On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are

Question

41.  On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow , as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks. 

A. On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are believed to be the rate that trees grow 
B. On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are, it is believed, the rate of tree growth 
C. On Earth, the rate at which trees grow is believed to be among the surest indications of sunspot cycles 
D. Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles, believed to be the tree growth rate 
E. Among the surest indications on Earth of sunspot cycles is believed to be the rate at which trees grow

beckee529 · Answer

Pick C - its the only one that contains right object "sunspot cycles" that connects the final clause of the sentence "as seen in the rings"

The other choices incorrectly places the trees or the tree growth instead

pmenon · Answer

I say E.

C doesnt make sense to me, because the 'their' in the last part of the sentence needs to match up with trees, not sunspots.

anita_083 · Answer

Thanks for the replies. I thought it was E as well ... however the OA is C. Still confused as to why C is right!

b14kumar · Answer

I feel E is wrong.

  Among the surest indications   on Earth of sunspot cycles   is   believed to be   the rate at which trees grow   as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks. 

I don't thik the above construction is correct.
Moreover, I would prefer "of" just immediately next to "indications"

Let us take C.

On Earth,   the rate at which trees grow is   believed to be   among the surest  indications of  sunspot cycles   ,as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks.

Above construction looks good.
Furthermore, I like "indications of".

In my opinion, C is the answer.

Regards,
Brajesh

Fistail · Answer

huh..........

I believe SV agreement is ok because the subject of the inversion sentence is "the rate" instead of "the surest indications".


any other convincing logics?

b14kumar · Answer

Look at E again:


Among the surest indications   on Earth of sunspot cycles   is believed to be the rate at which trees grow as seen in the rings visible in the cross sections of their trunks. 

"Earth of sunspot cycles" ????

Sounds awkward.

-Brajesh

nagapavan · Answer

Even I thought it was C initially(lesser of the evils), but how do we explain the "their" in C. Are we supposed to assume that trunks will help in pointing "their" to "trees"?

b14kumar · Answer

I believe, "their" is clear in C.
"their trunks" can not refer anything else but tree in the sentence.

-Brajesh

ashkrs · Answer

"As seen in the rings ..." . What is seen here. I think that is 'indications of sunspot cycles" . So "indication of sunspot cycles" should be near the to "as seen in the rings" .." . 
I guess only C offers that.

msrinath · Answer

Ans:C

........surest indication of sunspot cycles,as seen in the rings visible

sunspot cycles are visible

 The important point in this sentence is that the sunspot cycles are visible on the trunks of the trees as rings. The rate of tree growth is not seen as rings on the trunk of the trees 

In other options- it seems as if the rate of tree growth - is seen in the rings visible on the cross section of the trunks of the trees

Based on meaning C is my winner 

Any comments

On Earth, among the surest indications of sunspot cycles are

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