SC problem 2

Question

Question: when do we use "which" and when do we use "that"?

2. The reason why the winged bean can thrive on poor soil  is because their roots house bacteria that can turn  atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer.

(A) is because their roots house bacteria that can turn
(B) is because its roots house bacteria which can turn
(C) is that their roots house bacteria turning
(D) is that its roots house bacteria that can turn
(E) being that its roots house bacteria and can turn

Paul · Answer

B should be it because A fails to have proper pronoun referent "their" which improperly refers to singular noun "beans".

"which" and "that" are both relative pronouns. "that" introduces a restrictive clause whereas "which" could introduce either a restrictive or non-restrictive clause.

 restrictive clause : essential information that cannot be removed from a sentence without distorting the sentence's meaning
 non-restrictive clause : non-essential information that can be removed

ie The corner store that belongs to Peter is very large
ie The corner store, which belongs to Peter, is very large

In the first example, you know  exactly  which corner store we are talking about: the one belonging to Peter.
In the second example, "which" is a non-restrictive clause which you can remove without affecting the meaning of the main clause.
So when would you use a restrictive or non-restrictive clause? How are the 2 examples above different?
The first example could be used wherever you are and you would know which corner store we are talking about.
The second example would be used when you are standing in the corner store or pointing at it so that you know exactly which corner store we are talking about. Otherwise, nobody would know which corner store  is very large .

Non-restrictive clauses are  always  set off by commas. In your original question, "which" introduces a restrictive clause because it is not set off by commas. We need to know that it is not just any kind of plants with roots that can thrive in poor soils; it is the ones with roots  which house bacteria that can turn atmospheric nitrogen into fertilizer . This is essential information and thus a restrictive clause. In any case, you should have picked B because of the pronoun reference problem in A.

Dharmin · Answer

IMHO correct answer should be "D".

Pronoun narrows the choices between "B" and "D". ("E" is wrong bcoz of awkwardness)

1. As per my ken the question is not about usage of "that" or "which". 
"The reason why X do Y is THAT..." is a proper usage. using because after "the reason why" is i tink redundant.

2. "which" often provides additional information and so we seperate the "which" - clause/phrase with comma. Whereas "that" modifies the preceeded noun and so we generally do not seperate that - caluse/phrase with comma.
Considering this rule - choice "D" should be the answer.

It would be interesting to know OA and Explanation.

thanks,
Dharmin

Zem · Answer

I think answer is D

=============

reason is because
A traditional rule holds that the construction the reason is because is redundant, and should be avoided in favor of the reason is that. The usage is well established, however, and can be justified by analogy to sentences in which so that follows purpose, as in His purpose in calling her was so that she would be forewarned of the change in schedule. A similar construction employs the conjunction when after the noun time, as in The last time I saw her was when she was leaving for college. You may find these constructions inelegant, however.

====
https://www.bartleby.com/64/C002/024.html

best regards
Zem

Paul · Answer

Yes guys, you are right. I was too focused on explaining diff. b/w "which" and "that".  Reason is because  is definitely redundant

karovd · Answer

OA is D. Great catch Dharmin, I was focusing too much on "which" and "that". Paul B - thanks for your detailed and clear explanations. cheers to all. :wink:

sumit7511 · Answer

I can not understand why 'its' and not 'theirs' as we can say that : 

The Pakistan are a good team. They have beaten India in the past. 

So here also Wild Beans is a group why not treat is plural. 


----Cheers

karovd · Answer

Pakistan is taken as a team, not as individuals, so it should be singular. 

I would change it to:

Pakistan  is  a good team.  It has  beaten India in the past.

Same for the winged bean. The question is talking about all winged bean plants as a whole, not individual winged bean plants. 

Going back to the example you gave, it will be plural if you are referring to individual players. 

 The players  of the Pakistan team are good.  They have  beaten India in the past.

SC problem 2

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