BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

By law

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:36 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:620

By law

by heymayank08 » Sun May 06, 2012 5:44 pm
By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.
(A) By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.
(B) By law, only a qualified physician can prescribe medicine, protecting the public.
(C) By law, only a qualified physician can prescribe medicine which protects the public.
(D) In order to protect the public, by law a qualified physician only can prescribe medicine.
(E) In order to protect the public, by law only a qualified physician can prescribe medicine.

didn't get this one at all..
what is the difference b/w by law a qualified....
and
In order to protect the public, by law...
in the 2nd one isn't the construction wrong ..coz here after the modifier it should be the physician...
correct me if i am wrong...
[spoiler]OA: Later[/spoiler]
Top
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Sun May 06, 2012 5:54 pm
A and B use the participial phrase "protecting the public" which should modify the physician. However, it is the law that protects the public, so this is modifier error.

C uses "medicine which protects the public" which is also a modifier error.

D misplaces "only" such that it appears to modify the verb instead of the physician.

E is the best option.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:36 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members
GMAT Score:620

by heymayank08 » Sun May 06, 2012 6:07 pm
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:A and B use the participial phrase "protecting the public" which should modify the physician. However, it is the law that protects the public, so this is modifier error.

C uses "medicine which protects the public" which is also a modifier error.

D misplaces "only" such that it appears to modify the verb instead of the physician.

E is the best option.
hi
i still didn't get whats wrong with A...
i mean i didnt get the participle error clause..can u pls explain this
:)
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon May 07, 2012 7:37 am
heymayank08 wrote:By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.
(A) By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.

The participial phrase is at the end of the sentence: "protecting the public." When it is placed there, it can modify either the noun before the comma ("medicine") or the subject of the clause ("physician"). Both of these are incorrect here; it's the law that is directly protecting the public.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 307
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:45 pm
Thanked: 12 times
GMAT Score:700

by Gaurav 2013-fall » Mon May 07, 2012 7:53 am
+1 for E
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:50 am
Thanked: 214 times
Followed by:19 members
GMAT Score:740

by Birottam Dutta » Mon May 07, 2012 8:03 am
@Bill:
Don't you think that E would have been an even better option if there was a comma after law?
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon May 07, 2012 8:38 am
Birottam Dutta wrote:@Bill:
Don't you think that E would have been an even better option if there was a comma after law?
I prefer it without the comma, but I don't think it makes much of a difference.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 502
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:36 pm
Thanked: 99 times
Followed by:21 members

by vk_vinayak » Mon May 07, 2012 10:01 am
Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:
heymayank08 wrote:By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.
(A) By law, a qualified physician can only prescribe medicine, protecting the public.

The participial phrase is at the end of the sentence: "protecting the public." When it is placed there, it can modify either the noun before the comma ("medicine") or the subject of the clause ("physician"). Both of these are incorrect here; it's the law that is directly protecting the public.
One more reason for A to be incorrect: only is misplaced.
- VK

I will (Learn. Recognize. Apply)
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1248
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:57 pm
Location: Everywhere
Thanked: 503 times
Followed by:192 members
GMAT Score:780

by Bill@VeritasPrep » Mon May 07, 2012 10:58 am
That is a good point. "Only" should describe the physician, not the act of prescribing medicine.
Join Veritas Prep's 2010 Instructor of the Year, Matt Douglas for GMATT Mondays

Visit the Veritas Prep Blog

Try the FREE Veritas Prep Practice Test
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1