Sentence Correction

amysky_0205 wrote:Though subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves in North America over the past century, the coyote's amazing ability of adapting to the presence of humans has enabled it to expend its range into Alaska and Central America.

A. coyote's amazing ability of adapting to the presence of humans has enabled it to expend its
B. coyote, because of its amazing ability of adapting to the presence of humans, have been able to expand their
C. coyote, because of its amazing ability to adapt to the presence of humans, has been able to expand its
D. amazing ability of the coyote to adapt to the presence of humans have enabled it to expand the
E. amazing ability of the coyote to adapt to the presence of humans has enabled it to expand the

OA: C

can someone explain why E is wrong?
thank u!

Important: When a sentence begins with a with noun modifier (as it does in the above sentence), stop at the comma and ask the question that the modifier raises.

So, once we read, Though subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves in North America over the past century, , we should stop and ask . . .

"Who or what was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves in North America over the past century?"

If the sentence is properly constructed, the part that immediately follows the comma will answer that question in a logical manner.

Reading on we get...

A. the coyote's amazing ability...
Wait. The coyote's ability was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves?
Doesn't make any sense. Eliminate A.

B. the coyote . . .
The coyote was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves?
This makes sense. Keep B for now.

C. the coyote...
The coyote was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves?
This makes sense. Keep C for now.

D. The amazing ability of the coyote ...
Wait. The amazing ability was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves?
Doesn't make any sense. Eliminate D.

E. The amazing ability of the coyote ...
Wait. The amazing ability was subject to the same wild-animal control efforts that killed off almost all the wolves?
Doesn't make any sense. Eliminate E.

We're now left with only B and C.

B. coyote, because of its amazing ability of adapting to the presence of humans, have been able to expand their
The verb have and the pronoun their are in plural form, but coyote and its are in singular form.
Also, the idiom is "ability to X" so ability of adapting is incorrect.
Eliminate B.

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent