BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Modifier

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:14 am

Modifier

by gmattoend » Fri May 04, 2018 10:37 am
In a study published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, researchers proposed a cause for the chestnut die-off: a fungus called Cryphonectria parasitica, which was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads to the death of the tree within a short period.

A) invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads

B) invading the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads, lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, and leading

C) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowers the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

D) invades the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

E) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

Modifier

by GMATGuruNY » Sun May 06, 2018 4:25 am
gmattoend wrote:In a study published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, researchers proposed a cause for the chestnut die-off: a fungus called Cryphonectria parasitica, which was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads to the death of the tree within a short period.

A) invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads

B) invading the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads, lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, and leading

C) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowers the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

D) invades the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

E) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading
A conjunction such as and must serve to connect PARALLEL FORMS.
A and D: forms...and lowering
In these options, forms (verb) and lowering (modifier) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate A and D.

C: forming...and lowers
Here, forming (modifier) and lowers (verb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate C.

In B, a fungus (subject) lacks a verb.
The result is an incomplete sentence.
Eliminate B.

I am a bit troubled by the OA.

Generally, a COMMA + VERBing modifier should express an action that is a COMPONENT of the nearest preceding action.
E: A fungus invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading to the death of the tree within a short period.
Here, the COMMA + VERBing action in red transpires WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD and thus is not a component of the nearest preceding action in blue (lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels).
As a result, the COMMA + VERBing modifier in red seems misused.
Moreover, I cannot cite an OA from GMAC in which one VERBing modifier (such as leading) serves to modifier another VERBing modifier (such as lowering).
While E is the best of the five options, I am skeptical of its validity.
Last edited by GMATGuruNY on Tue May 08, 2018 4:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:14 am

by gmattoend » Sun May 06, 2018 5:04 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
gmattoend wrote:In a study published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, researchers proposed a cause for the chestnut die-off: a fungus called Cryphonectria parasitica, which was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads to the death of the tree within a short period.

A) invading the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leads

B) invading the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads, lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, and leading

C) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowers the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

D) invades the tree's bark, forms cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading

E) invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading
A conjunction such as and must serve to connect PARALLEL FORMS.
A and D: forms...and lowering
In these options, forms (verb) and lowering (modifier) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate A and D.

C: forming...and lowers
Here, forming (modifier) and lowers (verb) are not parallel forms.
Eliminate C.

In B, a fungus (subject) lacks a verb.
The result is an incomplete sentence.
Eliminate B.

The correct answer is E.

Generally, a COMMA + VERBing modifier serves to refer to the nearest preceding action and to the agent of that action.
E: A fungus invades the tree's bark, forming cankers as it spreads and lowering the pH of infected tissue to toxic levels, leading to the death of the tree within a short period.
Here, the COMMA + VERBing modifier in blue serves to refer to lowering (the nearest preceding action) and to a fungus (the agent of lowering), conveying that the COMMA + VERBing action (leading to the death of the tree) results from the action in red (lowering the pH to toxic levels).
Offhand, I cannot cite an OA from GMAC in which one VERBing modifier serves to refer to another VERBing modifier.
Dear Mitch Sir,

In you previous posts, the VERBing modifier represents concurrent action. Do you see this happen in this sentence ? As per the sentence, 'leading to death ' happens in short period, So It is not concurrent action, sir? Can you explain please?
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Tue May 08, 2018 4:42 am
gmattoend wrote:Dear Mitch Sir,

In you previous posts, the VERBing modifier represents concurrent action. Do you see this happen in this sentence ? As per the sentence, 'leading to death ' happens in short period, So It is not concurrent action, sir? Can you explain please?
I share your concern about the OA.
Please revisit my previous post, which has been revised to express the reasons for my concern.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1