Sentence Correction

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

A: making it a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
making a Sumatran rhinoceros a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate A.

B: it is a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
A Sumatran rhinoceros is a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate B.

C: A Sumatran rhinoceros...is a landmark development
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate C.

E: a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development
This construction implies that A CINCINNATI ZOO was a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

with D though, wouldnt "the first birth" sounds like it is refering to the Cincinnati zoo instead of "the recent birth of a S"?

iburnedmyrice wrote:with D though, wouldnt "the first birth" sounds like it is refering to the Cincinnati zoo instead of "the recent birth of a S"?

An APPOSITIVE is a noun or noun phrase that serves to define another noun or noun phrase.
D: The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is a landmark development.
Here, the phrase in red is parallel to the phrase in blue.
This parallelism makes it clear that the phrase in red is an appositive is serving to define the phrase in blue:
the recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros = the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century.
No reader is going to construe that the first birth is serving to define a Cincinnati zoo.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

.
.
.

B: it is a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
A Sumatran rhinoceros is a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate B.

.
.
.

E: a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development
This construction implies that A CINCINNATI ZOO was a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

Hi GMATGuruNY,

In B, IT could also refer to, I guess, BIRTH. So,B remains ambiguous because of two possible antecedents of IT . Thoughts ?

In E, a century of that species in captivity -- isn't the RED part NONSENSICAL and AWKWARD?
Also, why the NON-UNDERLINED part(that starts with a landmark development) can't be a NOUN+NOUN Modifier construction modifying the entire preceding clause or the SUBJECT of the preceding clause ?

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

in E, "a landmark development" modifies the preceding clause grammatically. this means tooking place is a development. not logic.
a abstract noun can be modifier of the main clause, a summary of the main clause.

am I correct?

RBBmba@2014 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote:

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

.
.
.
B: it is a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
A Sumatran rhinoceros is a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate B.
.
.
.
E: a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development
This construction implies that A CINCINNATI ZOO was a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

Hi GMATGuruNY,

1) In B, IT could also refer to, I guess, BIRTH. So,B remains ambiguous because of two possible antecedents of IT . Thoughts ?

2) In E, a century of that species in captivity -- isn't the RED part NONSENSICAL and AWKWARD?

3) Also in E, why the NON-UNDERLINED part(that starts with a landmark development) can't be a NOUN+NOUN Modifier construction modifying the entire preceding clause or the SUBJECT of the preceding clause ?

@ GMATGuruNY - could you please shed light on my above THREE questions.

Look forward to your clarifications.Much thanks in advance!

RBBmba@2014 wrote:
1) In B, IT could also refer to, I guess, BIRTH. So,B remains ambiguous because of two possible antecedents of IT . Thoughts ?

B: A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born, and as the first birth, it is a landmark development.
Here, the modifier in red implies something is functioning AS THE FIRST BIRTH.
WHAT is functioning as the first birth?
A SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS is functioning as the first birth.
No other interpretation is possible.
The error here is not grammatical but semantic, as discussed in my post above.

2) In E, a century of that species in captivity -- isn't the RED part NONSENSICAL and AWKWARD?

Yes.

3) Also in E, why the NON-UNDERLINED part(that starts with a landmark development) can't be a NOUN+NOUN Modifier construction modifying the entire preceding clause or the SUBJECT of the preceding clause ?

E: The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros took place in a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development.
A development can be a significant event or a group of buildings.
Here, a reader might interpret that a landmark development refers to the recent birth (a significant event) or to a Cincinnati zoo (a group of buildings).
Since the intended meaning is not crystal clear, eliminate E.

Hi Mitch - thanks for clarifying the concerns. Just little BIT clarification required on the following part.

GMATGuruNY wrote: B: A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born, and as the first birth, it is a landmark development.
Here, the modifier in red implies something is functioning AS THE FIRST BIRTH.
WHAT is functioning as the first birth?
A SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS is functioning as the first birth.
No other interpretation is possible.
The error here is not grammatical but semantic, as discussed in my post above.

NOT able to understand COMPLETELY that why it'd be wrong to interpret B as follows: and as the first birth of that species...it (=the birth) is a landmark development...

Is it NONSENSICAL ?

Please help!

GMATGuruNY wrote: A: making it a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
making a Sumatran rhinoceros a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.

