the use of "dueling" is not literal in this sentence; in this case, the use of "dueling" is metaphorical, simply conveying a sense of opposition or competition. Put simply, the phrase "dueling claims" means that the various claims of electoral wrongdoing go against one another.

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

ParamjitDasGMAT · Answer

It can seem to suggest that, and therefore this construction -- archaic and metaphorical at best -- doesn't make much sense. " Dual claims ", on the other hand, leaves no such room for misinterpretation and states very clearly that there are 2 opposing claims that judges have to sort through.

Hope this helps.

From Long Island to Buffalo, judges are sorting through duelling

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From Long Island to Buffalo, judges are sorting through duelling

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