Sentence Correction

234. The physical structure of the human eye enables it to sense light of wavelengths up to 0.0005 millimeters; infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long to be registered by the eye.

(A) infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long to be registered by the eye
(B) however, the wavelength of infrared radia-tion--0.1 millimeters--is top long to be registered by the eye making it invisible
(C) infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long for the eye to register it
(D) however, because the wavelength of infrared radiation is 0.1 millimeters, it is too long for the eye to register and thus invisible
(E) however, infrared radiation has a wavelength of 0.1 millimeters that is too long for the eye to register, thus making it invisible


OA is A, but what is wrong with C?









Choice A, the best answer, is clear, idiomatic, and grammati¬cally correct. In B, the misplaced participial phrase making it invisible modifies eye rather than wavelength, thus producing a confusing statement that distorts the meaning. In C, D, and E the use of the second it is so imprecise as to be confusing. Furthermore, in D, and thus invisible incorrectly modifies wavelength rather than infrared radiation. Choice E produces an illogical statement by using a restrictive clause introduced by that where a comma followed by the nonrestrictive "which" is required: a wavelength of 0.1 millimeters that is too long nonsensically suggests that not all wavelengths of 0.1 milli-meters are too long for the eye to register.

However, I don't see it as confusing. "It" is in a new sentence after the column.

In the original sentence "infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long to be registered by the eye"

it is the "wavelength" that is too long to be registered by the eye.

In C, "infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long for the eye to register it" "It" here is a not very clear because it may refer to infrared radiation or wavelength.

You may feel that "it" clearly refers to "wavelength", but remember, we are looking for the clearest expression and the best answer. A is a better choice.

I also chose C. For me, the last "it" clewarly refers to wavelength. If ir would refer to eye, it should be something like "itself".

Choice A has a passive construction "registered by the eye".

Just a thought....

The physical structure of the human eye enables it to sense light of wavelengths up to 0.0005 millimeters; infrared radiation, however, is invisible because its (infra red lights) wavelength--0.1 millimeters--is too long for the eye to register it ( infra red light or the wavelength) ??

Option A avoids this confusion.