Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in gigantic

Question

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Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in  gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming.

A) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming.

B) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, findings consistent with the predictions of global warming.

C) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, consistent with the predictions of global warming.

D) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, where the predictions of global warming agree with these findings.

E) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, findings consistent with the global warming predictions.

generis · Accepted Answer

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Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in  gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming.

•  which  must refer to a noun but the logical antecedent word  observations    is never actually articulated
→  which  probably refers to  icebergs , could refer to  large cracks , but in any case, lacks an antecedent. 
 Icebergs  are not consistent with predictions of global warming; what the scientists observe about large cracks in the icebergs is consistent with global warming

• "Antarctica icebergs" is inferior to "icebergs in Antarctica" and is sort of "squashed" or "collapsed."
This usage is similar to the construction that I discussed in  this OE, here .
ELIMINATE A
 
• I see no errors
•  findings consistent with the predictions of global warming  is a modifier of the idea presented in the previous clause
•  findings  correctly refers back to the observations of the scientists; we are allowed to rename the idea contained in the previous clause.
→ this kind of modifier is called a summative modifier and is a special kind of appositive
We use a word that summarizes the idea from the previous clause (hence "summative") and give more detail about that clause.

•the icebergs are best described as  gigantic icebergs in Antarctica , not  gigantic Antarctica icebergs .

•  findings consistent  actually means  findings  that are  consistent  
→ findings consistent is called a "reduced relative clause"
→ we "reduce" the relative clause  findings that are consistent  by
(1) removing the relative pronoun (that), and
(2) removing the TO BE verb
You absolutely do not need to know the grammar terms that I am using here.
But you do need to understand what a reduced relative clause is, because you will see them frequently on the GMAT.
→ I have explained them quite a few times; one such post is  here,  especially in the footnote, which links you to a short and effective article about reduced relative clauses.
KEEP
 
•  consistent with the predictions of global warming  is problematic: 
→ to what, exactly, does this phrase refer?
→ similar to the problems with  which  in option A, this modifier needs a noun (such as  findings ), but no such noun exists in the first clause
ELIMINATE C

• icebergs are not the logical  where,  and whatever is agreeing with what does not happen on the iceberg, but rather in the scientists' observations
• meaning issue: saying that  predictions agree with findings  is slightly off, meaning-wise.
 → If anything, we would say that  the findings agree with the predictions . 
→ We could say that predictions  anticipated  the findings, but to say that the predictions  agree  with the findings is out of sequence and syntactically odd.
• (D) is not as good as (B)
ELIMINATE D

•  icebergs in Antarctica  is better than this option's  Antarctica icebergs 
• the word  the  is incorrect. 
→  the  indicates  particular  global warming predictions, but we have not heard anything about  particular  predictions.
If we have not heard of these particular predictions, why are we referring to them?
→ that is, we use "the" to introduce a noun about which we have already heard
ELIMINATE E

AntrikshR  , welcome to SC Butler.
 
I think that this question is really hard if you rely on grammar alone.
Actually, I think that this question is just hard.

Answers here range from good to excellent. Kudos to all. Well done.

ravigupta2912 · Answer

A) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming. -- which is modifying gigantic antarctica icebergs. We need to modify the clause "scientists have observed...icebergs"

B) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, findings consistent with the predictions of global warming. -- fixes the above error. -ing modifier modifies the complete previous clause, keep it. <<after reviewing all choices>> Correct.

C) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, consistent with the predictions of global warming. -- "consistent with" is incorrectly modifying the icebergs. Eliminate.

D) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, where the predictions of global warming agree with these findings. -- Illogical meaning. "where" is modifying the icebergs. We need a modifier to modify the previous clause. Eliminate.

E) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, findings consistent with the global warming predictions. -- findings is correct, but is that consistent to a noun entity (GW predictions) or prediction of <<noun entity>>? The findings (an action) are consistent with GW predictions (noun entity). Seems illogical. Eliminate.

himanshugoyal26 · Answer

Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming.

A) gigantic Antarctica icebergs,  which  are consistent with the predictions of global warming.
  which is illogically referring to icebergs.

B)  gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, findings consistent with the predictions of global warming.

C) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, consistent with the predictions of global warming.
  It should be findings consistent with the prediction. Noun + noun modifier can modify previous clause.

D) gigantic  Antarctica  icebergs,  where  the predictions of global warming agree with these findings.
  It should be gigantic icebergs in Antarctica

E) gigantic  Antarctica  icebergs, findings consistent with the global warming predictions.
  It should be gigantic icebergs in Antarctica

generis . Thanks for all the explanation in SC butler. I appreciate all the efforts you take in writing a detailed explanation. I get to learn a lot from them.
Can you help me in improving comparison questions? 
I always get confused in two choices in question like the one mentioned below.

All major Canadian cities reported significantly higher hotel occupancy in the four months from June through September last year than that of a similar period a year earlier
(A) that of a similar period
(B) a similar period
(C) those of a similar period's
(D)  during a similar period 
(E) that during a similar period

I am not able to decide between option D and option E.

AntrikshR · Answer

Scientists (N) have observed (V) large cracks that (cracks) go on for miles in  gigantic Antarctica icebergs  , which  are consistent with the predictions of global warming.
--'gigantic Antarctica icebergs', gigantic is adjective trying to modify 'Antarctica Icebergs' but too short is incorrect in gmat.
--what is gigantic? Antarctica or icebergs in Antarctica? It must give precise meaning.
--Moreover usage of , which is incorrect as it's touching icebergs...iceberges were not consistent with the predictions.

A) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, which are consistent with the predictions of global warming.--Incorrect due to reasons mentioned above.

B) ........gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, (IC)
findings(N) 
consistent with the predictions of global warming.(Noun Modifier)
--IC, Noun+ Noun modifier --Correct
--The sentence is much more comprehensible.

C) gigantic icebergs in Antarctica, consistent with the predictions of global warming.
--what was consistent Antarctica?, Icebergs? Cracks?

D) gigantic Antarctica icebergs,  where  the predictions of global warming agree with  these  findings.
--Where is always use for places
--These findings? How many findings are there?

E) gigantic Antarctica icebergs, findings consistent with the global warming predictions.
--This option was close to B but since Verbal forms are preferred over Noun forms, option B is much better than E.
-- the predictions of global warming > global warming predictions

generis · Answer

himanshugoyal26 , you are most welcome. This kind of comparison is meant to confuse. Since you got the question down to two answers, try plugging each of them into the sentence. D) All major Canadian cities reported significantly higher hotel occupancy in the four months from June through September last year than during a similar period a year earlier. E) All major Canadian cities reported significantly higher hotel occupancy in the four months from June through September last year than that during a similar period a year earlier. You could argue that: (1) in is parallel to during , but in is not parallel to that (2) Answer D maintains parallelism because time periods are under comparison and we need two prepositions (IN and DURING) in order to signal that these are the items under comparison. (3) what is the word "that" doing in (E), anyway? If it is not needed and makes the time period comparison any less clear, dump the option. The threads on this and a similar official question are really good. The thread for this question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/all-major-ca ... 44744.html The thread for the similar official question: https://gmatclub.com/forum/most-of-the- ... l#p1867870 I cannot really do justice to a quite general question about a really huge topic on this thread. If you can articulate your very specific questions about those threads here, on this thread, I can certainly try to help.

generis · Answer

The official explanation is  here .

VerbalBot · Answer

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Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in gigantic

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Scientists have observed large cracks that go on for miles in gigantic

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