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06 Jul 2021, 20:56
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
77% (01:28) correct
23%
(01:30)
wrong
based on 288
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The theory of plate tectonics, which was first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, positing that earth’s landmasses sit atop massive plates, which shift with the passage of time.
A) tectonics, which was first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, positing
B) tectonics, first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, and posits
C) tectonics was first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, posits
D) tectonics, which was first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, and which posits
E) tectonics, which was first proposed in the early 1960s as an answer to the problems with the theory of continental drift, posits
06 Jul 2021, 20:59
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
THE OPTIONS
→ Strip away the "which" clause and this sentence remains:
The theory of plate tectonics . . . positing that earth’s landmasses sit atop massive plates, which shift with the passage of time.
→ The subject tectonics is not paired with a working verb.
Positing is a gerund (a verbING word), not a verb.
→ A common GMAT trap lurks in this sentence, although that trap is a bit more obvious because the "which" clause is set off by commas.
The trap?
GMAT writers attach a relative clause to a noun such as theory.
Most relative clauses begin with who, that, or which.
Relative pronouns are subjects of their own clauses and require a verb.
GMAT writers give a verb to the relative pronoun but not to the main subject, thus producing a fragment, as is the case here.
In other words, when you see a relative pronoun, keep your wits about you and start looking for at least two working verbs in the sentence.
At least one verb must be attached to the main subject.
Another verb must be attached to the relative pronoun.
In other words, relative pronouns "eat up" at least one working verb, so you should see at least two working verbs, because the subject of the sentence needs a verb, too.
ELIMINATE A
→ The word and suggests that another verb precedes posits.
No such verb exists in this sentence.
ELIMINATE B
This sentence is not really a comma splice. The latter consists of two full clauses "stuck together" with nothing more than a comma. (Illegal move.)
This sentence contains a compound predicate (two verbs that share a subject) that is missing the word "and" in between the two verb phrases.
ELIMINATE C
→ The main subject, theory, is not attached to a working verb, and thus we have a fragment.
→ As I mentioned beneath option A, the repeated relative pronoun (which . . . and which) "eats up" the two working verbs (was proposed and posits), leaving no verb for the main subject.
You are allowed to have many relative pronouns such as which refer back to the main subject of the sentence (and steal all the verbs from the latter in common GMAT trap questions).
ELIMINATE D
• the subject theory takes the verb posits (again, remove the "which" clause, and you will see that in this option, the main verb for the main subject remains).
• the relative pronoun which takes the verb was first proposed
KEEP
Option E is correct
COMMENTS
Answers in the posts are solid.
Keep up the good work.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
The sentence indicates that the theory of plate tectonics posits or claims something.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• The case of the Missing Verb
→ Strip away the "which" clause and this sentence remains:
The theory of plate tectonics . . . positing that earth’s landmasses sit atop massive plates, which shift with the passage of time.
→ The subject tectonics is not paired with a working verb.
Positing is a gerund (a verbING word), not a verb.
→ A common GMAT trap lurks in this sentence, although that trap is a bit more obvious because the "which" clause is set off by commas.
The trap?
GMAT writers attach a relative clause to a noun such as theory.
Most relative clauses begin with who, that, or which.
Relative pronouns are subjects of their own clauses and require a verb.
GMAT writers give a verb to the relative pronoun but not to the main subject, thus producing a fragment, as is the case here.
In other words, when you see a relative pronoun, keep your wits about you and start looking for at least two working verbs in the sentence.
At least one verb must be attached to the main subject.
Another verb must be attached to the relative pronoun.
In other words, relative pronouns "eat up" at least one working verb, so you should see at least two working verbs, because the subject of the sentence needs a verb, too.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• AND posits?
→ The word and suggests that another verb precedes posits.
No such verb exists in this sentence.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
This sentence uses the verbs was proposed and posits in parallel structure, but we need an and before posits to make the use of these two verbs grammatical.
This sentence is not really a comma splice. The latter consists of two full clauses "stuck together" with nothing more than a comma. (Illegal move.)
This sentence contains a compound predicate (two verbs that share a subject) that is missing the word "and" in between the two verb phrases.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• Another case of the Missing Verb
→ The main subject, theory, is not attached to a working verb, and thus we have a fragment.
→ As I mentioned beneath option A, the repeated relative pronoun (which . . . and which) "eats up" the two working verbs (was proposed and posits), leaving no verb for the main subject.
You are allowed to have many relative pronouns such as which refer back to the main subject of the sentence (and steal all the verbs from the latter in common GMAT trap questions).
ELIMINATE D
Quote:
• I do not see any errors
• the subject theory takes the verb posits (again, remove the "which" clause, and you will see that in this option, the main verb for the main subject remains).
• the relative pronoun which takes the verb was first proposed
KEEP
Option E is correct
COMMENTS
Answers in the posts are solid.
Keep up the good work.
06 Jul 2021, 21:13
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My Answer is (E)
A) No verb for Subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
B) No verb for Subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
C) Two clauses are connected with comma
D) No Verb for subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
A) No verb for Subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
B) No verb for Subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
C) Two clauses are connected with comma
D) No Verb for subject "The theory of plate tectonics"
