The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web

Question

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web page  looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers.

A- looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers
B- That looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers
C- Having looked essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers
D- It looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax payers
E- Looking identical essentially to a real page that offers products for tax preparers

shiva007 · Answer

"that" coming in a sentence more than twice makes it redundant ?

also, how option-A is not correct ?

shiva007 · Answer

Waiting for expert’s opinion on this

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

Samakshkapoor92 · Answer

Hi Experts,

What is wrong with A, the part looking essentially identical is correctly modifying the web page!

sukoon9334 · Answer

egmat  
Please help out in this explanation.

ankaua · Answer

I might be not 100% correct in my thought process, but let me share it:

"looking" is a present participle. Present participle as a modifier (in contrast to past participle) implies that "a phoney web page" is a doer of the action. This meaning is non-sensical; "that looks" wins in the context of the sentence.

Might help in studying/revisiting the concept of ING words:
1) GMATNinja article: https://gmatclub.com/forum/experts-topi ... 39780.html
2) https://gmatclub.com/forum/usage-of-ver ... 35220.html

You might also find it interesting to check another question, which actually tests comparisons but contains similar modifier split (that flourished vs flourishing)
https://gmatclub.com/forum/salt-deposit ... -6837.html

hsa · Answer

Hello Experts,
I need help with this question. I picked choice A over B. I thought "looking" in choice A correctly modifies web page. The usage of "that" is is ambiguous because it can refer to the "web page" or "real page". Choice B has a similar error so I didn't considered it. Meaning wise "that" in the Choice A should refer to "real page".

Choice B IMO need "and before second "that"

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web page  looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers .

A- looking essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers  The main problem with this the usage of the participle modifier "looking". When an -ing modifier appears at the end of a clause, it modifies the subject of the previous clause and not the immediately preceding noun/noun idea. Hence, "looking" here will apply to the subject of the previous clause ie; the IRS. This is clearly contrary to the intended meaning of the sentence. Incorrect.

B- That looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers  This is correct. "That" will apply to the immediately preceding noun/noun idea, in this case, the "phoney web page".

C- Having looked essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers  Same as (A). Incorrect.

D- It looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax payers  Plugging this option into the question: The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web page  it looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax payers . The pronoun "it" immediately follows the noun that it refers to ie; "phoney web page" - clearly redundant. Incorrect.

E- Looking identical essentially to a real page that offers products for tax preparers  Same as (A) and (C). Incorrect.

Hope this helps.

jaykpatel21 · Answer

A- "looking" here will apply to the subject of the previous clause ie; the IRS. Incorrect.

B- That looks essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers. Correct.

C- Having looked essentially identical to a real page that offers products for tax preparers Same as (A). Incorrect.

D- The pronoun "it" immediately follows the noun that it refers to ie; "phoney web page" - clearly redundant. Incorrect.

E- Looking identical essentially to a real page that offers products for tax preparers Same as (A) and (C). Incorrect.

Ahmed9955 · Answer

egmat  Hi,
can you explain how A is incorrect?

in, Usage of Verb-ing modifiers - when a verb-ing modifier, if not preceded by a comma, modifies the preceding noun.

Applying the learning I chose A. Please help.

RohitSaluja · Answer

Hi @CrackVerbal thanks for your explanation; however, I have a query

Doesn't above rule holds true only when -ing modifier appears at last   and   is separated by a comma? My understanding is -ing modifier without comma restrictively modifies the previous noun, acting as adjectives generally?

Meet95 · Answer

u can clearly see we dont need a modifier here .
so it about option b and d .it is ambigious nothing like that needed
so option b is right

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning about a phoney web

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