Making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime,

Question

Making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once
in a lifetime,  if affordable , is one of the five 
obligations of devout Muslims.

(A) if affordable
(B) when it can be afforded
(C) if they can afford it 
(D) when affordable
(E) if it should be affordable

OA is E
What is wrong with A?

x97agarwal · Answer

Good question.

I was b/w A and D.

Can anyone explain why E is the OA?

alpha_plus_gamma · Answer

I think it has to do with the word "obligation"...all other options than E don't make the pilgrimage to mecca an obligation...

just my guess though!

sondenso · Answer

Wait to see why E too? I dont know to what "it" and "they" in B, C, D, E refer?

abhijit_sen · Answer

Problem with A is what is affordable? pilgrimage, Icecream, Popcorn or what not?
Moreover rearrange the sentence to see the hidden thing

if affordable, Making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime,is one of the five obligations of devout Muslims.

B is misplaced modifier.

C "they" have no referrant.

D has same problem as A.

E is not very eloquent sentence what it is OK. Use of "should" for obligations seems to be right.

maratikus · Answer

Could you explain why modifier is misplaced in B?

Prep Toolkit