Combining atoms at room temperature may be possible one day,

Question

Combining atoms at room temperature may be possible one day , but such a feat has never been verifiably performed.

(A) Combining atoms at room temperature may be possible one day
(B) One day, it may be possible to combine atoms at the temperature of a room 
(C) The combination of atoms at room temperature may one day be possible
(D) It may one day be possible to combine atoms at room temperature
(E) Combining atoms at room temperature may one day be possible


Please provide explanation for your answer.

aurobindo · Answer

Placement of "one day" is tested here.

Also, "combining atoms" is the feat.

A is my answer.

senthilnhpc · Answer

My ans is also "A".In my opinion, "one day" qualifies the verb may be possible. Hence it should some as close as possible, but not in between the ".may be possible". Please some one correct me if i m wrong.

mbagal1 · Answer

I am actually waffling between D and E. I am going to go with E.

EDIT: I still stick with "may one day be possible", however, am wondering if C is right now, because it makes a noun of " the combination of atoms"

Artemov · Answer

C,D, and E ruled out because of placement of "one day". Between A and B, B would be preferred because of the dangling participle in A. 
Pls correct me, if wrong!

senthilnhpc · Answer

In choice"B", refernce to " such a feat" is not porper and wrongly refrers to today.

senthil

aurobindo · Answer

Also "one day" is intruding between "may" and "be" in E. Sounds awkward.

trivikram · Answer

A looks good. 

In A it looks like a possibility in future

In E the sentence means that a kind of a wish come true ..a kind of hypothetical situation 

Looks like E is stating a condition "If combining atoms...." it should be followed by then IMO".

Correct me guys if I am wrong

I take A

asaf · Answer

A. May be.
B. For some reasons I donâ€™t see use of â€˜room temperatureâ€™ in equal terms with â€˜temperature of a roomâ€™. Besides, to me at least, use of â€˜itâ€™ is not required. Also, if you compare A & B, I will keep A. So, B is out.
C. â€˜The combination of atomsâ€™ is not the same as â€˜Combining atomsâ€™. To me they mean two different things.
D. Again use of â€˜itâ€™. I compare A & D and will still keep A.
E. May be.

In, E, â€˜may one day be possibleâ€™ sound like the guy is praying or feels that it is close to impossible and which is not the case with â€˜Aâ€™. On the test day, I would have picked â€˜Aâ€™ even though I can not completely rationalize the exclusion of â€˜Eâ€™.

buckkitty · Answer

E. proper placement of "one day" to convey intended meaning: some time in the future.

A-makes it sound as though on ONE DAY it may be possible to comine atoms
B-at the temperature of a room - WRONG s/b room temperature
C-the combination of atoms is wrong b/c it turns the action into a noun. 
D-same as A.

VAGMAT · Answer

I am between A and E too; however, that's a good point that you make, I think it's E also.

terp26 · Answer

tough one, ill go with E, believe that is the correct idiom, "may one day be possible"

khaos · Answer

My pick is D.

It seems to me that A & E convey the same meaning.

Therefore, as they can't be both correct, my pick is D.

Of course, I'm far from certain.

Is there an OA?

prude_sb · Answer

all of the choices actually look ok but the simplest and most active choice is D

HongHu · Answer

B and C are easy to eliminate. But A, D, E are all correct, in my opinion. 

Both uses of "may be possible one day" and "may one day be possible" can be seen everywhere. I can't say one is better than the other. But if they are both right, then A and E must be wrong for some other reason, and D has to be right.

Both "combining atoms" and "to combine atoms" can serve as a noun. The only difference, I think, is that "at room temperature" seems to modify "atoms" in A and E. So it sounds like you are combining "atoms at room temporature". It sounds like this is really nick picking though. Although if I have to choose I'd say D.

OasisNYK · Answer

Between A and E I would go with A because the sentence doesnt really need to be changed at that point...

What is the OA?

asaf · Answer

Combining atoms at room temperature may one day be possible, but such a feat has never ...

Is E making a transformation to subjunctive mood?

kripalkavi · Answer

I feel the position of 'one day' is right in only D and E. 
I like  D  better (for using 'combine' as oppossed to E - combining)

jpauksta · Answer

guys, i believe that OA was A (caplan test #2).
The main point was about properly placing "one day".

Combining atoms at room temperature may be possible one day,

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