... patchwork of green fields that( surround..or surrounds)

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ok, i have never encounter a question like this

i have read everywhere that "that" MUST refer to the noun preceding it, but what happens if there is a middle man in the noun, such as "the patchwork of green fields THAT...", does "that" immediately refer to fields or can it leap back to patchwork? will post OA later


In good years, the patchwork of green fields that surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of them in the area just for the season.
(A) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of them
(B) surrounds the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of whom are
(C) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many of who are
(D) surround the San Joaquin Valley town bustle with farm workers, many of which
(E) surrounds the San Joaquin Valley town bustles with farm workers, many are
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by mikeCoolBoy » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:05 am
IMO B

I think that refers to the patchwork because of green fields is a Middlemen.So we can eliminate A,C and D

Between B and E I think the correct is B [/b]

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by quriousaddict » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:44 am
A IMO. 'that' should directly modify what comes before it, 'fields,' which is plural so eliminate B and E. "bustles" modifies the patchwork, which is singular, therefore it should be 'bustles' and not 'bustle'; eliminate D. Between A and C, 'workers' is plural, therefore go with 'them' rather than 'who are.'

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by quriousaddict » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:18 am
By the way, this question has already been posted just below yours.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/that-refers- ... 34975.html

^ better answers

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by Sprite_TM » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:58 am
quriousaddict wrote:By the way, this question has already been posted just below yours.

https://www.beatthegmat.com/that-refers- ... 34975.html

^ better answers
for some reason, i did a google search and it didnt "cache" that question.

i did find other replies to it, but all unconclusive.

i guess i'll stick with "that" must directly follow the noun before it.

OA is A

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