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OG 12 Q 107

by dv2020 » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:31 pm
Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a
technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which
can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost
any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in
medicine, archaeology, and criminology.
A) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants,
a technique called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which can quickly analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
without destroying it,
(B) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants,
having the ability to analyze the chemical
elements in almost any substance without
destroying it, a technique called proton-induced
X-ray emission
(C) A technique originally developed for detecting
air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which can quickly analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
without destroying it,
(D) A technique originally developed for detecting
air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which has the ability to analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
quickly and without destroying it,
(E) A technique that was originally developed for
detecting air pollutants and has the ability to
analyze the chemical elements in almost any
substance quickly and without destroying the
substance, called proton-induced X-ray
emission,

My Question is OG says which in A clearly refers to emission, whereas I ruled out A thinking which refers to technique. Please clarify this doubt.
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by cans » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:48 pm
IMO A
all of the b,c,d,e have modifier reference error.
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by Frankenstein » Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:56 pm
Hi,
which always refers to the noun/noun phrase immediately before it.
In A 'which' refers to 'emission' only.
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by Shifa@CrackVerbal » Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:03 am
dv2020 wrote:Originally developed for detecting air pollutants, a
technique called proton-induced X-ray emission, which
can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost
any substance without destroying it, is finding uses in
medicine, archaeology, and criminology.
A) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants,
a technique called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which can quickly analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
without destroying it,
(B) Originally developed for detecting air pollutants,
having the ability to analyze the chemical
elements in almost any substance without
destroying it, a technique called proton-induced
X-ray emission
(C) A technique originally developed for detecting
air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which can quickly analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
without destroying it,
(D) A technique originally developed for detecting
air pollutants, called proton-induced X-ray
emission, which has the ability to analyze the
chemical elements in almost any substance
quickly and without destroying it,
(E) A technique that was originally developed for
detecting air pollutants and has the ability to
analyze the chemical elements in almost any
substance quickly and without destroying the
substance, called proton-induced X-ray
emission,

My Question is OG says which in A clearly refers to emission, whereas I ruled out A thinking which refers to technique. Please clarify this doubt.
This is a pure modifier problem. B, C, D & E all have incorrectly placed modifiers.
To answer your doubt in A, the 'which' modifies the technique which is called proton-induced X-ray
emission.
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by Brian@VeritasPrep » Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:48 am
Hey DV,

Just reiterating what Frankenstein said, and hopefully with some emphasis and authority:

Reflexive pronouns like "which", "where", and "who" can only modify the word that comes immediately next to it. It's one of the clearer, more knee-jerk rules on the GMAT so it should be a pretty nice asset for you. If you see a modifier beginning with "which" or another reflexive pronoun, look at the word immediately next to it...if it can't logically be the correct noun or noun phrase, eliminate it immediately!
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by dv2020 » Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:53 pm
Thanks Brian,
the doubt which I had for this one goes something like this...
.....X named Y, which Z........
The way this sentence is written I thought Z is talking of X.
so the phrase following which can quickly analyze the chemical elements in almost any substance without destroying it sounds more like defining a technique, but it so happens that it is refering to a technique named proton induced-X ray emission..
Hence the doubt.......
and GMAT traps me again :)
Brian@VeritasPrep wrote:Hey DV,

Just reiterating what Frankenstein said, and hopefully with some emphasis and authority:

Reflexive pronouns like "which", "where", and "who" can only modify the word that comes immediately next to it. It's one of the clearer, more knee-jerk rules on the GMAT so it should be a pretty nice asset for you. If you see a modifier beginning with "which" or another reflexive pronoun, look at the word immediately next to it...if it can't logically be the correct noun or noun phrase, eliminate it immediately!
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