An Interesting Grammar Problem

gtest · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:55 pm Post subject: An Interesting Grammar Problem

Q. The peaks of a mountain range, acting like rocks in a streambed, produce ripples in the air flowing over them; the resulting flow pattern, with crests and troughs that remain stationary although the air that forms them is moving rapidly, are known as "standing waves."

(A) crests and troughs that remain stationary although the air that forms them is moving rapidly, are
(B) crests and troughs that remain stationary although they are formed by rapidly moving air, are
(C) crests and troughs that remain stationary although the air that forms them is moving rapidly, is
(D) stationary crests and troughs although the air that forms them is moving rapidly, are
(E) stationary crests and troughs although they are formed by rapidly moving air, is

I have marked the answer as E, but the answer is C. The explanation is that it's incorrect to introduce a dependent adverbial [i]although[/i] clause into a prepositional phrase (with crests ...). I could not make much sense out of it. Can someone help me with it ?

aim-wsc · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:06 am Post subject:

eliminate A, B & D because of 'are'

disclamer: I wont discuss technical details, adverbial, clause blah-blah... & hv not solved SC problems in months. Mr. Green

but
E doesn't show contradition in statement by using 'although'
C does it perfectly. Cool

aim-wsc · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:11 am Post subject:

eliminate A, B & D because of 'are'

disclamer: I wont discuss technical details, adverbial, clause blah-blah... & hv not solved SC problems in months. Mr. Green

but
E doesn't show contradition in statement by using 'although'
C does it perfectly. Cool

mayonnai5e · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:14 pm Post subject:

See my blog post today for an explanation:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/viewtopic.php?p=20585#20585

Guest · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:07 am Post subject:

ALTHOUGH IS A DEPENDENT CLAUSE, IT NEEDS TO BE PART OF A SENTENCE, WITH CRESTS AND TROUGHS ... IS A PHRASE, YOU NEED SUBJECT + VERB