Sentence Correction

sui generis wrote:

(E) who creates unconscious physiological responses in turn

Choice E is grammatically correct but it changes the meaning.

How can we conclude that the intended meaning is the one implied in choice A ?

If choice A were grammatically incorrect then would choice E be the correct answer ?

EducationAisle wrote:

voodoo_child wrote: What's a difference between "the government of country X and country Y" vs. "the government of country X and that of country Y" ? I believe both are same. Correct ?

Thanks
Voodoo

Well, the interpretation would would actually depend upon the entire sentence. Let's take an example:

The government of country X and country Y has decided to amend the constitution.

The above sentence would actually be correct, since the sentence would genuinely mean that the author wants to suggest that both country X and country Y have the same government (though it does not sound very logical).

A bigger problem is with the following sentence:

The government of country X and country Y have decided to amend the constitution.

This sentence has a bigger meaning issue since it can be interpreted either as:

a) (The government of country X) and (The government of) country Y have decided to amend the constitution. OR

b) (The government of country X) and country Y have decided to amend the constitution.

Stacey Koprince wrote:Ok, thanks for the source. Let's use some different sentences to examine the principle.

The original sentence:

The use of GMAT books is based on the assumption that studying produces hormones in an individual that, in turn, create unconscious physical responses. (Yes, I know the meaning of the sentence is kind of amusing - I'm trying to match some singular and plural stuff in the original sentence!)

The "in turn" bit is just a little modifier tossed in to break up the sentence a bit and confuse you. Ignore it!

The use of GMAT books is based on the assumption that studying produces hormones in an individual that create unconscious physical responses.

Core:
The use <of X> is based on the assumption that studying produces <Y>.

Modifier Y:
hormones <in A> that create <Z> responses

No problems with core or modifier so far. I assume that the people who chose C thought there was something wrong with A, so let me know what you thought was wrong.

Now, adapting our new sentence for choice C:

The use of GMAT books is based on the assumption that studying produces hormones in an individual creating, in turn, unconscious physical responses.

Core:
The use <of X> is based on the assumption that studying produces <Y>.

Modifier Y:
hormones <in an individual creating responses?>

Still no problem in the core. That modifier, though... that's messy. There's no comma between "individual" and "creating" and that's a big problem. Try this phrase:
"stress in an individual studying hard for the GMAT"

What does that "studying hard for the GMAT" refer to? In this sentence, it's modifying the individual - and that makes sense.

But what about our example above? It's ambiguous here - "individual" is a candidate for the noun, because an individual can create unconscious responses... and so can the hormones... and, hey, so can studying! Which is it? Ambiguity = bad.

Note that there is no ambiguity in A, because the conjugated verb "create" can match only with a plural subject, so it must match with the plural "hormones." Now we know that it's definitely the hormones creating the responses.

riyazgilani wrote: what i thought was wrong about choice A is : that can even modify individual and not necessarily reaction..? this ambiguity would change the meaning.
How can we be sure that in option A that refers to reactions only and not Individuals. (note both are plural and both can create unconscious psychological responses.)
pls help