First, focus on the modifying phrase that starts the sentence. Whenever you see an introductory phrase followed by a comma, you're probably being tested on modification.

Here, the information before the comma describes California. Accordingly, we need "California" right after the comma: eliminate (a), (b) and (c).

Now we have to decide between (d) and (e). The biggest difference is after the comma at the end of the sentence.

(d) has "a drop more than twice as great as that" and (e) has "more than twice as great as that".

Just like the modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence did, the modifying phrase at the end of the sentence has to match what's immediately on the other side of the comma. The problem with (e) is that "more than twice as great as that" could refer to "60" instead of to the drop. From the original sentence (our guide for meaning), we know that we want the after-modifier to refer to the drop, not the number, so eliminate (e).

(d) is the only one left, choose it!

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:Now we have to decide between (d) and (e). The biggest difference is after the comma at the end of the sentence.

(d) has "a drop more than twice as great as that" and (e) has "more than twice as great as that".

Just like the modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence did, the modifying phrase at the end of the sentence has to match what's immediately on the other side of the comma. The problem with (e) is that "more than twice as great as that" could refer to "60" instead of to the drop. From the original sentence (our guide for meaning), we know that we want the after-modifier to refer to the drop, not the number, so eliminate (e).

(d) is the only one left, choose it!

Yikes I almost went for E.

Good call Stuart

Stuart, If this is not considered as a stupid question, why is this phrase "A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive anti-smoking program" modifing California instead of cigarette consumption???

Thank You,
Venkat

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:First, focus on the modifying phrase that starts the sentence. Whenever you see an introductory phrase followed by a comma, you're probably being tested on modification.

Here, the information before the comma describes California. Accordingly, we need "California" right after the comma: eliminate (a), (b) and (c).

Now we have to decide between (d) and (e). The biggest difference is after the comma at the end of the sentence.

(d) has "a drop more than twice as great as that" and (e) has "more than twice as great as that".

Just like the modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence did, the modifying phrase at the end of the sentence has to match what's immediately on the other side of the comma. The problem with (e) is that "more than twice as great as that" could refer to "60" instead of to the drop. From the original sentence (our guide for meaning), we know that we want the after-modifier to refer to the drop, not the number, so eliminate (e).

(d) is the only one left, choose it!

parimi001 wrote:Stuart, If this is not considered as a stupid question, why is this phrase "A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive anti-smoking program" modifing California instead of cigarette consumption???

Thank You,
Venkat

Venkat, but how can cigarette consumption INITIATE a program?

Only California (i.e. the legislative body) can initiate a program.

INCORRECT: After turning off the faucet, the sink was emptied.

A sink can't turn off the faucet, like cigarette consumption can't initiate a program.

CORRECT: After turning off the faucet, JOHN emptied the sink.

The agent is JOHN. In the sentence the agent is California.

does that help any?

Thank you Stuart. it is great to have you here

pls, tell me what is grammatical function of "a drop...". This phase is adjectival or adverbial. This phrase modify what part of previous clause.

Pls, help

Also, pls tell me "annually" in D modify what part in the clause (in D)

Pls, help

thanks

I think everyone forgot to check the redundancy here...on this i eliminated A,C, and E.
then on modification I eliminated B.

A decade after initiating the nation's most comprehensive and aggressive anti-smoking program, per capita consumption of cigarettes in California declined from over 125 packs annually per person to about 60, a drop more than twice as great as in the nation as a whole