Difficult SC!!! Gmat prep 700 level question!!!

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Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

A] Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper crops, sugar beet and walnut in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

B] Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but in the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

C] Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region, but more effective pest control methods that were introduced in the 1880s saved the citrus industry.

D] In the 1880s, pests destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region and more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry.

E] In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from what was destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.



The correct answer is B.

I came down to the options B and C, also experts there is one question that I am confused with since a long time.

What is the difference between 'that' and 'which'.

because the option C uses that in the sentence and i do not think that it is wrong...

Please explain in detail...

May be even e-gmat could help and give really a good explanation...


Thanks a lot!!!
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by sam2304 » Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:46 am
There is a lot of meaning issues in this problem.

A and B doesn't mention about when the crops got destroyed but speaks about how they were saved in the 1880s
C again doesn't mention anything about when the crops got destroyed or saved but speaks about when the pest control methods were introduced
D and E mentions about events happening in the 1880s.

I will go with one which is grammatically correct, short and maintains the same meaning.

A - crops should modify all the plants/fruits - grape, celery, chilli to walnut - wrong
C - Changes the time period and too wordy compared to B.
D - Changes the meaning
E - what was destroying - wrong construction

IMO B.
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by GmatKiss » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:09 am
Wonderful explanation Sam.

Between, i would like to know whether E would be correct if "what" is replaced by "pests, which were"

In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from pests, which were destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.

Thanks,
GK

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by sam2304 » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:03 am
GmatKiss wrote:Between, i would like to know whether E would be correct if "what" is replaced by "pests, which were"

In the 1880s, more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from pests, which were destroying grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region.

Thanks,
GK
The main clause in B is Pests had destroyed grape, celery, chili pepper, sugar beet and walnut crops in the region

where as in your modified E it comes down this way

more effective pest-control methods saved the citrus industry from pests

Your modified option changes the entire meaning. Moreover its wrong as the main clause says that the methods saved the citrus industry and which were destroying brings in a past continuous - how can they be destroying when it has already been saved :)
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