Hello Mitch, why can't "it" refer to "birth" or "first birth" in A?

Is there some rule that a pronoun in the main clause cannot refer to a noun in the Appositive, because that will be a handy thing to remember.

RBBmba@2014 wrote:NOT able to understand COMPLETELY that why it'd be wrong to interpret B as follows: and as the first birth of that species...it (=the birth) is a landmark development...

Is it NONSENSICAL ?

Please help!

The construction in B is as follows:
As X, Y.
In this construction, X and Y must be DIFFERENT NOUNS.
Conveyed meaning:
Y is functioning as X.

An OA in GMATPrep:
As chair of the planning board, Joan attended more than 400 meetings.
Conveyed meaning:
Joan was functioning as chair of the planning board when she attended more than 400 meetings.

When it serves to refer to a preceding noun, the referent for it must include not only the antecedent noun but also ANY ATTACHED MODIFIERS.
In your interpretation of B, the referent for it cannot simply be the birth.
Rather, the referent for it would have to be the FIRST birth (the antecedent noun the birth plus the attached modifier first).
Your interpretation of B:
As the first birth of that species, the first birth is a landmark development.
Conveyed meaning:
The first birth is functioning as the first birth.
This meaning is nonsensical.

In B, the only sensical referent for it is a Sumatran rhinoceros, as noted in my post above.

GMATGuruNY wrote: When it serves to refer to a preceding noun, the referent for it must include not only the antecedent noun but also ANY ATTACHED MODIFIERS.

Thanks GMATGuruNY. Couple of quick questions on this PARTICULAR ASPECT -

1. On GMAT, is this ALWAYS TRUE for it ?

2. On GMAT, does the same REASONING ALWAYS HOLD GOOD for ANY OTHER SUBJECT PRONOUNS ?

RBBmba@2014 wrote:

GMATGuruNY wrote: When it serves to refer to a preceding noun, the referent for it must include not only the antecedent noun but also ANY ATTACHED MODIFIERS.

Thanks GMATGuruNY. Couple of quick questions on this PARTICULAR ASPECT -

1. On GMAT, is this ALWAYS TRUE for it ?

2. On GMAT, does the same REASONING ALWAYS HOLD GOOD for ANY OTHER SUBJECT PRONOUNS ?

This rule holds true for every subject pronoun (he, she, they, it) and every object pronoun (him, her, them, it).
When one of these pronouns refers to a preceding noun, the referent for the pronoun must include not only the antecedent noun itself but also any attached modifiers.

GMATGuruNY wrote:

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

A: making it a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
making a Sumatran rhinoceros a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate A.

B: it is a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
A Sumatran rhinoceros is a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate B.

C: A Sumatran rhinoceros...is a landmark development
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate C.

E: a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development
This construction implies that A CINCINNATI ZOO was a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

I also belive that usage of "and" is wrong in Option B as it breaks the ||'sm.

Clause, and phrase. Isn't it?

GMATGuruNY wrote:

A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it a landmark development for the effort to save the endangered animal.

A) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity of that species in more than a century, making it
B) A Sumatran rhinoceros was recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, and as the first birth of that species in captivity for more than a century, it is
C) A Sumatran rhinoceros recently born in a Cincinnati zoo, as the first birth for that species in captivity for over a century, is
D) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros in a Cincinnati zoo, the first birth in captivity for that species in over a century, is
E) The recent birth of a Sumatran rhinoceros, as the first birth in over a century of that species in captivity, took place in a Cincinnati zoo,

A: making it a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
making a Sumatran rhinoceros a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate A.

B: it is a landmark development
Here, it seems to refer to a Sumatran rhinoceros, implying the following:
A Sumatran rhinoceros is a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate B.

C: A Sumatran rhinoceros...is a landmark development
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate C.

E: a Cincinnati zoo, a landmark development
This construction implies that A CINCINNATI ZOO was a landmark development.
Not the intended meaning.
The intended meaning is that the BIRTH was a landmark development.
Eliminate E.

The correct answer is D.

Hey Mitch you precisely write that the 'IT' in answer' A 'can not refer to the THE FIRST BIRTH in the preceding modifier? is it because the preceding clause is a noun modifier? the modifier making it must refer to the main clause?

I chose A since I though it may refer to the first birth- implying ---> making the first birth a landmark development...!!