While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help

Question

While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help solve the energy crisis by converting arable land from foods to bio-fuel, a majority of analysts believe that bio-fuels should be produced only from non-food crops,  whose use will impact the environment less .

(A) whose use will impact the environment less

(B) the use of which will have a lesser impact on the environment

(C) having less of an impact on the environment if used

(D) lessening the impact of its use on the environment

(E) with lower environmental impacts of using them

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help solve the energy crisis by converting arable land from foods to bio-fuel, a majority of analysts believe that bio-fuels should be produced only from non-food crops,  whose use will impact the environment less .

(A) whose use will impact the environment less

This answer choice makes correct and unambiguous use of the possessive relative pronoun  whose  to refer to the use  of  non-food crops:

non-food crop s ' use == use  of  non-food crops --> non-food crops  whose  use

This answer choice also concisely expresses the meaning of the sentence by using the verb  impact  and the adverb  less .

(B) the use of which will have a lesser impact on the environment

Incorrect.

This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The phrase  the use of which will have a lesser impact  is wordy. Look for an answer choice that is more concise.

(C) having less of an impact on the environment if used

Incorrect.

This answer choice is stylistically flawed.

It unnecessarily makes use of the conditional ( if used ) within the modifying clause having less of an impact. This construction also creates ambiguity, as it is not clear what  if used  refers to - the  environment  or  non-food crops .

Similarly, the use of the participle clause  having less of an impact  is ambiguous as it could refer to analysts, bio-fuels, or non-food crops.

Normally a Ving modifying phrase provides a result of the previous clause or gives further information about the previous clause (the subject and verb); however, that is not the case here, as the  having  would not logically make sense if it referred to  a majority of analysts believe .

(D) lessening the impact of its use on the environment

Incorrect.

This answer choice is grammatically incorrect. The pronoun  its  does not agree with the plural noun it is meant to refer to -  non-food crops .

(E) with lower environmental impacts of using them

Incorrect.

This answer choice is stylistically flawed. The use of the pronoun  them  is ambiguous, as it could refer to  bio-fuels , or  non-food crops .

In addition, the use of the preposition  with  is also awkward and confusing, as it is not clear what  with  refers to.

sivatx2 · Answer

(A)  whose  use will impact the environment less 
 The possessive relative pronoun whose correctly refer to the 'non-food crops', reducing the ambiguity and wordiness.
 Hence the correct choice is A.

(B)  the use of which will have a lesser impact  on the environment 
 The phrase  the use of which will have a lesser impact  is wordy and awkward. Eliminate.
 
 (C)  having  less of an impact on the environment if  used  
 The clause, 'having less of an impact', is confusing. What is it referring to? Is it analysts, or bio-fuels, or non-food crops? Having does not make sense if it referring to  a majority of analysts believe . Condition, 'if used', is unnecessary.

(D) lessening the impact of  its  use on the environment 
 Pronoun error, 'Its' does not agree with the plural noun, "non-food crops". Eliminate

(E)  with  lower environmental impacts of using  them  
 Preposition 'With' is confusing. What is it referring to? 
Pronoun error with 'Them'. what is it referring to? Is it referring to bio-fuels, or non-food crops?
Eliminate

huongguyen · Answer

While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help solve the energy crisis by converting arable land from foods to bio-fuel, a  majority of analysts  believe that bio-fuels should be produced only from non-food crops,  whose use will impact the environment less.

(A) whose use will impact the environment less  --> "whose" modify "non-food crops" --> wrong meaning

(B) the use  of which  will have a lesser impact on the environment --> "which" modify "bio-fuels" -> correct

(C)  having  less of an impact on the environment if used  --> dangling modifier. Who/what have less of impact?

(D) lessening the impact of its use on the environment  --> dangling modifier. Who/what lessen the impact?

(E) with lower environmental impacts of using them --> ambiguitily modify its precede noun

==> IMO: B

100mitra · Answer

Correct Option : A

Sentnece exam on : 
- Pronoun
- SV Agreement
- sentence structure
- use of While - time specific highlighter indicates cause and effect in the sentence

Let's break the sentence and check its structure :

While some economists propose 
that  agricultural land  be  used  to help solve the energy crisis by converting arable land from foods to bio-fuel,
Subject :  agricultural land  - singular
Verb :  used  - singular
Object :  Land  - singular

a majority of analysts believe that bio-fuels should be  produced  only from  non-food crops   , whose     use   will impact the environment less.
Subject :  non-food crops  - singular
Verb :  produced  - singular
Possessive Pronoun : ( , Whose ) show possession of (followed before noun)non-food crops - singular
Pronoun Verb : use - singular
Object : Environment - singular

Option A has no or less flaws and convey sentence intended meaning

Reason for other option to be wrong:

(B) the use of which will have a lesser impact on the environment
-  the use of which  creates ambiguity, as which without comma is not pronoun, it is a conjunction used to highlight contrast other side of the cause, and use  OF  makes it prepositional phrase, which must be indicated to direct noun, but here it's is refer to "Impact"(noun)
- word lesser has no issues, it's a comparison indicator, but it demean the importance of "will" and "impact"

(C) having less of an impact on the environment if used
- having is a plural form, wrongly presented to singular subject Biofuel.
It can be corrected by use of proper word "Has" singular without use of comma before it.
- less is the comparison indicator, used to modify  Impact 
- use of  IF  brings a conditional cause, which is redundant as initially already "while" is used. With word   used   leads to mis direction, about to whom it is refer is doubtful

(D) lessening the impact of its use on the environment
- lessening is a comparison indicator in form of verb-ing, used to compare  impact  with  ITS , pronoun here  it's  location in sentence creates ambiguity to whom it is refer to.

(E) with lower environmental impacts of using them
- use of  with  is a used when things are done along with some, We need a  verb  here.
-  them  is a objective (used for -  to be  verb) pronoun, need to be used before object in the sentence, word  environment , use of it at the end creates ambiguity and intended meaning purpose is not solved

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ostrick5465 · Answer

While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help solve the energy crisis by converting arable land from foods to bio-fuel, a majority of analysts believe that bio-fuels should be produced only from non-food crops,  whose use will impact the environment less .

(A)  whose use  will impact the environment less--> wrong meaning

(B)  the use of  which   will have a lesser impact on the environment => the use of non-food crops =>  Correct

(C)  having  less of an impact on the environment if used --> wrong meaning

(D)  lessening the impact of its use  on the environment --> wrong meaning

(E) with lower environmental impacts  of using them  --> "them" mention what? --> ambiguity modify

IMO B

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While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help

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While some economists propose that agricultural land be used to help

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