In contrast with cartographers' most common design of maps that only

Question

In contrast with  cartographers' most common design of maps that only measure distance  , contour maps also measure elevation or height below or above sea level.

A. cartographers' most common design of maps that only measure distance
 B. cartographers and their most common design of maps that only measure distance
 C. the most common maps designed by cartographers that only measure distance
 D. the most commonly designed maps of cartographers that only measure distance
 E. the most commonly used maps and only measuring distance

daagh · Answer

C for comparing maps with maps; the use of  designed maps of cartographers  gives an inkling that the cartographers have been designed rather than the maps.

PTK · Answer

In this sentence you must compare maps to maps. 
So A and B are out. 
in D it seems that "cartographers that only measure distance" and not maps , which is absurd. 
E is out for wierd parallelism.

C- clearly states that "maps designed by cartographers" measure distance so C is correct

sheru34766 · Answer

Still perplexed..what could be the difference between "the most common maps designed by cartographers " and "the most commonly designed maps of cartographers ". Anyone?

daagh · Answer

sheru34766 wrote

The most common maps designed by cartographers refer to maps designed by the cartographers.

The most commonly designed maps of cartographers ". Refers to the most common designs in which cartographers themselves are mapped. Though absurd on the face of it, that is what it means verbatim.

See what havoc a preposition can cause

sheru34766 · Answer

Thanks. I get it now.

Gonaives · Answer

C for clarity. position of word maps makes for clearer comparison in latter part of sentence.

MuskanTaneja · Answer

I understand that "of" is incorrect in option d but had it been "by" instead of "of" what would be the answer?

Doesn't c imply the maps are common whereas its the design of these maps that is common.(Could include a rare map made in the common design)
Please help

kevsaf95 · Answer

My options were between A and C

In A, the use of "that" makes sense because is next to "maps". It is clear that "this design of maps is the one that only measure distance"
However, in C "that" is located after the noun cartographers. Isn't this switching the meaning of the sentence? As far as I know, "that" is modifying "cartographers" in this option. That is simply not right

Can someone shed light on this please?

Greetings,
Kevin

jim441 · Answer

In Option C, "that only measure distance" the cartographers. I get that D has some meaning change but in C we do have a modifier issue. How to choose between C & D.
Thanks

DmitryFarberMPrep · Answer

jim441

Yeah, that's a valid objection. This question could use a rewrite. However, C is definitely the best of a bad bunch. At least we can tell what it is trying to say, and since we have a bit of a "modifier traffic jam," we may be expected to show a little flexibility in how strictly we apply the so-called "touch rule" for noun modifiers.

In contrast with cartographers' most common design of maps that only

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In contrast with cartographers' most common design of maps that only

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