BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Japanese City built a wall

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:25 am
GMAT Score:750

Japanese City built a wall

by asdf29 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:58 am
After suffering the effects of several tsunamis, the residents of a Japanese city built a wall on their coast over forty feet high and a mile long, a way to protect the city against another disaster.

(A) a way to protect
(B) in efforts to protect
(C) protecting
(D) to protect in one way
(E) in order to protect

OA is C, but does anyone know why it isn't E.

Thanks in advance...
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 467
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:19 pm
Thanked: 27 times
Followed by:1 members

by karmayogi » Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:11 am
As soon as I saw the options, I knew that C is the answer. In all such questions in which something after comma qualifies an event/action before comma, participle form is always pithy and preferred. In C, “protecting” is qualifying the entire clause “After suffering ….a mile long”, in general, and the action of building the wall, to be very precise.

Now, why “in order to protect” is wrong? I don’t have a very technical answer, but I can try. I would prefer “in order to” without comma. As an adjective clause after comma, I would always prefer to go with participle form. I hope, someone might have a better explanation.
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divine within.
--By Swami Vivekananda
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1578
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:49 am
Thanked: 82 times
Followed by:9 members
GMAT Score:720

by maihuna » Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:53 am
my answer is still E

I aqm not sure about rhe role of protecting here
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:36 am

by bjp2008 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 8:49 am
This one is similar to the OG question "Schield .....Protecting"...C is the correct answer...
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:49 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by ken3233 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:06 pm
karmayogi wrote:As soon as I saw the options, I knew that C is the answer. In all such questions in which something after comma qualifies an event/action before comma, participle form is always pithy and preferred. In C, “protecting” is qualifying the entire clause “After suffering ….a mile long”, in general, and the action of building the wall, to be very precise.

Now, why “in order to protect” is wrong? I don’t have a very technical answer, but I can try. I would prefer “in order to” without comma. As an adjective clause after comma, I would always prefer to go with participle form. I hope, someone might have a better explanation.
I concur. I knew immediately that the answer is C or E, and after some quick analysis, arrived at the same conclusion as you.
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:49 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by ken3233 » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:15 pm
maihuna wrote:my answer is still E

I aqm not sure about rhe role of protecting here
Because there is a comma after "mile long", the clause that follows is a modifying clause. In this case, the entire first sentence clause is being modified; thus, the modifying clause that follows should begin with a participle.

"Protecting" is the participle form of "to protect".

Had "mile long" not been followed by a comma, then E would have been grammatically correct.

See MGMAT SC page 109 for more on this issue.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 72
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:05 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by nasa » Sat Apr 04, 2009 12:41 pm
The reason that qualifies E as a correct answer also allows B,D as correct answers!
Once we have the comma, the phrase / clause that follows should start with a modifier.

While skiing I wear goggles, to protect my eyes - incorrect
While skiing I wear goggles to protect my eyes - correct
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1