Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted

Question

Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted for approximately a million years,  has been suggested as the cause of the explanation  of a mass extinction of marine species over two hundred million years ago.

A. has been suggested as the cause of the explanation

B. have been suggested as the cause

C. has been suggested as the cause

D. has been in the past suggested as the cause

E. has been suggested for the cause

zhanbo · Answer

My answer is  (C) . It took me 54 seconds.

(A) either "as the cause" or "as the explanation" but "as the cause of the explanation" is not only verbose but also illogical.

(B) SVA Error. Subject is singular.

(D) "in the past" is superfluous.

(E) Be suggested  as  ... is idiomatic.

gloomybison · Answer

Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted for approximately a million years, has been suggested as the cause of the explanation of a mass extinction of marine species over two hundred million years ago.

A. has been suggested as the cause of the explanation
Continental flood volcanism can't be a cause of an explanation but rather cause for a mass extinction. It literally implies that continental flood volcanism has caused the explanation of mass extinction, that is illogical

B. have been suggested as the cause
This one has Subject-Verb Agreement problem; Continental flood Volcanism ( a singular subject)... have been (plural verb)

C. has been suggested as the cause
Correct

D. has been in the past suggested as the cause
has been in the past? "was suggested" would be okay but "has been" implies that it is still suggested whereas use of "in the past" implies that it is over...Illogical Tense

E. has been suggested for the cause
"suggest for" would be a wrong usage because it is like saying continental volcanism was suggested as an object or purpose of the cause. Illogical Meaning

AnirudhaS · Answer

Between C and D,

In D, 'in the past' is redundant. Hence, I'll go with C.

winterschool · Answer

Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted for approximately a million years, has been suggested as the cause of the explanation of a mass extinction of marine species over two hundred million years ago.

A. has been suggested as the cause  of the explanation   Incorrect

'the explanation ' uses redundant, suggested already imply an explanation

B.  have been  suggested as the cause  Incorrect

SV error - Continental flood volcanism singular, so have been should be has been

C.  has been suggested as the cause   Correct

D. has been  in the past  suggested as the cause  Incorrect

misplaced ' in the past' that changes intended meaning
 
E. has been  suggested for  the cause  Incorrect

suggested for - wrong idiom for this sentence

Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted

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GMAT Sentence Correction (SC - EA only) Questions

Continental flood volcanism, a massive volcanic eruption that lasted

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