The potential hazards of nuclear power which include health hazards of

Question

The potential hazards of nuclear power,  which include  health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.

A.which include
B. including
C. which is inclusive of
D. which includes
E. which are inclusive of

The answer to this question is “B”. However, can anyone tell me why should option “A” be eliminated?

Since, it has “which” that is followed by a plural verb “include” doesn’t it agree with “potential hazards” instead of “nuclear power” therefore, modifying its preceding clause correctly?

Help please!

gmatway · Accepted Answer

The potential hazards of nuclear power,  which include  health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.

A.which include
B. including
C. which is inclusive of
D. which includes
E. which are inclusive of

Hie,

I did the question with meaning based approach .
The potential hazards of nuclear power, which include health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.

Step 1 : lets read it without the comma part - The potential hazards of nuclear power ....were studied in-depth.Great makes sense.

Step 2 :Check the role of sentence between comma - Which include (yeah SUB is plural so include is fine) health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, 
NUCLEAR POWER doesn't include this listing (health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste) .THESE ARE THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS so use of WHICH WILL unnecessarily focus on NUCLEAR POWER. - Meaning based detection.

Another way- IF I THINK THAT THIS USE OF AND IS JUSTIFIABLE AS THESE ARE PART OF THE LIST which comes under potential hazards of nuclear power then it must be right . But wait a minute I see an option with -ing . AND WE KNOW -ING (GERUND )is used as modifier so opt B is also valid .LETS CHECK

Also the both wordings with AND is not parallel by using -ing I dont have to worry about the parallelism part much becoz it will modify the subject by giving extra info 
about what potential hazards of nuclear power include .

B. The potential hazards of nuclear power ,including health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste

generis · Answer

gurudabl  .this slight distinction is unlikely to show up on the GMAT.

I cannot recall a similar official question.

Here is the distinction: Option A tells us about the potential hazards of nuclear power  generally,  as if we were being given some information  not connected  to an in-depth study.

Option B tells us which potential hazards in particular that  this  study focused on.

(A)  The potential hazards of nuclear power, which include health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.

Option A, same meaning, rewritten: The potential hazards of nuclear power,  which CAN include  health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.
-- the study focused on some potential hazards of nuclear power. It might or might not have focused on the two listed.

(B)  The potential hazards of nuclear power,  including  health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.
-- the study focused on potential hazards of nuclear power, certainly focused on the two listed, and may have focused on more hazards than are listed.
-- the two listed hazards are "includED" in what gets studied, a fact that we know because the linking verb WERE tells us so.

Including  is an exception to the   structure and function.
Including is usually listed as a preposition and does not have to modify the previous clause.
Including means 
 used for saying that a   thing is part of a particular group.   HERE

From option B we know for sure which hazards the study focused on.
In option A, we know THAT the things listed are hazards, but it is not as clear that those listed hazards are the ones that the study focused on.

Not a great question. Try not to worry about it. (I may archive this question.)

Does that distinction make sense?

gurudabl · Answer

The potential hazards of nuclear power, which include health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.
A.which include
B. including
C. which is inclusive of
D. which includes
E. which are inclusive of

The answer to this question is ???B???. However, can anyone tell me why should option ???A??? be eliminated?

Since, it has ???which??? that is followed by a plural verb ???include??? doesn???t it agree with ???potential hazards??? instead of ???nuclear power??? therefore, modifying its preceding clause correctly?

Help please!

gurudabl · Answer

The distinction is too subtle. Anyways, THANK You  generis

generis · Answer

@gurudabi - I forget to extend a belated welcome to GMAT Club. You are very welcome.

This issue is really subtle. The question is not official and unless you can find a similar official example that cuts this closely, I would not worry about the question. I will leave the thread for a bit to see how other posters do. I chose B. It's a meaning call.

gurudabl · Answer

Hey Thanks  gmatway ! 
It completely makes sense with step 1 & 2. I guess this question does boil down to meaning based approach when it comes to option A and B.

GKomoku · Answer

here  v-ing  modifier in its full beauty among others

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

The potential hazards of nuclear power,  which include  health hazards of radiation and improperly disposed toxic nuclear waste, were studied in-depth.

A. which include  This option implies that nuclear power includes health hazards

B. including   Using the “, -ing” modifier implies that the modifying clause is referring to the subject of the preceding clause, i.e., “potential hazards.”

C. which is inclusive of  This option implies that nuclear power includes health hazards

D. which includes  This option implies that nuclear power includes health hazards

E. which are inclusive of  This option implies that nuclear power includes health hazards

- Nitha Jay

The potential hazards of nuclear power which include health hazards of

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The potential hazards of nuclear power which include health hazards of

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