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MGMAT SC question (modifier): Geologists

Expert replies
by astronaut » Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:24 pm
1.Geologists once thought that the molten rock known as lava was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, sporadically erupting through volcanoes, but they now know that it is continuously created by the heat of the radioactivity deep inside the planet.

1.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, sporadically erupting
2.had been an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days and sporadically erupted
3.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, which sporadically erupted
4would be an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days that sporadically erupted
5.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, having sporadically erupted


Can somebody let me know the answer and logic of the question. I am confused between 2 choices.
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Source: — Sentence Correction |

by Mani_mba » Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:49 pm
These are my thoughts:

a) Sporadically erupting does not correctly modify "Molten Rock"
b) The construction "had been...... and sporadically erupted" is not parallel
c) The use of "which" makes it wrong option
d) Correct choice
e) Awkward construction.

I am not sure with my answer. Correct me if i am wrong.
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Re: MGMAT SC question (modifier): Geologists

by duke » Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:50 pm
astronaut wrote:1.Geologists once thought that the molten rock known as lava was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, sporadically erupting through volcanoes, but they now know that it is continuously created by the heat of the radioactivity deep inside the planet.

1.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, sporadically erupting
2.had been an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days and sporadically erupted
3.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, which sporadically erupted
4would be an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days that sporadically erupted
5.was an underground remnant of Earth's earliest days, having sporadically erupted


Can somebody let me know the answer and logic of the question. I am confused between 2 choices.
I went to C.
Looking for 780~
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by Paddy1234 » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:29 pm
I am confused between B&D.. Can some one explain why B is wrong?
Target 750
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by astronaut » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:17 am
The correct answer is A according to MGMAT.
I was confused between A and C.

The reasoning behind this is : "which sporadically erupted" modifies "Earth's earliest days" whereas it should modify "molten rock known as lava".

My point is "sporadically erupting" also looks like its modifying " modifies "Earth's earliest days"

B is wrong because its comparing present action with a past action and not past action with another past action.

D is wrong because its using future tense "would be" for a past action
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by vivek.kapoor83 » Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:19 am
IMO A, coz volcano's Still erupt.......wht is OA.
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by Vignesh.4384 » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:24 am
IMO D
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Answer

by iamcste » Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:25 am
Answer is D

Consider the past when Astonauts had no clue..at that point of time, they "would " thought it to be....

comparison what Astonauts thought it to be and what it turned out
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by ketkoag » Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:06 am
answer should be A..
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by wayofjungle » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:16 pm
Can we more clearly define the rule of modifiers to state that a modifying phrase must modify the noun coming before it, but if the noun closest to the modifier is within a prepositional phrase than the subject to which that phrase belongs is actually the correct noun being modified?

I am trying to clarify why the modifier is said to correctly modify lava or underground remnant rather than Earth's earliest days.
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by veenu08 » Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:20 am
I have one query regarding possessive noun, here it;s mentioned as- remnant of Earth's earliest days, how can we say remnant of earth's.., someone please explain.
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