The category 1 to 5 rating known as the Saffir-Simpson

Question

The category 1 to 5 rating known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale provides an estimate of a hurricane’s potential  of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as  to blow away small buildings, completely destroy mobile homes, and cause severe window and door damage.

A) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
B) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
C) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
D) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
E) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as

Please explain the flaws in D and E.

jallenmorris · Answer

I think B is the answer. So to find the flaws in D & E: D. The only difference between B and D is "determined from wind speed" vs. "determined by wind speed". The meanings are actually quite different. Since the Olympics are currently taking place, I'll use an example pertaining to the Olympics. "The diver's score is determined by a panel of 3 judges." "The diver's score is determined from a list of technical requirements." The first sentence, the judges make the determinations, or do the determining. In the second sentence, the list of technical requirements is used to determine the score. Does this example help make the distinction clear? I'm not 100% sure it does. As for E. I don't like the use of "so high as". I'm sorry that I can't state a clear reason for disliking it. It kind of sounds redundant, although that may not be correct. Sorry

nmohindru · Answer

IMO B)

potential to and determined from are right

amkumar2 · Answer

I Prefer to go with D.

A) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
 Wrong idioms. correct idiom is "as high as"

B) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
 "Determined from" is wrong

C) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
 Wrong idioms. correct idiom is "as high as"

D) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
E) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
 Wrong idioms. correct idiom is "as high as"

Please post you comments

vbalex · Answer

I think that the correct answer is D. A,C and E are wrong because the corect idiom is "as high as", so "so high as" is wrong. Between B and D: we have "determined from" vs "determined by". The correct idiom is "determined by", so D is ok.

jallenmorris · Answer

vbalex,

you're right. The correct idiom is "determimed by". I just looked it up in my Manhattan SC Guide. I was thinking there was a difference in usage of "determined from" and "determined by" and there doesn't appear to be. +1 for you.

x97agarwal · Answer

The OA is D.

The issue here I think was between D. "wind speeds high enough" - used when X is the criteria by which an ability to measure Y is measured

E) "so high as" = indicates characteristic X is so extreme that y results.

Thanks for all your explanations.

judokan · Answer

“Determined by” is right; “determined from” is wrong
“so high as to” is preferred over “high enough to”, because “so high as to” means the storm is EXTREMELY high to cause those damages.
“Potential of” is better than “potential to”.

A) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
-- WRONG: “determined from” is wrong, “so high as” is wrong.

B) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined from wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
-- WRONG: “determined from” is wrong

C) of destroying or damaging property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
*** BEST ANSWER

D) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds high enough
-- WRONG: “high enough” is not as good as “so high as”.

E) to destroy or damage property, and is primarily determined by wind speed; a category 5 storm has wind speeds so high as
*** WRONG: “to destroy” is not as good as “of destroying.

hanumayamma · Answer

B and D are good candidates.

Personally, B and D are passive and we are coordinating two sentences with different voices (First concern). However, D seems more intriguing since it employs correct idiom.

x2suresh · Answer

Allen,
Split the setence D into two parts.

"The category 1 to 5" ..provides estimate....
 and 
The category 1 to 5" is determined by windspeed. (Doesn't this looks like passive voice..???)
Windspeed determines The category 1 to 5 (Active voice)

jallenmorris · Answer

I agree that the middle "is primarily determined...." is passive, but that's just 1 section out of what I see as three different parts. I guess it take more than this for me to classify a sentence as passive. Maybe I'm wrong.

judokan · Answer

why so high as to is wrong here?

I think the author means the wind speed is so extremely high to ...

spriya · Answer

of destroying is correct usage ,A Vs C , determined by is correct

The category 1 to 5 rating known as the Saffir-Simpson

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