GMAT 2016OG SC 29

GMATGuruNY wrote: Generally, COMMA + VERBed serves as an ADJECTIVE modifying the NEAREST PRECEDING NOUN.
OA: seventeen official national and international speed records, earned at a time when aviation was still so new
Here, COMMA + earned is an adjective serving to modify speed records -- the nearest preceding noun -- conveying that the RECORDS were EARNED at a time when aviation was still so new.

hi GuruNY,

Does comma + verbed only modifies the nearest preceding noun? would you please clarify other usage of "comma + verbed" and give me some examples?

another question, can "that" modify "time" ? only "when" can modify "time" ?

thanks a lot

have a nice day
>_~

Hello Everyone!

Let's take a closer look at this question, one issue at a time, to narrow it down to the correct option! Before we get started, here is the original question, with any major differences between the options highlighted in orange:

By 1940, the pilot Jacqueline Cochran held seventeen official national and international speed records, and she earned them at a time when aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew to be of dangerously experimental design.

A) and she earned them at a time when aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew to be
B) earning them at a time that aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew were
C) earning these at a time where aviation was still so new that many of the planes she flew were
D) earned at a time in which aviation was still so new such that many of the planes she flew were
E) earned at a time when aviation was still so new that many of the planes she flew were

After a quick glance over the options, it's clear that there are some major differences between the options:

1. ...earned at a time when / that / where / in which / when
2. for many / that many / such that many

Let's start with #1 on our list, since it seems like it will be fairly easy to rule out wrong options quickly. Whenever we refer to time, it's best to use other words that also refer to time so things are absolutely clear to readers. Let's see how each option handles this:

A) and she earned them at a time when aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew to be --> OK
(The word "when" is referring to time, so let's keep this for later)

B) earning them at a time that aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew were --> WRONG
(The word "that" isn't clearly referring to time, so let's rule this one out because it's not as clear as saying "when.")

C) earning these at a time where aviation was still so new that many of the planes she flew were --> WRONG
(The word "where" refers to location, not time! Let's rule this one out!)

D) earned at a time in which aviation was still so new such that many of the planes she flew were --> WRONG
(The phrase "in which" doesn't refer to time specifically, so let's rule this one out.)

E) earned at a time when aviation was still so new that many of the planes she flew were --> OK
(The word "when" is referring to time, so let's keep this for later)

We can rule out options B, C, and D because they don't use the right words to clearly refer to time!

Now that we're only left with 2 options, let's look at #2 on our list: for many vs. that many. We need to make sure for/that are being used properly, and that they convey the proper meaning:

A) and she earned them at a time when aviation was still so new for many of the planes she flew to be

This option is INCORRECT because it conveys the wrong meaning to the reader. By using the word "for" as a conjunction here, it suggests that aviation was new BECAUSE the planes were dangerous. Even if it were the correct conjunction to use here, it would still need a comma before it as well. We can't choose this one because it's unclear and sounds awkward.

E) earned at a time when aviation was still so new that many of the planes she flew were

This option is CORRECT! It uses the word "when" to correctly refer back to "at a time." It also uses "that" to suggest that the planes being dangerous is an effect of aviation being new, which makes perfect sense.

There you have it - option E is the correct choice!


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