Sentence Correction

Contemporary cognitive scientist maintain that emotions, which are biological functions, evolved in the nervous system to help animals survive in hostile environments and procreate, and feelings are products of the conscious mind, reflecting the interpretation of emotions.

A) procreate, and feelings are products of the conscious mind, reflecting

B) procreate, and that feelings, as product of the conscious mind, reflecting

C) procreate, and that feelings, which are products of the conscious mind, reflect

D) to procreate, and feelings are products of the conscious mind, which reflect

E) to procreate, and that feelings, which are products of the conscious mind, reflecting

OA C

Please explain

Hi Experts ,

Really need your thoughts on this.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

First, note that the scientists maintain two things:

that emotions evolved in the nervous system to help... and that feelings reflect the interpretation of emotions. The only answer choices that give us that x ... and that y are B, C, and E.

B) that feelings, as product of the conscious mind, reflecting the interpretation of emotions
The structure is that feelings + modifier + modifier; There's no clause here, as there's no main verb.

E) that feelings, which are products of the conscious mind, reflecting the interpretation of emotions.
Again, the structure is that feelings + modifier + modifier; no main verb, so no clause

You're left with C

Hi DabidG ,

Thank you so much for your explanation.

It really helps.

Thanks,

Kavin

Hii Davidg sir,i have my doubts on A,It is not necessary to have that in a.For instance-"procreate, and (that)feelings are products of the conscious mind, reflecting " that is implied here.IF that is the case ,what are the other errors? Is verb=ing used incorrectly or there are other reasons?kindly explain.

sagarock wrote:Hii Davidg sir,i have my doubts on A,It is not necessary to have that in a.For instance-"procreate, and (that)feelings are products of the conscious mind, reflecting " that is implied here.IF that is the case ,what are the other errors? Is verb=ing used incorrectly or there are other reasons?kindly explain.

Think of it this way: if we leave off "that," we introduce the possibility of beginning a new independent clause that's tangential to the first one. Consider these sentences.

1) Tim believes that his mortgage is too expensive and that the bank will repossess his house soon. Meaning: Tim believes two things: he believes that his mortgage is too expensive and he believes that the bank will repossess his house.

2) Tim believes that his mortgage is too expensive, and the bank will repossess his house soon. By using "comma + and" we're introducing a new clause and a new idea. Meaning: Tim believes one thing: his mortgage is too expensive. But now, the bank repossessing his house isn't something Tim believes, but something that is actually going to happen. Even if we argue that the second "that" is implied (I wouldn't, but play along), at best, we've created an ambiguous sentence: one that might mean that Tim believes two things, and one that might mean that Tim believes one thing, and then we have this second thing that will actually happen. Clarity will always trump ambiguity on the GMAT

So that's the question: do we think the writer wishes to convey that the scientists maintain two things, or that the scientists maintain one thing, and then we have this new idea regarding feelings?

Great explanation sir,Is it because of comma that is required? so we dont misinterpret or it is essential ,even if comma is absent?

sagarock wrote:Great explanation sir,Is it because of comma that is required? so we dont misinterpret or it is essential ,even if comma is absent?

Not exactly. Anytime you have INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + CONJUNCTION + INDEPENDENT CLAUSE, you'll have a COMMA in between the the first clause and the conjunction. But the GMAT, for the most part, isn't terribly concerned about comma placement. It's better to focus on the logic/clarity of the sentence as you eliminate any options with glaring grammatical errors.

First, note that the scientists maintain two things:

that emotions evolved in the nervous system to help... and that feelings reflect the interpretation of emotions. The only answer choices that give us that x ... and that y are B, C, and E.

Hi DavidG ,

I am reviewing this again.

Just a quick question. I have read that two successive THAT-clause is not acceptable in GMAT. So why here? Is there any exception?

Please explain sir.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

Needgmat wrote:

First, note that the scientists maintain two things:

that emotions evolved in the nervous system to help... and that feelings reflect the interpretation of emotions. The only answer choices that give us that x ... and that y are B, C, and E.

Hi DavidG ,

I am reviewing this again.

Just a quick question. I have read that two successive THAT-clause is not acceptable in GMAT. So why here? Is there any exception?

Please explain sir.

Many thanks in advance.

Kavin

There's no rule that forbids using using multiple relative clauses in one sentence and connecting those clauses with a conjunction. I believe that x and that y is a perfectly acceptable construction.

There's no rule that forbids using using multiple relative clauses in one sentence and connecting those clauses with a conjunction. I believe that x and that y is a perfectly acceptable construction.

Hi DavidG ,

Thanks for the clarification sir.

Thanks,

Kavin