Confusing Dangling Modifier

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:06 pm
Followed by:1 members

Confusing Dangling Modifier

by tacosychelas » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:40 pm
Hi,
If someone could expain why the answer is B over the others, spacially over C. Thanks in advance

Attaining a majesty that is rare among birds in flight, high in the sky, the condor soars over foothills that look like brushed brown suede on hot, dry days.
A) Attaining a majesty that is rare among birds in flight, high in the sky, the condor soars over foothills that look like brushed brown suede on hot, dry days.
B) High in the sky, soaring over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, the condor attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
C) The condor, when it is high in the sky and soars over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
D) On hot, dry days, when the foothills look like brushed brown suede and the condor, high in the sky, soars over them, it attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
Followed by:614 members
GMAT Score:800

Re: Confusing Dangling Modifier

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Mon Feb 18, 2008 11:14 pm
tacosychelas wrote:Hi,
If someone could expain why the answer is B over the others, spacially over C. Thanks in advance
Sure, I'll give it a go!

Attaining a majesty that is rare among birds in flight, high in the sky, the condor soars over foothills that look like brushed brown suede on hot, dry days.
A) Attaining a majesty that is rare among birds in flight, high in the sky, the condor soars over foothills that look like brushed brown suede on hot, dry days.
"on hot, dry days" modifies "looks like brushed brown suede", we want it to be a general reference to the conditions.
B) High in the sky, soaring over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, the condor attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
Not much to say - all the modifiers are in the right place and refer to the proper parts of the sentence.
C) The condor, when it is high in the sky and soars over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
"soars" makes no sense in this sentence - we need "when it is high in the sky and soaring over foothills..."
D) On hot, dry days, when the foothills look like brushed brown suede and the condor, high in the sky, soars over them, it attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
First, it just sounds clunkier than (b).

Second, "it attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight" needs to be more clearly connected to the condor. The construction of the first parts of the sentence make the last part sound wrong.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:09 am
Thanked: 2 times

by kamalsinghy » Fri Jul 23, 2010 10:14 pm
I don't agree with Stuart on this question.

I think answer must be C.

I think the intended meaning is that the candor achieve the majesty when "it is high" and when " it soars on the foothill".

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 278
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:17 pm
Location: Bangalore,India
Thanked: 17 times

by loveusonu » Sat Jul 24, 2010 2:59 am
Yep, Stuart is correct.

Starting "when it is high..." is a adjective clause. 'and Soars' just kills it, so you have half structure in one version and what follows after 'and' is in different version.
Sonu
--------
When you want something desperately, the whole Universe conspires in helping to give it to you - The Alchemist

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 88
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:20 am
Thanked: 1 times

by Onell » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:17 am
loveusonu wrote:Yep, Stuart is correct.

Starting "when it is high..." is a adjective clause. 'and Soars' just kills it, so you have half structure in one version and what follows after 'and' is in different version.
I am bit confused....

1. Is soaring over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, not a squinting modifier. I think it either modify the sky or the condor?
2. why are two adjective seperated by comma hot, dry?
Please smn help me to understand the str of this sentence

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 243
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:12 am
Location: Dominican Republic
Thanked: 31 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:480

by MAAJ » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:45 am
The two adjectives separated by COMMA makes the sentence a little confusing (like if "dry days" were a subject). Is this common/acceptable in the GMAT?

C) The condor, when it is high in the sky and soars over foothills that on hot, dry days look like brushed brown suede, attains a majesty that is rare among birds in flight.
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."