Digging in sediments in northern China, evidence has
been gathered bv scientists suggesting that complex
life-forms emerged much earlier than they had
previously thought.
(A) evidence has been gathered by scientists
suggesting that complex life-forms emerged
much earlier than they had
(B) evidence gathered by scientists suggests a
much earlier emergence of complex life-forms
than had been
(C) scientists have gathered evidence suggesting
that complex life-formsemerged much earlier
than
(D) scientists have gathered evidence that suggests
a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms
than that which was
(E) scientists have gathered evidence which
suggests a much earlier emergence of complex
life-forms than that
OA: C
My concern with OA is regarding the missing 'was' after than..
OG13
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Hi,
So there are a few issues here:
1. Misplaced modifier - who was digging? The scientists! So A and B are out
2. Clarity - D/E are wordy and passive. Also in D/E what does "that" refer to?
Your concern about the missing was. What about these sentences:
My parents have found evidence that I came home earlier than they previously thought.
My parents thought that I arrived home much later but they have found evidence to the contrary.
These two sentences are similar to the OG sentence - there is no need for an extra "was". The sentences are complete as is.
Does this make sense? Let me know if you have any questions!
HG.
So there are a few issues here:
1. Misplaced modifier - who was digging? The scientists! So A and B are out
2. Clarity - D/E are wordy and passive. Also in D/E what does "that" refer to?
Your concern about the missing was. What about these sentences:
My parents have found evidence that I came home earlier than they previously thought.
My parents thought that I arrived home much later but they have found evidence to the contrary.
These two sentences are similar to the OG sentence - there is no need for an extra "was". The sentences are complete as is.
Does this make sense? Let me know if you have any questions!
HG.
"It is a curious property of research activity that after the problem has been solved the solution seems obvious. This is true not only for those who have not previously been acquainted with the problem, but also for those who have worked over it for years." -Dr. Edwin Land
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Hey Duong,
Think of it this way:
(D) scientists have gathered evidence that suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms
than the emergence which was previously thought
First off, it's an incorrect modifier "which" (requires a comma). But beyond that, the logic here is doesn't make any sense. We want to be comparing times, not some specificemergence. Do you see how the word "that" creates a specific emergence we're comparing to. But that's not right.
(E) scientists have gathered evidence which suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms than the emergence previously thought.
In both of these, the correct comparison would be the equivalent "I ate an earlier breakfast than I did most days" not "I ate an earlier breakfast than that I ate most days."
In the second example, "that" refers to a specific breakfast, which makes no sense.
Hope that helps a little! Don't forget that both (D) and (E) have an incorrect, commaless "which," so you don't really need to worry about this little stuff!
-t
Think of it this way:
(D) scientists have gathered evidence that suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms
than the emergence which was previously thought
First off, it's an incorrect modifier "which" (requires a comma). But beyond that, the logic here is doesn't make any sense. We want to be comparing times, not some specificemergence. Do you see how the word "that" creates a specific emergence we're comparing to. But that's not right.
(E) scientists have gathered evidence which suggests a much earlier emergence of complex life-forms than the emergence previously thought.
In both of these, the correct comparison would be the equivalent "I ate an earlier breakfast than I did most days" not "I ate an earlier breakfast than that I ate most days."
In the second example, "that" refers to a specific breakfast, which makes no sense.
Hope that helps a little! Don't forget that both (D) and (E) have an incorrect, commaless "which," so you don't really need to worry about this little stuff!
-t
Tommy Wallach, Company Expert
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