OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONProject SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC2)
THE PROMPTQuote:
Named for an Intel co-founder, Gordon Moore,
Moore’s Law is that computing power, as measured by the density in transistors on a microchip, typically doubles every 18 to 24 months.
THE OPTIONSQuote:
A) Moore’s Law
is that computing power, as measured by the density in transistors on a microchip, typically doubles
• A law cannot
be XYZ. A law can only
state XYZ.
Eliminate option A
Quote:
B) Moore’s Law states that computing power, as measured by the density of transistors on a microchip, typically doubles
• This option characterizes Moore's law appropriately: the law
states XYZ
• If we remove the nonessential clause, option B still has no issues:
Moore's law states that computing power .... typically doubles every 18 to 24 months
• I see no errors
KEEP B
Quote:
C) Moore’s Law is that computing power, as measured in transistors’ microchip density, will typically double
• same problem as that in option A: we do not say that a law IS something. A law
states something.
•
transistors' microchip density-- this phrase is not an issue because of the bigger "is" problem.
-- but GMAC is not consistent about the issue of inanimate things having "possession"
-- do
not eliminate option C on the basis of this phrasing.
-- GMAC tends to allow this kind of construction when the characteristic of the noun with the apostrophe is—well, typical of that noun.
The word "is" is fatal.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
D) Moore’s Law states that computing power, as measured by the density of transistors on a microchip, which typically doubles
• creates a fragment (an incomplete sentence). If we remove the nonessential information, we have:
Moore’s Law states that computing power...
which typically doubles every 24 months.
• In option D, the subject of the verb
doubles is no longer
computing power but rather
whichELIMINATE D
Quote:
E) Moore’s Law states that the measurement of the power of computing by the density of transistors on a microchip typically doubles
•
Option E is grammatical, but it is also a stylistic disaster
-- too many prepositional phrases are stacked against one another, making the sentence heavy, wordy, awkward, and certainly not as good as (B):
Here is the offending phrase in (E)
the measurement of the power of computing by the density of transistors on a microchip--
ksht , you gave me something to think about:
a measurement of power of computing can double.
Oxford Dictionary says that
measurement means "the size, length, or amount of something, as established by measuring."
We can't just disconnect a noun such as
measurement from an essential prepositional phrase modifier such as "of the power of computing."
-- option B's phrasing puts the emphasis on the right thing (computer power, not measurement):
the computing power, as measured . . . , doublesI needn't have worried. None of you liked (E).
ELIMINATE E
The answer is BCOMMENTSIt's late where I am, so I'll keep this short.
Kudos to those who
explained well, even if the reasoning was a little off.
(As long as the reasoning is reasonable, you are developing critical thinking skills.)
Be safe.